Developer: General Computer Corporation (GCC)

Ms. Pac-Man (1982)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Ms. Pac-Man: A Classic Sequel That Improved Upon the Original

Released in 1982, Ms. Pac-Man was the highly anticipated sequel to the massively popular Pac-Man. Developed by General Computer Corporation and published by Midway, Ms. Pac-Man introduced a number of new features and improvements that made it a classic in its own right.

Gameplay

Ms. Pac-Man retained the core gameplay of its predecessor. Players control Ms. Pac-Man, a yellow circle with a bow and lipstick, as she navigates through a maze filled with dots, fruits, and ghosts. The goal of the game is to eat all of the dots in the maze while avoiding the ghosts. If Ms. Pac-Man is touched by a ghost, she loses a life.

One of the most significant changes in Ms. Pac-Man was the addition of new mazes. The original Pac-Man featured only one maze, but Ms. Pac-Man introduced four different mazes, each with its own unique layout and challenges. This added variety to the gameplay and kept players coming back for more.

Another new feature in Ms. Pac-Man was the addition of fruits. Fruits appear randomly in the maze, and eating them gives Ms. Pac-Man bonus points. The fruits also have different point values, so players have to strategize which fruits to eat and when.

The ghosts in Ms. Pac-Man also received some changes. In the original Pac-Man, the ghosts were all identical in their behavior. However, in Ms. Pac-Man, each ghost has its own unique personality and tactics. Inky is the blue ghost who is known for his erratic behavior. Blinky is the red ghost who is known for his aggressive pursuit of Ms. Pac-Man. Pinky is the pink ghost who is known for her ability to ambush Ms. Pac-Man. And Sue is the orange ghost who is known for her slow but steady pursuit of Ms. Pac-Man.

Power-Ups

Ms. Pac-Man introduced a new power-up known as the Energizer. When Ms. Pac-Man eats an Energizer, the ghosts turn blue and become vulnerable to being eaten. This gives Ms. Pac-Man a chance to earn bonus points and clear the maze of ghosts.

Intermissions

Another unique feature of Ms. Pac-Man is the intermissions that occur between levels. These intermissions show the growing romantic relationship between Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man. The intermissions are humorous and add a bit of personality to the game.

Critical Reception

Ms. Pac-Man was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its improved gameplay, new features, and charming graphics. Ms. Pac-Man was also one of the first video games to feature a female protagonist, which was a groundbreaking move at the time.

Legacy

Ms. Pac-Man is considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time. It has been ported to numerous platforms and has been included in several compilations. Ms. Pac-Man has also been the inspiration for several sequels and spin-offs.

Conclusion

Ms. Pac-Man is a classic video game that improved upon the original Pac-Man in every way. With its new mazes, fruits, ghosts, and power-ups, Ms. Pac-Man is a must-play for fans of arcade classics.

Review Score

9/10

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Food Fight (1983)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Food Fight (1983): A Hilarious and Challenging Arcade Classic

Food Fight is an arcade game released by Atari, Inc. in March 1983. The player guides Charley Chuck, who is trying to eat an ice cream cone before it melts, while avoiding four chefs bent on stopping him. The game is known for its simple yet addictive gameplay, its colorful graphics, and its catchy music.

Gameplay

The player controls Charley Chuck, who is standing in the center of the screen. Charley has an ice cream cone in his hand, and he must eat it before it melts. The ice cream cone gradually melts over time, and if it completely melts, Charley loses a life.

Four chefs are constantly moving around the screen, trying to stop Charley from eating his ice cream cone. The chefs can throw pies, eggs, and other food items at Charley. If a chef hits Charley, he loses a life.

Charley can defend himself by punching and kicking the chefs. He can also pick up food items and throw them at the chefs. If Charley hits a chef with a food item, the chef will be stunned for a short period of time.

The game is played in a single screen, and the player must complete each level by eating the ice cream cone before it melts. There are a total of 16 levels, and each level is more difficult than the last.

Development

Food Fight was developed by Atari’s coin-op division in Sunnyvale, California. The game was designed by Rich Moore and programmed by Ed Logg. Moore was inspired to create the game after seeing a food fight in a cafeteria.

The game’s graphics were designed by George Opperman. Opperman used a unique style of animation that gave the characters a cartoonish look. The game’s music was composed by Brad Fuller.

Release

Food Fight was released in March 1983. The game was a commercial success, selling 1,951 arcade cabinets. The game was also ported to the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, and Atari 7800 home video game consoles.

Reception

Food Fight was praised for its simple yet addictive gameplay, its colorful graphics, and its catchy music. The game was also criticized for its difficulty, as it can be difficult to complete all 16 levels.

Overall, Food Fight is a classic arcade game that is still enjoyed by many today. The game’s simple gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music make it a timeless classic.

Legacy

Food Fight has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s unique style of animation has been imitated by many other games, and the game’s gameplay has inspired many other food-themed games.

Food Fight is also notable for being one of the first games to feature a character with a disability. Charley Chuck is missing his left arm, and he uses a hook to grab food items and throw them at the chefs. This was a groundbreaking moment for the video game industry, as it showed that people with disabilities can be heroes too.

Conclusion

Food Fight is a classic arcade game that is still enjoyed by many today. The game’s simple gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music make it a timeless classic. Food Fight is also notable for being one of the first games to feature a character with a disability. This was a groundbreaking moment for the video game industry, as it showed that people with disabilities can be heroes too.

Review Score

7/10

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Quantum (1982)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 4 minutes read

Summary

Quantum (1982)

Quantum is a classic arcade game released in 1982 by Atari, Inc. It is a simple but addictive game that challenges players to capture particles in a subatomic world using a trackball.

Gameplay

The player controls a probe that can move around the screen using the trackball. The goal of the game is to capture particles by circling them with the probe’s tail. Once a particle is captured, it will turn into a point. The player earns points for each particle they capture, and the game ends when the player reaches a certain number of points.

There are different types of particles in the game, each with its own unique behavior. Some particles are slow and easy to capture, while others are fast and erratic. The player must use their skill and strategy to capture all of the particles in each level.

Development

Quantum was developed by a team led by Ed Logg, who also designed other classic Atari games such as Asteroids and Centipede. Logg was inspired to create Quantum after reading an article about quantum physics. He wanted to create a game that would allow players to experience the strange and wonderful world of subatomic particles.

The development of Quantum was a challenge, as the team had to create a new type of controller that would allow players to move the probe with precision. They also had to develop a physics engine that would accurately simulate the movement of particles.

Release

Quantum was released in arcades in 1982. It was a critical and commercial success, and it quickly became one of the most popular arcade games of the year. Quantum was also ported to home computers, including the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, and Apple II.

Legacy

Quantum is considered to be one of the most important arcade games of the early 1980s. It was one of the first games to use a trackball controller, and it helped to popularize the use of physics in video games. Quantum also had a significant influence on the development of later games, such as Marble Madness and Super Monkey Ball.

Quantum Today

Quantum is still a lot of fun to play today. It is a challenging and rewarding game that can be enjoyed by players of all ages. Quantum is available for purchase on a variety of platforms, including the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Tips for Playing Quantum

Here are a few tips for playing Quantum:

  • Use the trackball to move the probe slowly and precisely.
  • Circle the particles with the probe’s tail to capture them.
  • Be patient and don’t get discouraged if you don’t capture all of the particles right away.
  • Try to predict the movement of the particles and position the probe accordingly.
  • Use the walls of the playfield to your advantage.

With a little practice, you’ll be able to master Quantum and become a particle-capturing pro!

Review Score

8/10

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