Two games in one — Bally’s 2 in 1 is an electromechanical two-player designed by the prolific Ted Zale, whose name graces so many memorable Bally machines of the era. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 1,060, it’s a scarce and characterful woodrail-era piece from one of the industry’s most reliable designers, offered in the classic two-player format that made these games such social fixtures of their day.
The layout has a distinctive, bumper-heavy character that promises a lively game: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a hearty five mushroom bumpers, three slingshots, and two rollover buttons. That generous complement of mushroom and pop bumpers is the machine’s calling card, promising a bouncy, unpredictable ball that ricochets across the playfield and demands sharp reflexes and active nudging to keep in play. Those three slingshots, more than the usual pair, add even more kinetic energy to the mix. It’s the kind of bumper-driven design that gives EM machines their signature bounce and keeps a player engaged from plunge to drain.
2 in 1 is a fun example of Ted Zale’s electromechanical craft and Bally’s knack for a lively, energetic layout. The bumper-rich playfield delivers exactly the sort of bouncy, chaotic fun that made these machines so beloved in the arcades and taverns of their era, and its scarcity makes it a worthy find for the collector who loves the deep cuts of the Bally catalog. Ride that field of bumpers, work the rollovers, and keep the ball alive. Some machines are all about the joyful energy of the bounce, and this Zale classic delivers it in spades. Drop a coin and enjoy the ride.