Released in November 1991, Surf 'n Safari emerged from the D. Gottlieb & Co. factory, a company operating under its Premier Technology branding. This solid-state electronic pinball machine was conceived by designer Jon Norris, with artwork from Constantino Mitchell, David Moore, and Jeanine Mitchell. Rand Paulin developed the software, and Steve Kirk contributed to mechanical elements. The soundscape was crafted by Craig Beierwaltes and Dave Zabriskie. With a production run of 2,006 units, Surf 'n Safari arrived as the pinball industry was on the cusp of a significant transition, still utilizing an alphanumeric display when Dot Matrix Displays were beginning to appear in competitors' machines.

The game's theme blends elements of a tropical water park with an African safari, featuring surfing and various animal characters. This fusion creates a lighthearted and distinctive atmosphere. An interesting piece of development trivia reveals that a single test version of Surf 'n Safari was produced as a DMD test platform for an industry show in Europe before being converted back to the standard alphanumeric display model for commercial release. Furthermore, Steve Kirk, a key contributor to the machine's mechanics, was responsible for the strategic post that introduces randomness to the ball's exit from the pop bumper area and the inclusion of the miniature plastic palm trees that accent the playfield. Promotional taglines like "Take the Plunge!!" and "…SUNsational!!!" captured the game's inviting and vibrant spirit.

Signature Features and Design

Surf 'n Safari's design is characterized by its colorful artwork and several engaging playfield elements that define its identity. Foremost among these is Rodney the Gator, a stationary crocodile character positioned prominently in the center of the playfield, who serves as the game's host, delivering various callouts and lines. This adds a unique narrative voice to the gameplay. Another standout feature is the "Whirlpool," a saucer located behind the central drop targets that feeds balls directly into the lively pop bumper area. This shot often leads to unpredictable bounces and adds a dynamic element to ball flow.

The "Pipeline Saucer" is another notable mechanism, feeding balls into the left inlane via a sculpted pipe, creating a visual and mechanical sequence. Complementing this is the "Rapids Ramp," which circles the back of the playfield before delivering balls to the right inlane. These two ramps, along with the Whirlpool, form the backbone of the game's primary shots. Visually, the machine is bright and vibrant, with art depicting cartoonish animals like toucans and surf-ready characters, enhancing the lighthearted water park and safari theme. The bright lighting package further emphasizes the playfield's visual appeal, contributing to an overall cheerful aesthetic. The presence of miniature palm trees, strategically placed on the playfield, reinforces the tropical setting and aids in defining the visual landscape.

Playfield and Mechanics

The playfield of Surf 'n Safari employs a fan layout, providing players with a clear path to various targets and ramps from the two flippers. At the top of the playfield, behind a set of central drop targets, are three pop bumpers, known for their randomized ball exit due to Steve Kirk's design contribution. Below these, the "Whirlpool" saucer directs balls into the bumper zone. To the left, the "Pipeline Saucer" is fed by a dedicated ramp that guides the ball through a pipe before returning it to the left inlane. Opposite, on the right, the "Rapids Ramp" sweeps around the upper playfield, guiding the ball to the right inlane.

The machine features a total of six drop targets: a three-bank of "Splash Targets" prominently located in the center, and another three-bank of "Snack Attack Targets" on the right side. A "Boomerang Spinner" is situated within a left orbit shot, offering a satisfying target for continuous points. Two spring-loaded standup targets, the "Souvenirs Target" on the bottom left and the "Arcade Target" on the bottom right, provide additional scoring opportunities and progression. Two vertical up-kickers are strategically placed, responsible for launching balls from specific saucers back onto the playfield or into ramps, maintaining game flow. Below the Whirlpool, a "Plunge" saucer serves as the landing zone for the skill shot, offering varying awards based on the plunge's force. The artwork across the playfield is consistently bright and colorful, showcasing the amusement park and safari theme with clear graphics and engaging character designs, ensuring the visual experience complements the gameplay.

Gameplay Dynamics

The core objective in Surf 'n Safari is to "ride all the slides," which translates to completing a 5x5 bonus grid situated above the flippers. This grid tracks player progression, with each completed row and column unlocking specific awards and starting bonus rounds. Shots to the Pipeline, Rapids Ramp, Boomerang Spinner, all three Splash targets, or the Whirlpool all advance a column on this grid, driving the primary gameplay loop.

The game initiates with a manual skill shot, where a gentle plunge into the "Plunge" saucer can yield a random bonus award. Successfully navigating the grid unlocks various benefits, including lighting exit awards, activating specific targets like the Arcade, initiating multiball at the Pipeline, or awarding an extra ball at the Souvenirs target. Completing entire columns of the grid can trigger distinct bonus rounds such as a "Three Million" target round, a "Safari" round requiring hits on animal targets, a "Boomerang" round for concentrated points, or a "Whirlpool" round specifically for an extra ball opportunity. Each completed grid also adds a significant 5 million points to the end-of-ball bonus, with successive completions leading to "Special" and "Extra Special" awards.

Multiball, specifically a three-ball frenzy, is a central scoring opportunity, achievable by locking balls at the Pipeline once certain grid rows are completed or the Rapids column is lit. An "Instant Multiball" can also be awarded via the skill shot plunge. During multiball, players aim for Jackpots and Super Jackpots, which represent substantial point values. A distinguishing feature is the "D-O-U-B-L-E" mechanic. Letters for "D-O-U-B-L-E" are collected by hitting the Plunge and Pipeline shots. Successfully spelling "D-O-U-B-L-E" activates a "Double Round," where all scores, extra balls, and specials are doubled until the ball is lost, providing a major scoring boost. The "Whirlpool Million" offers escalating 1 million point awards for quickly hitting the Whirlpool when lit, adding another layer of strategic scoring. The end-of-ball bonus system, heavily reliant on the completed bonus grid, significantly contributes to overall scores, while a "Pity Extra Ball" mechanism helps new players by awarding an extra ball on the final ball if the score is low or multiball hasn't been triggered.

Reception and Legacy

Surf 'n Safari generally garnered a positive reception within the pinball community, often described as a fun, cheerful, and enjoyable experience, especially appealing to families or those seeking a more casual game. It frequently earns the moniker of a "sleeper favorite" or a pleasant surprise for players. Its strengths are often cited as its engaging gameplay and satisfying shots, with the ramps and the distinctive "whirlpool" feature being particular highlights. The water park/jungle animal theme, while sometimes considered unusual, contributes to its unique and distinctive atmosphere, with characters like Rodney the Gator often mentioned fondly.

Players appreciate the machine's accessible ruleset, which is easy to learn and clearly signposted, making it welcoming for newer players. However, it offers enough strategic depth, particularly around the "Double" scoring feature, to keep experienced players engaged. The "Double" mechanic, which doubles all scoring until the ball drains, is a significant draw, offering substantial scoring potential and a distinct sound effect. Visually, the game is frequently praised for its bright, colorful artwork and vibrant lighting, contributing to its family-friendly appeal. Gottlieb's System 3 electronics are also generally regarded as reliable and well-built.

Despite these positives, some critiques emerged. A few players noted that the scoring could feel unbalanced, particularly when the "Double" feature or multiball dominated scoring opportunities, potentially leading to repetitive gameplay for some. The theme's execution, while generally liked, was occasionally described as a mix of elements that felt "half-baked" or confusing by a few. Concerns were raised about the quality of some playfield toys and cabinet design, with comparisons to less robust, mass-produced items. The overall sound quality, despite good music and callouts, was sometimes cited as a minor weakness. Additionally, some players reported that the ramps could be prone to breakage, with replacement parts being difficult to source. The drop targets on the right side of the playfield were also mentioned by a few as being particularly difficult to hit consistently. For highly experienced players, the game's depth was occasionally questioned for long-term ownership if it were their sole machine. Finally, the absence of a Dot Matrix Display was a minor point of contention for a machine released as DMDs were gaining prominence. Regardless, Surf 'n Safari maintains a positive reputation, often recognized for its approachable "fan layout," a design philosophy that would see further development in subsequent pinball machines.