Airborne Avenger

Airborne Avenger was released by Atari in September 1977, and was the first pinball machine designed by the renowned Steve Ritchie, who would go on to create iconic machines like "Black Knight", "Terminator 2" and "AC/DC". The artwork was done by George Opperman, the same artist who designed Atari's famous logo, and the software was developed by Eugene Jarvis, another future pinball legend.

The implied premise for Airborne Avenger reads like a pitch for a Summer Blockbuster movie: the Airborne Avenger takes to the skies in his flying one-man jet-sled to challenge his evil nemesis and stop his schemes. Battle an army of hang-gliding minions and dodge anti-aircraft fire, then hit the captive ball target on the table to continue the battle.

This widebody machine features two flippers, three pop bumpers, two kick-out holes, a captive ball, and a roll-under spinner. It was one of Atari's early forays into solid-state pinball, equipped with electronic sound, which was ahead of its time as most manufacturers were still using chime units.​

Though it sold 3,420 units, Airborne Avenger is not fondly remembered today. Its appearance still receives praise, but its gameplay is widely criticized for being slow and frustrating. In 2014, Steve Ritchie describe it as his worst game.