Popeye, 1982 Nintendo/King Features Syndicate (20 From 1982 #17)
19GREAT re-creation of the popular comic strip/cartoon/movie/game/etc. sailor! Move Popeye up and down stairs to multiple floors on each stage-- a couple of wharfs/ports and a ship-- and collect all the items Olive Oyl (Popeye's skinny gf) throws down at you while avoiding the jealous, hulking Bluto (called "Brutus" on the control panel, I believe). Try not to let an item sink into the water at the bottom for too long or it'll cost you a life. Bluto will send Popeye into the drink if you come into contact with him, and Bluto can strike from above or below, or toss a set of 4 bottles at you (punch them). The Sea Hag (another enemy of Popeye's from the franchise) can also appear to throw bottles at you, and will throw bouncing skulls as well after you pass all 3 stages. She has a pet buzzard named Bernard that will menace you on the ship stage. But not everyone is your enemy-- you also get Wimpy the burger-munching wastrel sitting on a seesaw on the 2nd stage, and will propel you up to a higher floor (where you can catch Popeye's adopted son Swee'Pea for points). But your greatest ally of all is the CAN OF SPINACH! Yep-- punch it when it appears (once per life/stage) and you can deck Bluto for a short time (he'll return). All items dropped by Olive Oyl will be double points! You can also smack a barrel down on Bluto's head to immobilize him for a short time. There is a decent smattering of Popeye characters, though I would have liked to see the magical cat-like creature Eugene The Jeep or Popeye's dad, Poopdeck Pappy. Great fun nevertheless, with fantastic music and sound effects. Toot toot!