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Medieval Madness (Williams, 1997)

Released by Williams in 1997, Medieval Madness is widely regarded as one of the most beloved and celebrated pinball machines of all time. Designed by Brian Eddy, the game combines fast-paced play, comedic storytelling, and highly interactive mechanical features. Set in a whimsical medieval world, it invites players to become knights on a quest to overthrow a series of wacky tyrants and destroy their castles.

The centerpiece of the game is a fully interactive castle with a working drawbridge and gate. Players must repeatedly strike the castle to lower the drawbridge, breach the gate, and ultimately destroy the structure, all while animated trolls emerge unexpectedly from the playfield to interfere. These mechanics offer dynamic, layered objectives that keep the action engaging and varied from ball to ball.

The game's artwork, created by Greg Freres and John Youssi, captures a lighthearted fantasy style filled with dragons, jousters, princesses, and catapults. The playfield’s visuals are complemented by humorous voiceovers and a lively soundtrack, which together establish the tone of a playful, satirical take on the Middle Ages. The game’s scripted humor features characters voiced by future comedy stars, adding to its charm.

With a production run of around 4,000 units, Medieval Madness achieved critical acclaim and a strong collector following. Its demand led to several high-quality remakes decades later, which introduced new features while preserving the original design. These remakes helped bring the game to a new generation of pinball fans.

Medieval Madness remains one of the most successful examples of theme, mechanics, and humor working in perfect harmony. Its reputation as a masterclass in design is well-earned, and it continues to delight players and collectors around the world.