Embryon

Embryon, designed by Claude Fernandez and manufactured by Bally in June 1981, is a fascinating piece of pinball history. This widebody, four-player solid-state game holds several distinctions in Bally's catalog: it was the first Bally game to feature artwork by Tony Ramunni, the last widebody pinball from Bally Manufacturing, and the only game to use Bally's trademarked "Flipsave" ball-saving feature.

What sets Embryon apart is its unique gameplay. Players control four flippers, including the shorter, vertical "timed Flipsave" flipper in the right outlane, used to flip draining balls back into the return lane. The machine boasts four pop bumpers, two slingshots, a kick-out hole, two 3-bank drop target sets, a solitary drop target, and a rollunder spinner. Its signature layout element is a set of four messenger balls: two are each protected by a drop target, while two more are propelled by a fifth ball common to both of their chambers. A 2-ball multiball and speech round out the feature set.

The machine's design and artwork reflect its fantasy/science-fiction theme, featuring colorful, otherworldly graphics by Ramunni, who signed his full name on backglass art here for the first time. Bally produced a confirmed 2,250 units, and Embryon's inventive layout makes it an intriguing find for collectors and enthusiasts.