The music of the night awaits — Data East’s 1990 Phantom of the Opera brings the gothic romance to a four-player whose centerpiece is the “organ,” a ramp in the upper-right playfield that raises to let you shoot balls into the cavern below for multiball locks. Designed by Joe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula with Paul Faris art, this confirmed run of 2,750 is an atmospheric early-’90s Data East with swinging and hanging targets and a moody, theatrical feel befitting its source.
The strategy centers on that organ and its multiball. The skill shot is the flashing top lane, worth a hundred thousand times the ball number, and it opens the organ for your multiball locks — a valuable opening play. Complete ONE on the organ to light the lock for fifteen seconds, then shoot the organ for two-ball multiball; shoot it again to open it and lock both balls inside for the three-ball version. During three-ball multiball, shoot the organ to open it and feed a ball inside for the jackpot, relighting it by completing ONE and TWO on the organ. The left ramp is the other big shot: hammer it repeatedly to spell PHANTOM, and on completion the ramp stays lit for a million for seven seconds, a juicy time-pressure payoff worth chasing.
Phantom of the Opera is a handsome, atmospheric Data East that rewards a player who masters the rhythm of opening that organ for locks and jackpots while working the left ramp for PHANTOM millions. The raising organ ramp is a memorable mechanism, and the gothic theme gives it lasting appeal. Open the organ, stack your locks, ride the multiball jackpots, and spell PHANTOM for the big payoff. Let the music of the night carry you to a haunting high score.