Mappy

Mappy is one of those arcade games that made you smile the second you saw it. You're a police mouse working your way through a multi-story mansion to recover loot swiped by a gang of cats. There are no ladders: you go up and down by bouncing on trampolines, which gives the whole game a bouncy rhythm unlike anything else.

With its cheerful music and bright colors it was a favorite of the younger kids at the arcade, though the later rounds could humble anybody.

History

Namco released Mappy in 1983, when the company already had Pac-Man under its belt and was looking for fresh ideas starring lovable characters. The hero is Mappy the police mouse, and the bad guys are the Meowkies, a gang of kittens led by a boss cat named Goro.

The game was ported to several consoles and computers of the era, and Mappy became one of Namco's classic mascots, popping up in collections and cameos ever since.

How to play

Move Mappy across the mansion's floors and jump onto trampolines to change levels. Each trampoline can only take a few bounces in a row before it breaks, so you can't hang in the air forever.

Grab the stolen goods, like TVs, computers, radios, paintings and safes; collect two of the same kind back to back for bonus points. Doors are your weapon: slam one open to knock the cats back, and the special doors fire off a wave that sweeps away every cat in its path. Every few rounds there's a bonus stage full of balloons to pop.

Fun facts

• Mappy is a police mouse, and the name comes from Japanese slang for the police.
• The cat enemies are called Meowkies, and their boss is Goro.
• Trampolines break if you bounce on them too many times in a row.

In the arcade

Mappy isn't on the UsuArcade floor yet, but it's on our wish list. If you want it in the arcade, hit Want to Play on this page. The most-voted games get added first.

Meanwhile, the arcade has other early-80s classics with that same charm: Pac-Man with its maze and ghosts, Rally-X with its flags and radar, and Space Panic with its platforms and ladders.

FAQ