How Mr. Do! Revolutionized Maze-Chase Games in 1982
0🕹 Game Name: Mr. Do!
📛 Alternate Names: None
📅 Release Date: 1982
🔫 Genre: Action, Maze
👨 🏻 💻 Developers: Universal
👨 🏻 💻 Publishers: Universal
🔢 Max Players: 1
⁉ Cooperative: No
Game Overview
🕹 Game Introduction:
Mr. Do! is an action maze game that was released in 1982 by Universal. The player controls Mr. Do!, a clown who must navigate through a maze, collecting cherries and avoiding enemies. The gameplay is similar to Pac-Man, but with additional features that make it unique, like the ability to throw a bouncing ball to eliminate enemies.
🕹 Game Description:
The game revolves around Mr. Do! clearing each level by collecting all the cherries while avoiding enemies like "gobblers." Players can throw a bouncing ball to eliminate enemies temporarily, and the game includes different power-ups, such as an extra ball or speed boosts, which make it more exciting.
🎴 Game Play:
👉 🏻 Collecting Cherries: Mr. Do! must collect all the cherries in a maze to clear the stage.
👉 🏻 Bouncing Ball Attack: Mr. Do! can throw a ball that bounces around the maze to destroy enemies.
👉 🏻 Enemies: Gobblers and other enemies chase Mr. Do!, and players must avoid them while collecting cherries.
👉 🏻 Pursuit Mode: If all cherries are collected, enemies become more aggressive, and the stage ends when all enemies are defeated or the player is caught.
👉 🏻 Power-ups: There are power-ups scattered around the maze that can help players either clear enemies or speed up their progress.
📕 Background & History:
Mr. Do! was released in 1982 by Universal, offering a fresh take on the maze-chase genre that was made popular by Pac-Man. Mr. Do! added a unique mechanic with the bouncing ball, making it stand out from other maze games at the time. It gained popularity in arcades but was overshadowed by Pac-Man. Nonetheless, it became a cult classic and has maintained a loyal fanbase.
🐣 Cheats, Tricks, Bugs, and Easter Eggs:
👉 🏻 Extra Lives: Some versions of the game feature a secret code that grants extra lives when entered at the title screen.
👉 🏻 Invisible Cherries: On certain arcade machines, players can exploit a glitch where some cherries appear invisible until the player gets close.
👉 🏻 Bonus Points: When Mr. Do! hits certain enemies with the bouncing ball, players can earn bonus points, especially when hitting multiple enemies at once.
🐱 💻 Hacks:
👉 🏻 Infinite Ball Hack: In some ports of the game, players can enter a cheat code to have an unlimited supply of bouncing balls.
👉 🏻 Speed Hack: Certain emulated versions of Mr. Do! allow players to speed up gameplay, making the game easier or harder depending on the player’s preference.
🎉 Trivia:
👉 🏻 Mr. Do! was Universal’s answer to the massive success of Pac-Man, attempting to capitalize on the maze-chase craze of the early '80s.
👉 🏻 It was one of the first maze games where players could attack enemies directly, thanks to the bouncing ball mechanic.
👉 🏻 The game’s popularity led to multiple sequels, including Mr. Do!’s Castle and Do! Run Run.
👉 🏻 Mr. Do! was also one of the first arcade games to feature a level-clearing bonus stage where the player could gain extra points.
Lonster's Review
👓 Mr. Do! is a classic arcade game that holds up well even today. The bouncing ball mechanic makes it stand out from similar maze games like Pac-Man, and the ability to attack enemies directly adds a fun layer of strategy. While it wasn’t as widely popular as some of its competitors, Mr. Do! remains a memorable title for fans of the era and a great example of arcade innovation in the early '80s.
Legacy
🌟 Mr. Do! is an important title in the early history of maze-chase games. While it didn’t achieve the same level of fame as Pac-Man, its unique features, such as the ability to attack enemies, influenced later maze games. The Mr. Do! series would continue in various forms, but the original remains a cult classic in the arcade world.
Cultural Impact
✨ Mr. Do! helped shape the development of later arcade maze games, showing that the genre could evolve beyond simple chase mechanics. Its inclusion of offensive actions, such as the bouncing ball, was innovative for the time and influenced how future arcade games would approach action and puzzle elements. Though not as famous as other games from the era, it is fondly remembered by retro gaming enthusiasts.
Lonster's Final Thoughts
💭 Mr. Do! is a quirky and fun arcade game that offers a unique twist on the maze genre. The bouncing ball mechanic sets it apart from other games of its time, and while it may not have the widespread recognition of other arcade classics, it still holds a special place in the hearts of retro game fans. It’s worth revisiting for anyone looking to experience a different take on classic maze gameplay.
Social Details
Lonster's Pop! Obsession: / @lonster_da_monster
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/lonster_da_monster/
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/lonstrdamonstr
TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lonsterdamonster