# Pinball Machine Review | The Most Highly Tuned Pimped Game I've Ever Played | Galactic Tank Force

**Source:** Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2025-10-01  
**Duration:** 15m 49s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ28WJvN4ZQ

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## Analysis

Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama reviews a heavily customized Galactic Tank Force from American Pinball owned by Rob, featuring extensive 3D-printed mods, custom plastics from Colly Wobbles, and significant software input from the owner. The hosts praise the game as an underrated sleeper title with outstanding artwork by Chris Franchi, excellent lighting, and engaging original theme mechanics, attributing its market obscurity to poor release timing coinciding with other major pinball releases.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Galactic Tank Force is the best-lit pinball machine currently available — _Host states during gameplay: 'This is by the way the best lit pinball machine that I think is out there'_
- [MEDIUM] Chris Franchi is the best pinball artist without question — _Host opinion: 'Chris is the best pinball artist. Not even beyond doubt in my opinion'_
- [HIGH] Rob (owner) has had constant contact with American Pinball and helped develop software updates post-release — _Host states: 'Rob was in contact with them...he's actually helped them develop the software once it was released into software updates'_
- [MEDIUM] Galactic Tank Force's poor market visibility is due to crowded release timing, not game quality — _Host speculation: 'When you talk about the release...it came out at a funny time. There was a lot released at the same time'_
- [LOW] Within 2-3 years, used Galactic Tank Force machines may become hard to find as demand increases — _Host prediction: 'I would not be surprised if in two or three years time the people want to get hold of these and they can't'_

### Notable Quotes

> "This is not just any any old Galactic Tank Force...This is Rob's Galactic Tank Force and this has been had everything done to it."
> — **Gonzo (host)**, ~1:20
> _Establishes the machine as heavily customized and exceptional, setting expectations for the review_

> "This is by the way the best lit pinball machine that I think is out there."
> — **Gonzo (host)**, ~7:40
> _Strong praise for lighting design; significant claim about GTF's technical execution_

> "Chris is the best pinball artist. Not even beyond doubt in my opinion."
> — **Gonzo (host)**, ~4:50
> _Identifies Chris Franchi as top-tier artist; contextualizes artwork quality assessment_

> "I'm you know some of them get lost in the fog of there being so many pinball machines"
> — **Gonzo (host)**, ~14:20
> _Reflects on broader market saturation and how quality games can be overlooked_

> "This is an infinitely playable pinball machine."
> — **Gonzo (host)**, ~10:30
> _High praise for gameplay depth and replayability_

> "This has been tuned to high heaven by Rob. He's just what he's like. He takes it apart and he tweaks it and he puts it back together."
> — **Gonzo (host)**, ~15:00
> _Describes owner's obsessive customization approach and commitment to optimization_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Galactic Tank Force | game | Original-themed pinball machine by American Pinball; subject of detailed review; described as underrated sleeper title with exceptional lighting and artwork |
| American Pinball | company | Manufacturer of Galactic Tank Force; described as maintaining software development contact with customers post-release |
| Gonzo | person | Host of Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama; conducts gameplay review and provides expert commentary on design |
| Spencer | person | Co-host/guest on Gonzo's channel; participates in gameplay demonstration |
| Rob | person | Owner of the reviewed Galactic Tank Force machine; has extensively customized it with 3D-printed mods, provided input to American Pinball on software development |
| Chris Franchi | person | Artist for Galactic Tank Force; described as 'the best pinball artist' by host; also noted for Evil Dead artwork |
| Dennis Nordman | person | Designer of Galactic Tank Force; previously designed White Water and Alvirara's House of Horrors |
| Pete Petroski | person | Team member on Galactic Tank Force; previously involved with Champion Pub pinball |
| Colly Wobbles | company | Manufacturer of custom plastics installed on the reviewed Galactic Tank Force |
| Pinball Heaven | company | Provided the review unit of Galactic Tank Force to Gonzo's Pinball Flipperama |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Galactic Tank Force gameplay and mechanics, Custom modifications and 3D printing in pinball, Pinball artwork and visual design (Chris Franchi), Lighting design and technical execution
- **Secondary:** Market visibility and game discovery in crowded release landscape, American Pinball's post-release software support

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.92) — Extremely favorable review. Hosts enthusiastically praise almost every aspect: lighting, artwork, design team, gameplay depth, and the owner's customization work. Minor criticisms absent. Strong recommendation implied. Only slight temper from acknowledging this is an exceptionally tuned specimen.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** American Pinball maintaining direct feedback loops with owners for post-release software optimization (confidence: high) — Host describes Rob having 'constant contact with American people pretty much since the day they brought it out' and helping develop software updates
- **[design_philosophy]** Original IP themes offer creative freedom and flexibility not available with licensed properties (confidence: medium) — Host: 'it is an original theme, so it's not a license, which has allowed them to go really...use their imagination'
- **[market_signal]** Galactic Tank Force release timing coincided with market saturation, contributing to reduced visibility despite quality (confidence: medium) — Host speculation: 'it came out at a funny time. There was a lot released at the same time...some of them just get lost in the fog'
- **[product_concern]** GTF had significant issues out of box but has been addressed through software updates and community feedback (confidence: high) — Host: 'when it was out the box, this game had had a lot of problems, but you shouldn't disguise it...it's a fantastic game' and describes Rob's role in software development input
- **[sentiment_shift]** Galactic Tank Force repositioned from problem-plagued launch title to underrated sleeper gem with market potential (confidence: high) — Host: 'it's a fantastic game, a hugely underrated game' and prediction that availability may become constrained in 2-3 years as demand increases
- **[technology_signal]** Extensive use of 3D-printed custom components as standard optimization approach for high-end machines (confidence: medium) — Host describes 3D-printed plastics, drain devices, and tank redesigns as normal customization path: 'everything is sort of been individually 3D printed'

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## Transcript

Galactic Tank Force from American Pinball. You've seen this on the channel before. We were lucky enough to have one of these sent down. Um, thanks to Pinball Heaven sent us one. In fact, one of these, which is the top edition. So, this has got the full kit. Actually, when the backbox is down, if you look at the back of the backbox, Spence, you'll see there's a gun turret on it. So, actually the whole machine becomes a tank.
It bloody does. Look at that.
There you go. And you actually see like the um
Oh, that's just naughty.
Gamma ray thing or whatever. Whatever it is,
the little flasher.
Yeah.
This little red end is having a flash.
Leave me out of it. Right.
This is not just any any old Galactic Tank Force. Not just saying that because it's the top model. This is Rob's Galactic Tank Force and this has been had everything done to it. Robbers had constant um contact with American people pretty much since the day they brought it out. Even when I had one of these at my house, Rob was in contact with them. He I I think it would be fair to say that he's actually helped them develop the software once it was released into software updates by, you know, telling them what was wrong, what what the glitches were, all that sort of thing. So there's been a lot a lot of input from him that's gone into it. He's also done a load of mods. You can just cut come in and start looking at it, Spence. To be honest with you, he's done so many mods on here. There's um everything is sort of been individually 3D printed. So these plastics here, they're from they're from Colly Wobbles. He's got the Collie Wobbles plastics on it.
Have some fun. But you've got this little drain device on it here, which again when it was out the box, this game had had a lot of problems, but it shouldn't disguise it. It's a fantastic game, a hugely underrated game. I would not be surprised if in two or three years time the people want to get hold of these and and they can't. That how good it is. Um so all this this he's printed this, designed this. Um even the tank itself has been redesigned um which he's done. And actually inside, if you um I'm not going to pull him up there. You'll see when he pops up. He's not gray. He's actually, you know, in a full gold color, which you'll see on the screen. All these are new 3D prints that Rob's done. Um he's basically done this. So, this now matches the pop bumpers. You got the full light show in there. He's just done so much on this game. Um and one of the things I really like about this game is it is an original theme, so it's not a license. which has allowed them to go really I I think just to use their imagination in terms of what they wanted to do and there's a really good team on you probably see and hear a lot of the team that's just disappeared off there you got Pete Petroski who was obviously involved in the champion pub uh this is
Wow that's that's that's really interesting
yeah yeah he he was he was heavily involved in it as well I mean it's got all here but it's a Dennis Nordman design of course Dennis Nordman Oh, we did White Water. Dennis Nordman did Whitewater. Alvirara's House of Horrors. Um, and then it's Christopher Franchi on the artwork. And the artwork is sensational.
This I mean sensational.
This back glass is stunning. It's a 3D back glass.
Yes, it is. Yes.
It's just I don't know whether the camera is going to pick it up if it will or not. Yeah. But when you're looking at it, it's incredible. It's It's stunning. But what I will say is actually just the original artwork even without the 3D is is just stunning. Um I mean he is the best at it. Chris Chris is the best pinball artist. Not even Yes. Not even beyond doubt in my opinion. And funny enough we were just looking at Evil Dead earlier which the first time I've seen Evil Dead. Incredible. He's just he's just got he's got such flare. got a real eye for color and what what colors you'd hope an artist did know how to match colors, but you know, but still it just looks absolutely brilliant. So, uh yeah, Rob's done a fantastic job here on what I think is a bit of a sleeper of a game actually. I think people will come to realize quite how good this is. Um so, we're going to have a just a quick couple of games now. Um just so as to get Spencer to enjoy it as well.
We won't do doubles because it's involves a lot of swapping over the camera. I played and you can play. They filmed all these, you know, for the game. And
get your hand on that shooter and see if you got the right touch.
Good girl. [Music]
I can't believe I just let that bounce there. That was completely my fault. I want to get the tank down. So, basically, you see this? This is the life of the tank.
Gotcha. This is This is by the way the best lit pinball machine that I think is out there. Cows. So the aliens are stealing your cows. And you you need the cows cuz you need to make ice cream basically. So you need your you need your dairy herd. Oh man. Oh gave me a ball safe. So trying to get that tank down there.
It's got a cracking soundtrack. [Music]
Stop it. Now he's going to pop it up into the pool ball lock there.
The sound is very good, isn't it?
This is a stunning machine.
Yeah. Yes. There's a lot going on.
To say this is a sleeper is an understatement. I mean, this is just
Yeah. I mean, you probably even I don't You haven't heard of it, but you probably never gave it any consideration, did you? Well, I believe the release was it came out at a funny time, didn't it? There was a lot released at the same time.
Yeah, there was. There absolutely was.
Yes.
So, even even this on the screen there, they've done so much of these cutscenes. Um, so much work into it.
It's great. That shield there that pops up between the flippers. Saved me there. The ball save was really cool. [Music] There's a lot going on here.
Good ball diverter up the ramp there. It's a really good game and it shoots really well as well. I should say that. Advance. Great job taking out that shield. The power generator is close to the lab is heading for a countdown. [Applause] Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. Oh, but woo.
I mean, it was all happening then.
This is This is an epic game. An epic epic game. I There's a lot going on here.
I'll take this one. Whoa. Now that was only B two. Wow. [Music] this I mean what I would say is this is an infinitely playable pinball machine.
Oh no. Is it going to No, that had a great ball too. No ball three at all.
Wonderful. Wonderful stuff. [Music] Uh, Galactic Tank Force. Hold on.
I've got another ball.
Incorporated extra ball now. Have they?
So, I've got extra ball set up on certain points. When this is flashing red, you get an extra ball.
I get an extra ball.
You also get the um signs should come up.
There we go. I thought it was all over.
I got two balls locked here. Light them up.
There we go. Oh my word.
Look at that. The magnets hanging in there. It's brilliant. Alpha flank advance.
You have started the elevator battle. [Music] They need air support. [Applause]
Spy bots are detected. Right. I I actually was I thought I was going to bounce past it across there. Um and um
Yeah. What a game.
What a game.
It looks fantastic.
Yeah. I mean, it's it's it's an incredible game. I I enjoyed that.
We're so lucky. We are so lucky with so many good pinball machines around now that that some of them just get lost. So I'm I'm you know some of them get lost in the fog of there being so many pinball machines and funny we were talking about one earlier when we did Dirty Harry and I know it's an older game and there such a clamor to get some of the more famous older games titles that some of them just get lost and I just wonder because so many releases came out at the same time because maybe the problems American people were having at the time but you really got to look at the team that put this together when you talk about Christopher Franchi when you talk about Norban when you talk about Petroski They a wonderful wonderful team who've made if you collectively put their pinball machines together, incredible really what they've done. I would just advise anyone to to have a play of this game. But make no mistake about it, you won't play as good a version of it as this cuz this has been this has been tuned to high heaven by Rob. He's just it's just what he's like. He takes it apart and he tweaks it and he puts it back together. If it's not right, he'll take it apart again. And if he hasn't the parts not right, he'll he'll manufacture a part and then he'll put it in there as well. So, um, it is plays beautifully. I mean, it plays absolutely beautifully. I'm not going to be able to record Spencer's game, so we need to end this video now. But Spencer's going to jump on this now, I'm sure.
I think you have arguably played the best Galactic Tank Force in the world.
This is the best Galactic Tank Force in the galaxy.
In the galaxy. Well done, Rob. Cheers. [Music]

_(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 97e1172a-e9db-48ab-aac8-2388c42c7346*