A knight from across the sea — Black Rider is a solid-state four-player from the Italian maker Giuliano Lodola, wrapped in a historical-knights theme, and it stands as a fascinating continental echo of the split-level, Magna-Save-style design that Steve Ritchie’s Black Knight made famous. With an alphanumeric display, four flippers, four banks of three-bank drop targets, and a spinning target, it’s an intriguing European take on a landmark concept.
The strategy mirrors the classic split-level approach. Always hold the right flipper up when plunging, or the ball comes screaming down, and hit the drop-target sets to light your magnetic saves. Take the center horseshoe for bonus multiplier, but only with a magnetic save lit on the left outlane, and be ready to use it. For multiball, lock a ball in the upper saucer and lock two for the three-ball frenzy, ideally starting on the upper playfield, and at multiball’s start aim to send the upper shot curling back into the lock for repeated points. The inlanes light the center ramp and spinner for good scoring, giving a player a rewarding rhythm to settle into on this multi-level design.
Black Rider is a fine example of the broader, international sweep of pinball history, an Italian machine that carried the influential split-level, magnetic-save concept into a European design with its own distinctive flavor. Giuliano Lodola built games with real character, and this knights-themed title is a genuinely interesting continental cousin to a celebrated American classic. For the collector who appreciates the global corners of the hobby and the cross-pollination of great ideas, it’s a worthy find. Master those magnetic saves, lock your balls up top, and ride the Black Rider. The far corners of pinball history hold plenty of intriguing echoes, and this Italian knight is one of them. Charge the castle and drop a coin.