[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/popeye-saves-the-earth_4339.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:"I yam armed and ready to save the planek!"]]

->"The failure of pinball cannot be blamed on ''Popeye,'' but it sure didn't help our business."
-->--'''Creator/SteveRitchie''', [[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/rec.games.pinball/Brmc4Jdbn3s/-gE4nMsfJE4J "Why Does Popeye Suck?"]], rec.games.pinball, 19 September 2010

''Popeye Saves the Earth'' is a PhysicalPinballTable designed by Creator/BarryOursler and themed and illustrated by Creator/PythonAnghelo, with additional artwork by Creator/JohnYoussi and Pat [=McMahon=]. It was released by Creator/WilliamsElectronics under the "Bally" label in 1994.

As is evident from the title, this is a [[LicensedPinballTables game based on]] the long-running ''ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}'' comic strip. Popeye's long-time nemesis Bluto is now a planet-polluting profiteer; his companies' toxic activities have endangered five species of wildlife, while Bluto himself has kidnapped Olive Oyl, and Swee'pea has gotten lost in a maze of corridors. It therefore falls on Popeye to rescue the endangered animals, find Swee'Pea, defeat the Sea Hag, and demolish Bluto's cartel of corrupt companies. Only then can Popeye find his spinach and Rescue Olive in a six-ball multiball frenzy.

''Popeye Saves the Earth'' has gotten mixed reviews, while some love it for its surprisingly deep rule set and gameplay, the theme and detailed playfield with lots of toys, others criticize it for its {{Anvilicious}} GreenAesop and odd use of the ''Popeye'' license and the obstructive upper-playfield with its needlessly difficult shots. There were also behind the scenes issues as the game required customized tooling which raised its price, and Williams' use of minimum orders incited a distributor backlash and threats of lawsuits resulting in the pin becoming kind of infamous as a result.

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!!''Popeye Saves the Earth'' demonstrates the following tropes:

* TheArk: Popeye travels the world (and carries numerous animals) on "Popeye's Ark".
* ArtificialLimbs: On the backglass, Popeye's signature forearms have been replaced by a pair of pinball flippers. {{Justified|Trope}}, as spinach sometimes granted him minor shapeshifting abilities in the original Fleischer shorts.
-->'''Popeye:''' "Blow me down, I iz a wiz of pinballz!"
* BlackBeadEyes: Seen on all of the ''Popeye'' characters.
* CardCarryingVillain: Bluto, planet-destroying polluter and proud of it.
* DamselInDistress: Olive Oyl, naturally.
* TheDragon: The Sea Hag serves as a secondary antagonist
* {{Eagleland}}: Taken literally, as one of Popeye's destinations is "L'Eagleland".
* EcocidalAntagonist: Bluto.
* FantasyWorldMap: The lower playfield has the Geomap, which shows the five regions Popeye must visit -- Aphrodesia, Fashionation, L'Eagleland, Pandamonia, and the Sushi Sea.
* FetchQuest: Sea Hag Multiball is started after the player collects four items (a Can Opener, Baby Bottle, Ketchup, and Flower); it's completed by returning the items to their respective owners (Popeye, Swee'Pea, Wimpy, and Olive Oyl).
* ForTheEvulz: This appears to be Bluto's only reason for doing what he does.
* FriendlyPlayfulDolphin: Popeye has to go to the Sushi Sea to save the dolphins.
* GreenAesop: Delivered without the slightest trace of subtlety. Judging by what the game shows, Bluto runs his companies with the ''sole purpose'' of causing environment destruction. Even ''[[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse Pentex]]'' would tell him to hit the brakes.
* MakeMyMonsterGrow: At the start of Olive Multiball, Bluto drinks Sea Hag's Insta-Grow potion to make himself larger and taller.
* ObviouslyEvil: Invoked by the names of Bluto's companies -- Earth Pavers, Never Green Logging, Blutonium Waste, and Spill Oil Co.
* PowerUpFood: Spinach, of course.
* ProgressiveJackpot: Olive's Dowry.
* RhinoRampage: Averted; all of the rhinos in the game are friendly, docile, and endangered.
* SavingTheWorld: It's in the ''title''.
* SkillShot: Launch the ball into the spinning Skill Shot Wheel and get the indicated reward.
* SpellingBonus: O-Y-L raises the bonus multiplier, while P-O-P-E-Y-E lights a can of spinach.
* ToxicInc: Bluto's companies, as listed above.
* WickedWitch: The Sea Hag is an evil sorceress, as is standard for the Popeye franchise.
* WizardMode:
** The first sub-Wizard Mode is Sea Hag Multiball, and is enabled by collecting four Items -- Can Opener, Baby Bottle, Ketchup, and a Flower. During this mode, return the Items to their owners to collect the jackpot.
** The second sub-Wizard Mode is Bluto Multiball, enabled by locking three balls in the Lockjaw under his chin. This is a three-ball multiball, and the objective is to repeatedly shoot the left ramp to collect the Jackpot, then shoot the Lockjaw to relight it.
** The final Wizard Mode is Olive Multiball, a six-ball multiball mode. To reach it, the player must rescue all five animals, complete the Sea Hag and Bluto multiball modes, Find Swee'pea, and defeat Bluto's four companies. To collect the Jackpot, collect five Spinach Cans and shoot the lock beneath Bluto's jaw to Save Olive.
* {{Zonk}}: One of the award selections score a two-digit point value (e.g., 20, 50, 70).