Into the jungle — Gottlieb’s Amazon Hunt is a solid-state four-player wrapped in an adventure theme, the first entry in the company’s Amazon Hunt series, and it comes from the legendary designer Ed Krynski with art by Larry Day. With an alphanumeric display and a confirmed run of 1,515, it’s a spirited early-’80s Gottlieb that launched a small franchise of jungle-adventure machines.
The layout is a solid, engaging spread: two flippers, three pop bumpers, four standup targets, two big five-bank drop-target arrays, two kick-out holes, and dual inlanes. Those dual five-banks of drops are the machine’s calling card, giving a sharp-shooting player a formidable and satisfying set of objectives to clear — knocking down all ten drops is a real test of accuracy. The four standups offer additional targets to work through, the two kick-out holes provide captured-ball awards, and the dual inlanes help feed controlled shots to the flippers. It’s a clean, target-rich design that rewards precise shooting, all in service of its jungle-expedition theme.
Amazon Hunt is a fine example of Ed Krynski’s design craft, the opening chapter of a Gottlieb series that let the company build on a proven adventure concept, with Larry Day’s art bringing the jungle theme to life. Krynski was one of the true masters of the era, and this early solid-state machine carries his reliable design sensibility. For the collector who loves early-’80s Gottlieb design and the appeal of a themed series, it’s a rewarding find. Clear those dual five-banks, work the standups, and hack your way through the jungle. Some machines launched whole series, and this Krynski adventure classic started a franchise. Grab your gear and drop a coin.