If you've ever had that crazy dream where you're driving a go-kart, while shooting lasers and flipping silver balls, read on - the dream is real!
We assembled at the Botany View on south King St Newtown for a quick warmup on the Arabian Nights machine that recently went in there. The machine's in a pretty tight little corner so there's not a lot a room to move, but the LEDs are bright and the playing is smooth
There is one major issue - when you think you're getting an extra ball after hitting the right orbit, the whole machine shuts down and resets, killing the game. The supplier knows so hopefully it's been fixed.
Botany View, King St Newtown
Tales of the Arabian Nights - $2 for 5
Supplied by Latest Amusement Games
Next a pit stop at Harry's Cafe, Princes Hwy Tempe, to fuel up. Although franchising can often see a drop in quality (e.g. Oporto), I'm happy that Woolloomooloo now isn't the only place you can get a tiger pie. For the record, my Hot Dog de Wheels was de Licious.
Valve Bar (formerly the Harp) next door to Harry's had a Star Trek machine last I was there but it's closed Mon/Tues so we missed out on pinball and some mediocre local bands.
But onwards - to a magical place in Arncliffe, just over the Cooks River and hang a right. In a darkened back street you'll find Kartatak and Laser Siege, in the same building. Both places have pinnies, but more on that later.
First we got our kart licenses (easier and cheaper than the RTA) and hit the track for some fast-paced action. The ten minutes were over too soon but it's still awesome fun.
Laser Siege is just downstairs so you can hop out of your kart, strap on your vest and start popping some caps (read: infra-red lasers) in some asses (read: the designated target zone on the vest).
The karting and lasers were sweet, but the pinball machines let us down. Upstairs at Kartatak there are two machines - Popeye and Getaway. Both are dark and dusty, Popeye didn't work at all, and Getaway was showing its age.
Laser Siege promised more with five machines, however closer inspection showed that three of them were out of order. Only Star Wars Trilogy and Street Fighter 2 were working.
This was a big disappointment as many of the machines are pretty rare in Sydney. We'll have to settle for youtube to see Apollo 13's 13 ball multiball.
The adrenalin was already flowing from the go-karts and we needed an outlet. The owner of Laser Siege, took pity on us and gave us a go on the free play arcades upstairs (Point Blank, Tekken [the original!] and a few more).
The pinnies aren't owned by Laser Siege, and apparently the maintenance guy hasn't been round in a while. It'd be great to see some proper working machines put into this amazing location, or someone could just fix the awesome machines they already have...
Kartatak - 40-50 Arncliffe St, Wolli Creek
Popeye - out of order
Getaway - $1 for 1, $2 for 3
Laser Siege - 40a Arncliffe St, Wolli Creek
Last Action Hero, Simpsons 1990s, Apollo 13 - out of order -
Star Wars Trilogy - plays pretty well, reminds me a bit too much of shitty sega South Park machine.
Street Fighter 2 - One of Gottleib's System 3 - their last run of machines. Plays pretty well apart from a week right flipper.
All Supplied by Pinball Master
We were all a bit demoralised by this lacklustre pinball experience, so we needed a way to salvage the night. The Avatar machine at the Intersection Hotel, Ramsgate, wasn't gonna cut it, and the Kogarah Hotel has gotten rid of their machine as far as I know.
Although it was late in the evening we weren't ready to let this one go. So we parked the car in Carss Park, skinned up, pulled down the soft top and then cruised across Tom Ugly's Bridge with the breeze blowing in our hair.
Sitting on the corner of Port Hacking Rd and Princes Hwy is the Crest Hotel Sylvania. A special silver treasure sits in this otherwise unassuming establishment.
Our second Star Wars machine of the night was a Pinball 2000. Star Wars Episode 1 is known as the machine that sent Williams broke. There are only a few of the 2000s around in Sydney - sources say that Adam's Tavern in Blacktown has Revenge from Mars, and Tollgate Hotel Parramatta has another Star Wars.
The 2000s feature a computer screen at the top of the playfield which interacts with the ball. In Star Wars there are a bunch of modes that mainly involve you whacking the bumpers hidden behind the screen or hitting the ramps. You build up to a Jedi battle between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul. Plus the light saber lights up. Pretty cool.
All in all this machine is a lot of fun. It confirms the old pinball maxim: shit movie, good machine.
Satisfied, slumped in the back seat, I stared out at the lights over the Georges River on the drive home.
The Crest Hotel, Princes Hwy Sylvania
Star Wars Episode 1 - $2 for 5
Supplied by Player One Entertainment
Despite the disappointing machines in Arncliffe, Kartatak and Laser Siege are definitely worth a visit for the sheer fun factor.
If you're in Sylvania don't take the pinball treasure for granted (it's one of your only options now that they've taken all the Tron machines out of the AMFs).
Until next time!
