D. Gottlieb & Company released "Devil's Dare" in August 1982, a pinball machine that arrived as the inaugural title on their new System 80A MPU. This wide body game, with a production run of 3,832 units, emerged from a creative team comprising Tom Szafransky on design, Craig Beierwaltes crafting the sounds, and a collaborative effort on artwork by David Moore and Doug Watson. The machine immersed players in a fantasy world steeped in monstrous and mythological themes, with a distinct, ominous aesthetic that challenged Gottlieb's traditionally more wholesome image. The backglass art, in particular, has a story of its own: Doug Watson's initial vision, featuring green, bat-winged figures, was deemed too provocative by Gottlieb executives. The company, known for its family-friendly stance, opted for a toned-down version created by David Moore, which nonetheless retained a powerful presence and served as a showcase for Ad Posters' advanced 4-color process printing on glass. This blend of evolving artistic boundaries and new technology defined its entry into the market.

Signature Features and Design

"Devil's Dare" immediately distinguishes itself through its wide body format, offering a more expansive playfield than standard designs of the era. This additional real estate allowed for a less cramped layout, providing ample space for shots and elements that might feel constrained on narrower tables. The machine’s artwork is a consistent point of praise, described as cool, ominous, and deeply rich in color. The menacing portrayal of the central devil figure on the backglass and throughout the playfield sets a compelling, supernatural tone. Beyond the visual appeal, the design incorporates a suite of unique mechanical features. There are two spinning targets, and a substantial thirteen drop targets, arranged in two 5-bank sets and one 3-bank. These drop targets are central to the game's flow, often sweepable and critical for advancing objectives. The presence of three flippers, including an upper right flipper, along with three pop bumpers and four slingshots, contributes to varied ball movement. A notable and unconventional feature is the manual kickback on the middle-left side lane and another for the left outlane, demanding player interaction to save the ball, adding a layer of strategic depth and risk. Dual inlanes and a kick-out hole further contribute to the distinct playfield architecture. The machine also introduced custom speech, adding an auditory layer to its foreboding theme.

Playfield and Mechanics

The playfield of "Devil's Dare" presents a visually striking and mechanically challenging landscape. Its wide body design is thoughtfully utilized to create a less congested environment, allowing for longer shots and more deliberate play. The artwork on the playfield, mirroring the backglass, employs deep, rich colors to create an atmosphere that is both creepy and inviting. Major shots include the two prominent 5-bank drop target sets, which serve as primary objectives for scoring and mode progression. Between these banks, a unique center rollunder shot leads to a "captive cave" area, often involving captive balls and demanding precision. There are two spinning targets that can rack up points, and a 3-bank drop target set adds to the density of targets.

The design philosophy leans towards a challenging, target-rich experience. The strategic placement of drop targets encourages sweeping shots, while the captive ball features require accuracy. The manual kickback system, unusual for its time, compels players to actively engage with the game's mechanics beyond simply flippering the ball. This requires timing and anticipation, as the kickback is not automatic and must be triggered by the player. The lighting, while typical for the era, enhances the ominous aesthetic, with subtle green covers on the digital display unit further reinforcing the theme. While the playfield is relatively open, this openness contributes to faster ball movement for a widebody, making precision even more crucial.

Gameplay Dynamics

"Devil's Dare" offers a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience centered around its numerous drop targets and multiple multiball modes. The primary objective often revolves around clearing the various banks of drop targets, which in turn lights up specific features or advances toward multiball. The game features both a 2-ball and a 3-ball multiball, each initiated through distinct shot combinations, making their achievement a significant and satisfying milestone. An additional "Multi-Mode" bonus multiball adds further layers of depth and scoring potential, pushing players to explore different areas of the playfield.

Player strategy heavily involves mastering the shot through the drop targets to activate the captive ball mechanisms and access the inner playfield. Utilizing the manual kickback effectively is also a key skill, turning potential outlanes into opportunities for continued play, albeit with a calculated risk. While the upper right flipper’s utility is often debated due to its limited shot repertoire, it can be used for specific targets or to briefly alter ball trajectory. The custom speech callouts, while atmospheric, vary in reception; in some versions, they can be repetitive, yet they do contribute to the game's overall spooky vibe. The game's inherent difficulty ensures that earning a high score or successfully navigating its complex ruleset feels like a genuine accomplishment, maintaining engagement through its challenging objectives.

Reception and Legacy

"Devil's Dare" holds a unique position within the pinball community, often considered an underrated gem from Gottlieb's System 80 era. Its most consistent strength is the artwork, frequently lauded for its ominous, rich, and well-executed depiction of the devil and fantasy elements, which sets a distinct tone. The challenging nature of its gameplay is also a significant positive for many enthusiasts; the difficulty in achieving multiball, for instance, makes the reward all the more satisfying. Players appreciate its original and creative features, such as the manual kickback, the unique center shot, and the emphasis on drop targets, all of which leverage the widebody design effectively to create a less crowded yet engaging playfield. Gottlieb's reputation for robust build quality is also noted, contributing to the machine's durability.

However, "Devil's Dare" is not without its criticisms. The upper right flipper is frequently cited as having limited purpose, which can feel like a missed opportunity in the playfield design. The sound package, particularly in its European iteration, draws polarized opinions; while aiming for an ominous tone, some found the music repetitive and the voice callouts mismatched or annoying. The game's high difficulty, while appreciated by some, can lead to frustration for others, especially with issues like air balls off center targets and slings, or balls occasionally getting stuck between plastics and glass. Furthermore, the proximity of the upper flipper to certain drop targets has led to durability concerns for those targets, with replacements proving hard to source. Some players also perceive the wide, open playfield as having too much "dead space," resulting in the ball spending excessive time moving horizontally.

Despite these criticisms, "Devil's Dare" maintains a strong reputation as a collector's machine, particularly for those who appreciate its specific brand of challenge and its distinctive aesthetic. Its historical significance as the first Gottlieb System 80A game positions it as a technical milestone for the manufacturer. It demonstrated Gottlieb's willingness to experiment with art themes and playfield layouts, leaving a unique mark on the early 1980s pinball landscape. Its challenging rule set and unique features continue to captivate players who seek a different kind of gameplay experience from the era.