Command the seas with the trident — Stern Electronics’ 1979 Trident is a myth-and-legend solid-state four-player designed by Mike Kubin, and with a confirmed run of 3,757 it was a solid success for the company in the crucial early years of solid-state pinball. An alphanumeric display and a distinctive layout give this Poseidon-themed machine real character among its late-’70s peers.
The layout has some genuinely interesting design choices: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a generous four slingshots, five standups, a five-bank of drop targets, twin spinning targets, a kick-out hole, and a star rollover, plus a mini-post screw between the flippers. Most notably, it features an open-elbow inlane that allows the ball to pass from inlane to outlane and vice versa, and there’s no left outlane at all — an unusual configuration that changes the whole geometry of ball control and drain danger. Those design quirks, along with the dual spinners and the big drop bank, give a player plenty to learn and work with, rewarding someone who adapts to the machine’s unconventional flow.
Trident is a fine example of Stern Electronics finding its footing in the early solid-state era, pairing a classic mythological theme with a layout full of interesting, character-defining features. That open-elbow inlane and the missing left outlane make it a distinctive play, the kind of machine that rewards a player who learns its particular rhythms. For the collector who loves the formative years of solid-state design, it’s a worthy pick. Work those dual spinners, clear the drop bank, and master that unusual inlane flow. The god of the sea rewards the player who learns to ride his unconventional waves. Raise the trident and rule.