Gottlieb’s 1978 release, *Dragon*, stands as a masterclass in minimalist Electromechanical design, marking a rare convergence of Ed Krynski’s legendary layout sensibilities and Gordon Morison’s evocative fantasy aesthetic. With a production run of just over 500 units, this four-player machine is a coveted relic from the twilight of the EM era. The playfield is deceptively straightforward, eschewing the cluttered ramps and complex sub-systems of later decades in favor of a raw, skill-based experience defined by its dual vari-targets and a central spinning target that demands precise, high-velocity hits.
The gameplay experience is built around the tension of the vari-target, a signature Gottlieb mechanical feature that rewards the player based on the depth of the shot; the further the target is pushed, the greater the point yield. Balancing these targets against the pop bumpers requires a disciplined approach to ball control, as the layout offers little room for error. While the strategy may seem as simple as keeping the ball away from the outlanes, the true challenge lies in mastering the rebound geometry of the spinners to rack up multipliers. It is a quintessential “one more game” machine that proves you don’t need a microprocessor to create a heart-pounding experience.