Fireball II

Fireball II, designed by Gary Gayton and released by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in June 1981, is a solid-state electronic pinball machine that carries forward the name of Bally's famous 1972 Fireball. Featuring artwork by Dave Christensen, the artist behind the original Fireball, this fantasy-themed 4-player game had a confirmed production run of 2,300 units. It includes speech, 3-ball multiball, and an unusual three-flipper layout.

The machine boasts an engaging mix of kick-out holes, pop bumpers, and an array of drop targets — two 4-banks and a 3-bank — that work together to create a challenging experience. A standout feature is the rubbered post between the flippers, which kicks the ball upward when activated by an extra button below the right flipper button. Another distinctive touch is the Fireball Bonus scoring animation below the playfield, in which a captive ball moves repeatedly across a point-scoring rollover button; according to Pinball Memories, Bally design chief Norm Clark insisted on this animated captive ball feature, which had appeared earlier on Williams' 1971 Doodle Bug, a game he designed.

With its speech, multiball gameplay, and clever mechanics, Fireball II is a fascinating example of early-1980s solid-state design for pinball enthusiasts to study and appreciate.