The Biggest
When you are young, you are attracted by the biggest, the fastest and
the best. When I read in a magazine about Hercules, the biggest pinball
machine in the world, I had to play it. Not only was it the biggest
pinball machine in the world, but it was based on Hercules and I was always a
huge fan of mythology. It was a combination that I could not pass up.
The problem was that nowhere near my house had Hercules. The arcades near my house were smaller and it took up alot of room. Also, most arcades did not carry many new pinball machines. Arcade games were the thing with the success of Space Invaders, Galaxian and Asteroids and that is where all their money was being put. I figured that I would never get to play the machine.
It took a few years before I was able to play the machine. I had all but forgotten about it when I was visiting my cousin's house. My cousin Tony told me about a giant arcade named Futureworld (you can read more about it in Retrogaming Times #8). The place looked like a supermarket turned into an arcade. They had a line of 8 Ms. Pacman machines alone. Every arcade and pinball game you could want was there. From the classic to the modern. And along a wall in the back was Hercules. I ran over there and just stared at the machine. The thing was huge. I immediately bought some tokens and went back and put two in to play (yes, it cost $0.50 to play, a small price to play the biggest).
Well, the game was not very good. Instead of a pinball, you hit around a pool ball. It was uncomfortable to play as you had to spread your arms out. Since the ball was so heavy, it was hard to hit and just felt awkward. But I still enjoyed it. I looked past all that as I thought about how I was playing the biggest pinball machine in the world.
As far as I know, it is still the biggest machine and I have played it again. They have a machine at Cedar Point and I play it every summer. While I do not have the same enthusiasm for it that I had back in 1982, I still enjoy it. It was neat to see the look on my kids face when they came face to face with Hercules. They also were impressed by playing the biggest pinball machine in the world. And that feeling is priceless.