For me I went for a surf champ for a EM for the surfing theme alone but it is a fun player with a bit of everything - spinner, roll overs, drops, etc. the surfer is the 2 player version with a different back glass. I have only played a hand full of EM's so not much help here.
For a early SS I remember black hole well, very popular in the 80's and fun, but surprisingly a lot of slow and boring players like the popular playboy etc. I liked my skateball when I had it heaps of drops and still a fast game.
Not my video but gives you a taste
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