Fan-Tas-Tic

Fan-Tas-Tic is a four-player electro-mechanical pinball machine designed by Norm Clark and manufactured by Williams Electronics, entering production on June 8, 1972. With artwork by the prolific Christian Marche, the game carries a cheerful dancing, happiness, and music theme. Williams built a confirmed 5,680 units, the majority of which were produced for export.

Players navigate a playfield stocked with five standup targets, four pop bumpers, six rollover buttons, and three kick-out holes, along with a captive ball spinner. Notably, the game has no slingshots. Ball-saving help comes from a left outlane kickback and a right outlane gate, giving players tools to keep the ball in play during hectic moments.

Weighing in at a measured 271 pounds including legs, Fan-Tas-Tic is a substantial piece of early-1970s Williams engineering. Its combination of a friendly Marche art package and an unusual feature mix, including the captive ball spinner and slingshot-free lower playfield, makes it a charming representative of the late electro-mechanical era.