Read your fortune in the stars — Gottlieb’s Aquarius is an electromechanical single-player wrapped in an astrology theme, and it comes from the legendary designer Ed Krynski with art by Art Stenholm. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 2,025, it’s a handsome woodrail-era Gottlieb with a satisfying, target-rich playfield.
The strategy has real texture. The plunge is very important here — aim to settle into one of the right-side “300” saucers for a strong start. Completing the 1-through-12 targets lights a random number for special, with certain switches changing which number is lit, giving a player a rewarding zodiac-themed objective to chase. There’s a nice bit of skill, too: nudge the ball past the pop bumpers so it heads back to the upper playfield, where they can score hundreds from the pop bumpers and top lanes. With ten standup targets and five kick-out holes, there’s a busy, well-appointed field to work, all in service of the astrological theme.
Aquarius is a fine example of Ed Krynski’s design craft and Stenholm’s artwork, pairing a mystical astrology theme with a satisfying, target-rich playfield and a genuinely important skill plunge. Krynski was one of the true masters of the era, and this machine carries his reliable design sensibility. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and a rewarding ruleset, it’s a worthy find. Nail that plunge into the 300 saucer, complete 1 through 12 for the special, and work the ball back up top for those hundreds. Some machines reward a smart opening and methodical play, and this Gottlieb astrology gem is one of them. Consult the stars and drop a coin.