Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal is a rare pinball machine from Rowamet Indústria Eletrometalúrgica LTDA, a Brazilian manufacturer that operated from 1980 to 1983. This solid-state machine stands out for its striking artwork: the backglass and playfield art are color variations of an original piece by artist Christos Achilléos, created for the 1981 animated film 'Heavy Metal' and also used on the film's poster and the September 1981 cover of Heavy Metal magazine, depicting the character Taarna flying on a giant bird.

The gameplay features on Heavy Metal include two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, and three spinning targets that add challenge and excitement to each play, along with two 3-bank drop targets and one 5-bank drop target for high-scoring combos. A kick-out hole adds another layer of complexity. The playfield layout is similar to Williams' 1980 'Blackout.'

No specific designer is credited for Heavy Metal, but its bold, licensed fantasy artwork and its four-player, feature-rich layout make it a distinctive example of Brazilian pinball manufacturing from the early 1980s, and a fascinating addition for collectors interested in the international scope of the pinball industry during this period.