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Hercules

Atari • 1979 • SS
Strategy updated: September 20, 2026

Unlikely to be a tournament game, although given its fame as the largest pinball machine ever made, it's worth playing. It's big and heavy to move, the ball is the size of a pool ball, and the pace of play is very slow.

Strategy

Shoot up top via the spinner lane (on left) until all 3 top lanes are lit to qualify features. Then shoot the Path to Victory orbit (on right) until all feature steps have been earned and the features collected.

Skill Shot

Plunge to any needed lane to light a step on the corresponding feature, shown in the center of the playfield (see Top Lanes below)

Key Rules

Top Lanes

  • Each lane scores 3K, and lights a step on the corresponding colored feature path shown in the middle of the playfield as yellow, orange, and red artwork

  • Each set of top lanes completed increases the spinner value (initially 100, then 1K, 2K, 3K)

Path to Victory Orbit

  • Making the full orbit shot awards a step for each of the features that have been lit by the top lanes, and scores:

    • 1K points (500 each for the rollover switches at either end of the orbit

    • 1K for each lit step on all 3 features

  • If all steps on a feature are completed that award is granted

    • Yellow: Double Bonus

    • Orange: Extra Ball

    • Red: Special

Bonus

  • Base bonus max is 49K

  • Every time base bonus advances to a multiple of 10K you must hit a flashing standup target before it increases beyond that

  • Base bonus carries between balls unless it is at max when you drain, then it resets on the next ball

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