Fathom

Fathom, designed by Ward Pemberton with artwork by Greg Freres, was released by Bally in August 1981. Built on the Bally AS-2518-35 MPU with a confirmed production run of 3,500 units, this four-player solid-state game carries a haunting fantasy theme of scuba diving and sirens of the deep. Amusingly, Pemberton's working title for the game was "Barracuda" and Freres wanted to call it "Deep Threat," but Bally management rejected both names.

At its core, Fathom is a machine that rewards strategic play. Three flippers, three pop bumpers, and two slingshots provide the foundation, while an unusually deep target complement includes a 6-bank of drop targets, a 3-bank, and two 3-in-line drop target sets, plus two kick-out holes, a spinning target, and a standup target. The game features 3-ball multiball and left and right crossover return lanes, and it speaks, adding atmosphere to the undersea theme. Scores display up to 9,999,990 points per player.

Freres' moody, aquatic artwork is widely admired and gives the game an immersive, adventurous character. With its layered drop-target strategy, multiball, and evocative art package, Fathom stands as one of the finest games of Bally's early-1980s catalog and remains popular with collectors today.