Force II is a quintessential 1981 widebody relic from Gottlieb that drops players directly into the cockpit of a sci-fi space combat mission. Designed by John Osborne with striking, utilitarian art by David Moore, this solid-state machine makes an imposing impression on the floor. The expansive playfield is packed with an array of targets—including two banks of five drops and an additional four-bank cluster—that keep the action tight despite the machine’s generous width. With four flippers at your disposal, the game encourages tactical precision, especially when utilizing the upper-left flipper to hammer the spinning target and cycle the ball through the upper rollovers.
The core gameplay loop centers on mastery of the red, white, and blue top lanes, which correspond to specific standup targets scattered across the field. Lighting these sequences is the key to unlocking the machine’s two-ball multiball, turning the wide space into a chaotic firefight. Players should prioritize a gentle touch on the initial plunge, as missing those top lanes early on makes it an uphill battle to regain control of the playfield’s upper reaches. For those chasing high scores, methodical work on the drop target banks is essential; clearing these sets is the primary engine for advancing your bonus multiplier, which tops out at a rewarding 6x.
As a production run of only 2,000 units, Force II remains a coveted example of the widebody era’s ambition. It doesn’t rely on flashy modern gimmicks, instead offering a rugged, skill-based experience that demands patience and accuracy. Whether you are aiming to maximize your bonus or carefully locking balls to trigger the multiball, Force II stands as a testament to the era when Gottlieb was pushing the boundaries of what a pinball cabinet could hold.