Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this old pinball machine lately, a 1980 Williams Black Knight. It’s a classic, but the rules can be a bit tricky to figure out. I thought I’d share what I’ve learned so far, maybe it’ll help someone else out there.
First off, I got the machine up and running. That was a whole thing in itself. Replaced a bunch of burnt-out bulbs, cleaned the playfield, the usual stuff. Once it was playable, I started just flipping the ball around, trying to get a feel for it.
Upper Playfield
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There are these three targets on the top playfield, and hitting them lights up letters in “BLACK KNIGHT.”
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Once you light all the letters, it locks in a ball up there. Get another ball up, and you start multiball.
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There’s also a little spinner, and hitting that scores points and lights up other stuff, like the outlane rollovers.
Lower Playfield
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Down below, you’ve got your standard three drop target banks.
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Knocking down all three targets on either side opens up the “MAGNA-SAVE” feature. This is a lifesaver!
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You hit a button, and these magnets pop up near the outlanes, saving your ball from draining.
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Then there’s another set of three targets in the middle. Hitting those lights up the kickback on the left outlane.
So, I spent a good few hours just playing, hitting different shots, and trying to see what did what. It was a lot of trial and error, let me tell you. But slowly, I started to piece things together.
The main goal seems to be to light up all the letters, lock in those balls, and start multiball. During multiball, you can rack up some serious points. It’s pretty chaotic, but that’s part of the fun. I managed to get a few decent scores, but I’m still nowhere near mastering it.
I’m still figuring out some of the finer points, like the bonus multipliers and how to maximize scoring. I grabbed a copy of the rule sheet online, but honestly, it’s a bit confusing. I find it’s easier to just play and learn as I go.
This Black Knight machine is definitely a challenge, but it’s a blast to play. It’s got that classic “one more game” feel to it. I’ll keep playing and see if I can uncover any more secrets. Maybe I’ll post an update later on. Who knows!