Cybernaut

When the mission is so dangerous humankind alone isn't enough... send in Cybernaut, Bally Midway's high-powered new pinball game. Only a cybernetic ranger would dare embark upon a full frontal assault against the Ion Generator and its fearsome guardians. She's good: the best the humans have. She grips her awesome weapon with determination. She knows her companion is the very best there is: Cybernaut! Come on, load up. Grip the flipper controls and join them on the playfield of battle.

Designed by Greg Kmiec with striking futuristic artwork by Doug Watson, the machine was produced during a transitionary era when Bally was implementing company-wide cost-cutting measures. As a result of these tight economic constraints, only 900 units were ever manufactured, making it a scarce and sought-after collector's item in the pinball community today.

Because of production cutbacks, the machine relies entirely on an electronic sound package rather than custom speech. It utilizes a rhythmic, background "heartbeat" sound effect that dramatically builds in tempo and intensity as players blast through the generator's mechanical defenders. Visually, the machine channels a distinct 1980s cyber-laboratory aesthetic, complete with a sleek "skinny head" cabinet design and neon-infused backglass art.

On the playfield, Cybernaut features a three-flipper layout with unique mechanical elements. Its defining feature is a left ramp that launches the ball through a clear, elevated tube that feeds directly into a right-side return lane. Players must knock down a bank of "Guardian" drop targets to clear a path to the upper right playfield ramp, which houses three targets representing the Ion Generator itself.

Additional tactical elements include spelling "B-L-A-S-T" to open controlled gates—allowing the ball to divert back into the shooter lane—and a top fan layout with four tricky rollover buttons designed to maximize bonus multipliers.