Gottlieb’s Jungle Queen, released in 1977, brings a vivid fantasy-adventure theme to a clean, drop-target-driven playfield, and it stands as the sister machine to Gottlieb’s Jungle Princess. Releasing closely related games under different names was a hallmark of the era, letting Gottlieb tailor the same well-honed design to different operator needs — and this version offers the same brisk, satisfying electromechanical action on a four-flipper layout that, in a period quirk, forgoes slingshots entirely.
The path to points runs through the twin five-bank drop targets. Knocking them down builds your bonus, and clearing a full bank lights the lane behind it for a generous 5,000 points. The clever plunge is aimed at the “B” target — A and C come easily from the inlanes, but B is hard to reach deliberately, and stringing together A-B-C awards double bonus. The pair of saucers are dependable scorers at a flat 5,000 points each, and the game gives you a friendly send-off by automatically lighting double bonus on the final ball.
Balanced, accessible, and quick to learn, Jungle Queen is a fine slice of late-70s Gottlieb craftsmanship. For collectors who appreciate elegant drop-target gameplay and a dash of jungle adventure, it’s an enjoyable and handsome classic well worth seeking out.