Dirty Harry

Dirty Harry, designed by Barry Oursler and released in March 1995 by Williams Electronics Games, is a notable entry in the WPC Security (WPC-S) era of solid-state pinball. As one of the many licensed theme games of its day, Dirty Harry brings Clint Eastwood's iconic character to the playfield, with 4,248 units confirmed produced. Its three flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, and vertical up-kicker provide a challenging yet engaging gameplay experience.

The machine's signature feature is a moving .44 Magnum gun mounted on the playfield, which players use to shoot pinballs at targets, a sinkhole, and a ramp - a memorable toy that puts Harry Callahan's famous sidearm directly in the player's hands. A magnet in the right loop adds an extra wrinkle to the ball's physics, and an operator option allows unlimited buy-in balls per player. Interestingly, sample games featured a drop target in front of the Warehouse entrance that was removed before full production, though the latest software still supports it.

The playfield art, by Kevin O'Connor and Pat McMahon, is a striking representation of the titular character, with bold colors and dynamic graphics that immerse players in the world of the films, supported by dot-matrix animations from Scott Slomiany, Adam Rhine, and Brian Morris, and music and sound by Vince Pontarelli. The combination of the gun mechanism, solid Oursler layout, and strong license makes Dirty Harry a compelling addition to any pinball collection.