Set sail on the water — Williams’ Argosy is an electromechanical four-player wrapped in a nautical theme of boats, ships, and open water, designed by Chris Otis. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 2,052, it’s a handsome woodrail-era piece with a genuinely rewarding spinner-and-bonus strategy at its heart.
The strategy is a satisfying study in the art of the bonus build. Shoot the spinner from the left flipper and shoot up top from the right, since the rollovers and lane up top advance your bonus, and that bonus can be huge. Clearing the four left-side drop targets lights double bonus at the right saucer, while the top-lane skill shot opens the gate at the left inlane/outlane. Cleverly, the slingshot hits — and various unmarked 10-point switches around the playfield — turn the spinner on and off, so a savvy player keeps track and rips the lit spinner all day while nudging the ball through the upper rollover as much as possible. When the bonus is maxed out, the top lane lights for 10K, and a skillful plunge to open the gate rewards precision.
Argosy is a smartly designed Williams that packs genuine depth into its nautical package, with that spinner-and-bonus interplay and the double-bonus drop targets giving a thoughtful player plenty to master. The seafaring theme suits its flowing, spinner-driven playfield. For the collector who loves the golden age of EM pinball and a rewarding strategy, it’s a worthy find. Rip that lit spinner, work the drops for double bonus, and nudge through the upper rollover to build a huge bonus. Some machines reward learning their rhythms, and this Williams nautical gem is one of them. Weigh anchor and drop a coin.