Devil Riders

Devil Riders is a distinctive pinball machine from Zaccaria, the Bologna, Italy manufacturer that produced some of the most unusual and inventive machines of its time. Released in April 1984 on Zaccaria's Generation 2 solid-state hardware, this four-player game is built around a stunt motorcycle theme, with artwork by Lorenzo Rimondini.

The gameplay is where Devil Riders truly stands out. The machine features four pop bumpers, two playfields, and an impressive six flippers: two on the main playfield, two on the upper transparent playfield, and two 'React' flippers positioned to flip the ball back up from the outlanes. Ramps leading to the upper playfield sit elevated above ball level on drop targets - knock the targets down and the ramps fall to playfield level, opening the path upward. An elevated ball shooter lane rounds out the unusual layout.

The presentation is equally striking. The backbox houses mechanical animation in which a motorcycle performs loops each time the ball enters the upper playfield, and a neon tube runs behind the backglass, around the outside edge between the outer glass and a formed, painted, molded plastic inner artwork panel. Together these touches capture the high-octane stunt theme and stand as a testament to Zaccaria's willingness to push the boundaries of what a pinball machine could be.