Here is my Gottlieb Buccaneer. This game doesn’t seem to get much wedgehead love but every example I have seen shows a lot of wear and tear. This one is in great original condition, having been in the previous owner’s home almost since new.

Sure, other games with multiple strategies to win are fun, but this game challenges the consistency of the player game to game. There is nothing quite like slamming that spinner. Sort of like hitting a “nothing but net” basketball shot. And it’s the easiest game in the collection to explain to a new player.

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The way I describe the playfield is that it’s deceivingly tight. This makes for great game play with 2” flippers. Lots of ricochet action and one of the best nudgers I have that’s not a woodrail. Many times the best shot is a backhand.

It’s one that wouldn’t leave anytime soon.

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It plays JUST LIKE a game of eight-ball (solids and stripes). There are 15 balls in the backglass. At the start of the game, all balls are retracted. As you hit the targets and rollovers on the playfield, the corresponding balls drop into view. image (resized).jpg

If you get all solids (Balls 1-7) OR all stripes (Balls 9-10), then the center 8 ball target lites for a special.

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If you can hit that, then the outer lanes are lit for additional specials depending on whether you knocked down the solids or stripes.

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An additional feature is that each ball is lit on the backglass pool table surface at the start of the game. As you knock down the ball, they disappear.

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This game is crazy realistic compared to an actual game of pool. There were other pool games that came before it, and some after, but I think this has the complete package of gameplay, styling and animation factor.