Before you stop reading this, imagine your childhood bedroom done up in Cowboys & Indians.
I know the stereotypes are hopelessly dated and non-PC. But allow your mind to remember the flannel sheets with horseshoes, PJ's w/sewn-in footies, blue enameled fireside cookware coffee pots and "Blazing Saddles" jokes about beans and farting...
This is what happens when I approach (Bally's 1976) Flip Flop's handsome red playfield with cattle branding artwork and clichéd characters on the joyously (Dick White) painted backglass. Come feel the Purple Mountain Majesty, without all the manifest destiny guilt.
Look. I didn't want to like this game. I thought oh geez, the Nip It! fishing goofball is now vacationing at some "City Slickers" style ranch with the Amigo guy!? How'd THEY hook up???
But if there was ever a game to make me do an about face, it's Flip Flop.
It hits me.
Holy heck! Has there ever been a game that makes you disconnect the tilt switch faster? It's all about viciously nudging a dead outlane ball back to life via some mandatory pinball CPR class and narrow shooting lanes with super fast flipping rewards. Never mind the crazy fast D.C. powered slings, pops & grand slam (4) flippers.
When the "same player shoots again" lights between the flippers, it's like I've just successfully lit a good campfire with some major staying power: oh ya, bring on the Schlitz & Dinty Moore beef stew
If you get a chance to play a dialed in Flip Flop!
Stay awhile. It's worth loading up the Vista Cruiser station wagon.