Sound the war cry — Taito’s 1978 Apache! is a solid-state four-player from the Brazilian arm of the storied Japanese manufacturer, wrapped in a theme of Native American warriors. With an alphanumeric display, it’s an intriguing international machine that brings a distinctly global flavor to the flippers, and it hides a satisfying, strategy-rich playfield.
The strategy rewards a thoughtful, skillful player. The heart of the game is the two big five-bank drop-target arrays: completing all ten lower drop targets lights the black targets for a juicy 5,000, giving a sharp shooter a clear, rewarding objective. Collecting A-B-C advances the upper-right and left scoop values by a thousand for each letter, and cleverly, it’s possible to collect A and C — and sometimes even B — by alley passing, a bit of skillful ball control worth mastering. There’s a nice defensive tip, too: should it come back down the top A or C rollover lanes, a bounce pass is your safest play. And keep going late, because your bonus is doubled on the fifth ball.
Apache! is a fine example of the broader, international sweep of pinball history beyond the familiar American names, a Taito machine from Brazil that carries its own distinctive flavor. That ten-target drop strategy and the alley-passing card collection give a thoughtful player genuine depth to master. For the collector who appreciates the global corners of the hobby and a rewarding ruleset, it’s a worthy find. Clear those ten drops for the black-target bonus, alley-pass for your letters, and cash in on that doubled fifth-ball bonus. The far corners of pinball history hold plenty of strategic surprises, and this Taito machine is one of them. Sound the cry and drop a coin.