Bally’s Centaur II, released in 1983, is a re-release of the studio’s revered 1981 classic, bringing Jim Patla’s menacing masterpiece back for a second production run. The bones are pure Centaur — the same sinister half-man, half-motorcycle theme, the same reverb-soaked taunting voice, and the same brilliant ORBS multiball ruleset that made the original such a legend — making this a faithful way to experience one of the great solid-state machines.
The gameplay is identical and as compelling as ever. Hitting the O-R-B-S drop targets below the pop bumpers in order launches an immediate two-ball multiball, while locking balls out of order builds toward a maximum five-ball frenzy, released by the standups or the 1-2-3-4 lanes. Completing all four flipper lanes adds a ball, and the recessed red magnet target in the upper right — which momentarily holds the ball — remains the high-value challenge that skilled players learn to backhand with a deft nudge.
All the depth survives, from chaining the right-side drops in order to light the right orbit for Collect Bonus, to the outlane gates that let you save a draining ball. For collectors, Centaur II offers another shot at owning a stone-cold classic, with the same dark artwork and bottomless attitude that have made the Centaur name iconic. Menacing, deep, and endlessly replayable, it’s proof that a truly great design deserves more than one trip down the line — and the centaur’s challenge still echoes just as loud.