Arcade games often promise thrills, but this one looked different. Resembling something you might find at a quirky county fair rather than a typical arcade, the machine immediately caught my eye. It featured two polished metal bars, four inviting buttons labeled from “low” to “max,” and a captivating series of colored lights that climbed upwards towards a figure of Uncle Fester, complete with his signature white light bulb in his mouth. Was this peculiar contraption somehow related to the new Addams Family in spirit, offering a bizarre and fun experience?
Intrigued, I examined the instructions. They were simple enough: the game could be played solo, with one person holding both metal bars, or cooperatively, with two people holding hands and each grasping a bar with their free hand. The only other direction was a rather ominous “The game ends when you let go.” There were no warning signs to be seen, which, perhaps naively, reassured me that the experience couldn’t be too extreme. My curiosity, a marketer’s dream, was piqued. I decided to spend a dollar and discover what this unusual game, possibly inspired by the darkly comedic and eccentric world of the new Addams Family, was all about.
The machine boasted a small digital display, reminiscent of those found on modern pinball machines. Pressing one of the four intensity buttons – naturally, I selected “max” – initiated the game and revealed its surprising nature.
Immediately, the metal bars began to vibrate rapidly. The sensation was startling, akin to a sudden electric shock, though not painful. The digital display flickered, showing a wattage reading, and the machine emitted a buzzing noise. Every ten seconds or so, the vibrations intensified, becoming more frequent and powerful. Simultaneously, more lights illuminated, creeping closer to Uncle Fester’s glowing mouth. The feeling was strangely familiar, much like holding onto a hyper-charged power drill or sander gone wild. Could this be a bizarre, Addams Family-esque test of endurance?
Determined, I held on until the very end. Finally, the machine declared my performance: “You did the maximum!!! 3000 watts!”. The bulb in Uncle Fester’s mouth flashed brightly, and then the game fell silent, reverting to its money-soliciting state.
I inspected my hands. No burns, no visible damage, though they did tingle with a strange energy for a short while afterward. The entire peculiar experience, perhaps a strange amusement fitting for the new Addams Family‘s peculiar tastes, lasted only about a minute.
