The next wide body from Gottlieb offers a bit more crowded playfield design than some recent versions, and some of the company's staples such as vari-targets, which have become trademarks.

PLAYFIELD: 4 lanes (1-2-3-4) begin the play at the top and lead down to 2 widely spaced thumper bumpers. There's a kick-out hole up to the right of this and a lane with 2 star rollovers further over to the right side. In between this is the first of 2 vari-targets which controls R-A-C-E depending upon the velocity of the ball hitting the target. There's an upper right flipper here, and over to the center of the field a bank of 4 yellow drop targets control the bonus multiplier when appropriate values are lit from 2x up to 5x. The left side has its own play with a top "space loop" and a fronting 3 drop target bank for extra point values and extra ball when lit. Down a bit is a left side alleyway and the second vari-target: this one controlling S-T-A-R. The bottom offers a left side kicking rubber and a 2 lane run-down to a separated set of double flippers, while the right side offers a fairly long roll down to the right lone flipper.

ANALYSIS: There's almost something for everyone here on Star Race. The top lanes (1 and 4) light respective values for yellow or green in the top right kick-out hole and also activate the build-up for potential bonus multiplier values, from that center drop target bank. Otherwise most of the focus is tied into the vari-targets and in lighting the S-T-A-R or R-A-C-E for potential specials as well as building up outhole bonus points.

However, the nice touch on the game is the left side loop which can be made from the top right flipper or even better, from the lower right flipper up and around that short little alleyway and up and over the loop. It's a great shot to make and the fact that it increases the value of the drop targets just in front to a possible extra ball, means that it's not a wasted shot made only for the aesthetics. There are some good bouncing angles from the thumper bumpers and that entire top area for the rest of the board; although the primary thing most players will go for it that center bank of targets and not too much of anything else. But to explore the game and really get into it is a rewarding experience not found too often on recent Gottlieb games.

GRAPHICS: For some reason the backglass motif reminds me of Jet Spin and Super Spin, although the colors are darker here. But it is basic Gottlieb artwork with a splattering of color to match on the playfield, and even the use of some flashing lights helps to enliven the game and its swirling space theme.

PLAY: The scoring, with a countdown at 20'000 in that top right kick-out hole offers the possibility of big ball play, but for the most part, the points are an effort of building up values around the board. On 3-ball play for free play areas you should be able to get away with 350'000 points to start and followed by 600'000 and 850'000 points. On extra ball a decrease of about 100'000 to 150'000 points for each level should be sufficient.

PROS & CONS: Star Race is one of the better games Gottlieb has done in recent times. There are a number of good shots to make, not too many dead spots or the intolerable drains and roll-downs from access points on the board, although these haven't been totally eliminated from the top loop down past the left thumper bumper and left vari-target. But for the most part, Star Race is a fair playing game. The problem once again, however, with the new games from this company and the wider and longer playfields is the power from the tips of the flippers and the ability for any kind of noticeable power on the limited reverses.

The flippers were always the strong point on past Gottlieb games, especially for their accuracy, but this is no longer the case and hopefully it can be rectified in future efforts, since it is such an integral part of any pinball game. And, unfortunately, it does detract from the overall view and opinions on any game since one isn't able to "play" it the way one thinks one can. Frustrating may be the key word. However, this effort is a step in the right direction for the manufacturer and holds up even as a "squat" body.

RATING: # # #