As usual, I see the pin world through the eyes of the Gottlieb EM's. And there's enough ranting and raving about how slow,boring and repetitive these things are. But there is one that never bores me, and usually the only reason I walk away from it, is because I'm about to slam the heel of my fist through the glass, and I don't feel like bleeding or being banned for life.

'Fire Queen' has three separate, and somewhat unrelated sequences to complete. I have yet to complete all 3 sequences, mostly because all 3 reset after each ball. Achieving this is the biggest goal in my life right now.

There are four rollovers at the wedgehead, and a small bullseye target for #5, above the right slingshot, to complete the 1-5 sequence. Making this sequence lights the Special. There is an upper bank of drop targets, and completing this set activates double bonus. There is a lower bank of targets, and completing them lights that #5 bullseye for an extra ball. What's really cool about the extra ball, is that the sequences do not reset for the extra ball, and if you have Special, or double bonus lit, you retain that. But you DO collect your bonus, and since it maxes out at 15K, you get a fresh start.

Hitting that #5 bullseye is a risky shot. Typical situation where you have a small target with a post on each side, that if you miss it by just a hair, you'll be draining or making a desperate save. ANY Gottlieb EM player knows that! So the only time you want to be aiming for that, is to get the #5 or to score the extra ball.

So you find yourself letting the machine decide what you'll be shooting at, and when you'll be going for each shot, and it really keeps it fresh! Definitely my favorite machine! It's the only machine that I have the current high score on at the Silverball Museum, that I play every time I'm in there, because it NEVER gets stale.

Don't know that I would ever be able to find one, but if I ever do start my own collection, this would be the first one on my wishlist.