Note for the archivist: this particular cabinet wears Shrek’s swampy livery, but under the glass it’s the very same machine as Stern’s 2007 Family Guy — a Pat Lawlor design re-themed and reissued, sharing an identical playfield, rules, and that ambitious mini-playfield tucked into the layout. So whether the backglass shows an ogre or a Quahog cul-de-sac, the strategy is one and the same, and it’s a surprisingly deep Lawlor creation hiding behind a licensed cartoon face. Five flippers, captive balls, Newton balls, a spinning target, and an up-post between the flippers give you plenty to work with.
The scoring rewards a player who understands its many multiballs and modes. Completing the drop-target bank a set number of times starts a multiball, and there’s a built-in comeback mechanic: if you’re sitting on a low score going into ball three, the beer-can shot is usually lit for a multiball to help you catch up. Shoot the right orbit spinner to light modes, then hit the scoop beside the captive ball when “TV” is lit to start one. Bash the captive balls to spell PINBALL and the scoop sends you to the mini-playfield, where completing all the shots starts a multiball of its own. The deep game is a wizard chase: finish all the TV modes to light TV Wizard, and since shots made during modes count toward its jackpots, the patient player avoids timing them all out.
This re-themed twin is a terrific example of how a strong underlying design transcends its skin. Work the drops, ride the orbit into modes, conquer the mini-playfield, and push toward the wizard finale. The ogre and the cartoon dad play exactly alike — gloriously.