Hercules is a historic pinball game notable for being among the first very large pinball machines, featured at Broadway Arcade in New York where it was the subject of Howard Smith's influential Village Voice article. The game is an Atari pinball machine that saw full production and is known for its unusual design features, including a cue ball as the playfield ball and distinctive sluggish ball physics. Hercules appears in multiple collections including Replay Museum in Dunedin, Florida and Pastimes Arcade, and is recognized as the world's largest pinball machine, making it a significant collector's piece despite limited practical gameplay appeal.
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Hercules is the world's largest pinball machine
The plunger on Hercules is basically a giant cue stick
Trapping is not possible on Hercules due to shallow flipper positioning
Hercules (Atari 1979) is the largest pinball machine ever made
Oversized/novelty pinball machine; described as world's largest pinball machine; features one-handed gameplay mode
Large/oversized Atari pinball machine with cue-ball sized ball; rare, considered clunky but interesting; recently sold for ~$12,000; described negatively by Foghorn
Oversized pool-cue pinball machine; example of novelty experience machines; also at Pinball Museum in Alameda
Referenced as world's largest pinball machine; uses cue ball instead of standard pinball
World's largest pinball game; featured as eye-catcher in main hotel lobby
Atari pinball machine from 1979; claimed to be the largest pinball machine ever made; one of ten known working units in public use; featured at Recbar 812
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Only ten Hercules machines are known to be in working order for public use
Machine stationed in usual place near reception
Pinball machine with distinctive artwork visible at the show
Previously recognized as world's largest production pinball machine, now overshadowed by Space Race
Pinball machine at Funspot; described as 'massive'
World's largest pinball machine; available at museum sale; noted as an unusual collector's piece with limited practical appeal.
Atari pinball; full production game; on display at Pastimes Arcade
Pinball machine at Replay Museum in Dunedin, Florida; features cue ball as playfield ball; played multiple times by hosts; unique playfield design with sluggish ball physics
Pinball game mentioned in anecdote about Jack injuring his shoulder during dead save attempt
First very large pinball machine; featured at Broadway Arcade and subject of Howard Smith's The Village Voice article that launched Broadway Arcade's fame.