Fandango

Fandango is a single-player electro-mechanical pinball machine released in May 1976 by Playmatic of Barcelona, Spain, a manufacturer that built pinball machines from 1968 to 1987. Arriving just before solid-state electronics transformed the industry, Fandango is a good example of Spanish electro-mechanical design in the mid-1970s. A four-player version of the same game was released as Playmatic's 1976 Fiesta.

Gameplay-wise, Fandango offers an eclectic mix of features. Two flippers and two pop bumpers provide dynamic interplay, joined by a mushroom bumper, two slingshots, and six standup targets that add strategy to each play. A distinctive element of the layout is the left side of the playfield, which has parallel lanes of serial rollovers for the ball to navigate. Two rollover buttons, a kick-out hole, and an end-of-ball bonus round out the action.

Housed in a cabinet with a wedge head, the game carries a music, dancing, and world places theme in keeping with its name. Its sounds come from three chimes and a knocker, giving it the classic electro-mechanical audio character of its era. No designer is credited for the game, which adds a small air of mystery to this Spanish machine.