Open sesame — Sega’s Ali Baba is an electromechanical two-player that spins the classic Arabian Nights fantasy of Ali Baba and the forty thieves into a reel-scoring pinball adventure. A charming piece from Sega’s earlier era of coin-op manufacturing, it wraps its myth-and-legend theme around a satisfying, well-appointed playfield full of the mechanical pleasures that define the EM age.
The layout offers a nice variety of shots and saves: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, four drop targets, two standup targets, a kick-out hole, a left-side drop lane, a left-outlane kickback, a right-outlane ball return gate, and an up-post between the flippers. That’s a generous helping of ball-saving features — the kickback, the return gate, and the up-post all give a player real tools to keep the ball in play, rewarding an alert, active approach. The four drop targets provide a clear objective to work through, while the bumpers keep the ball lively up top, all in service of the game’s enchanted, treasure-hunting theme.
Ali Baba is a fun, characterful EM machine that pairs a beloved fairy-tale theme with a thoughtfully defensive layout, giving players plenty of chances to fight off the drain and keep racking up points. The Arabian Nights setting was a colorful, evergreen choice, full of magic and adventure, and this machine captures that storybook spirit. For the collector who enjoys the global sweep of pinball history and Sega’s early contributions to it, it’s a worthy find. Work the drops, use those kickbacks and gates, and unlock the treasure cave. Some machines reward patience and defense, and this enchanted classic is one of them. Open sesame, indeed.