Williams’ Comet, released in 1985 and designed by Barry Oursler, kicked off one of pinball’s most charming runs — the amusement-park trilogy continued by Cyclone and Hurricane, all inspired by the rides of a bygone Chicago fairground. It’s a fast, friendly, multiplier-driven table that captures the giddy thrill of a roller coaster, anchored by a Cycle Jump ramp and an upper-left corkscrew ramp that rewards accurate, repeated shooting.
The scoring rewards building your playfield multiplier early. Completing the top lanes on ball one lights a timed 2X playfield, which climbs to 3X on ball two and a hefty 5X on ball three — so the savvy player completes those lanes fast and then cashes in. The jump ramp’s hidden back pocket pays 200,000, which combined with 5X scoring becomes a cool million-point shot. Lighting the targets on both sides illuminates the central Comet ramp, worth chasing three or four times for the extra ball and specials waiting at the corkscrew.
Simple to grasp but rewarding to optimize, Comet is the foundation of a beloved series and a fine example of Oursler’s gift for accessible, escalating fun. For collectors who love the bright, breezy spirit of the mid-80s — and the joy of timing a big multiplier just right — it’s a delightful and historically important amusement-park classic.