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Cheetah

Stern • 1980 • SS
Strategy updated: September 21, 2026

Strategy

Build and collect Bonus. Complete right side drop bank repeatedly to increase bonus and bonus X. Now complete the left 5-drop bank (1-2-3-4-5) in order twice to light the collect bonus lane on the far left. When base bonus is 100K the left orbit is the most valuable shot in the game, up to 500K per.

Skill Shot

No skill shot, however a hard plunge may ricochet into the top left drop targets for progress on Bonus X

Key Rules

Build Bonus

  • +1 bonus advance from far inlanes and each drop target on the right

  • +3 bonus advance from either outlane

  • Completing 1-2-3-4-5 three times will max base bonus at 100K

  • Increase Bonus X by completing the top left or right drop banks (Max: 5X)

  • Bonus can be repeatedly collected after two 1-2-3-4-5 completions at the far left lane

Right 3-Drop Target Bank

  • Each target scores 1K and a bonus advance

  • Completing the bank twice to score 15K and +1 Bonus X

  • Three competitions awards 40K, +1 Bonus X, and lights the yellow standup target near pops for extra ball (100K)

  • Additional completions score 40K and +1 Bonus X

1-2-3-4-5 Drop Targets

  • Hit the targets in order, number to hit indicated by lit insert

  • Numbers are also spotted by shooting the left orbit, landing in the right side kickback lane, or the near inlanes.

  • Complete sets for:

    • 1: 10K

    • 2: 20K and lights the left orbit for ⭐️ collect bonus

    • 3: 30K and sets base bonus to max (100K)

    • 4: 40K and lights the near inlanes for extra ball (100K)

    • 5: 50K and lights outlanes for special (100K)

Left Orbit

  • Scores 10K and spots the next number in the 1-2-3-4-5 sequence

  • If the 1-2-3-4-5 sequence has been completed twice then this lane is lit for collect bonus for the rest of the game, bonus collect does not reset base or bonus X

Top 3-Drop Target Bank

  • Each target scores 500

  • Completions of the bank give +1 Bonus X and then score 5K times Bonus X

Upper Right 3-Drop Bank, Star Grid, & Spinners

  • Each target scores 2K and locks in the rotating light in the grid below it

  • When the bank is completed, if two grid lights are the same color it scores 20K

  • When the bank is completed, if three grid lights are the same color it scores 40K and:

    • red: kicker lane on right is lit for special (100K)

    • yellow: right spinner is lit for 3K/spin

    • blue: left spinner is lit for 3K/spin

    • orange: the horseshoe lane behind this bank is lit for extra ball (100K)

  • The spinner in the horseshoe lane is always worth 3K/spin

Right Kickback Lane

  • Scores 25K and spots the next number in the 1-2-3-4-5 sequence

  • Can be lit for special if the star grid is showing all red inserts

cheetah-pf.jpg playfield
Playfield image by Ken (scottamus)
Backglass image by Ken (scottamus)