Mappy
| Industry | Video game development and publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1955 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
is a 1983 arcade platform game developed and published by Namco. It operates on Namco's Super Pac-Man hardware, adapted to support horizontal scrolling. The title "Mappy" is believed to originate from Japanese slang referring to a police officer. Over time, the game has been reissued in various Namco collections and has inspired sequels as well as a 2013 animated web series created by cartoonists Scott Kurtz and Kris Straub.
Gameplay
Players assume the role of Mappy, a police mouse tasked with recovering stolen items such as the Mona Lisa or a television from inside a mansion. Movement is controlled using a joystick, with an additional button to manipulate doors. The mansion consists of six levels connected by trampolines, which deteriorate after four consecutive jumps, potentially causing the player to lose a life unless another trampoline is positioned below. Both Mappy and enemy cats known as Meowkies traverse the floors; contact with these cats outside of trampoline areas results in losing a life.
The mansion’s boss cat, Goro, moves throughout the building at a faster pace but exhibits less aggression compared to Meowkies. Goro hides behind various objects that can be collected for bonus points. Items appear in pairs, and collecting them consecutively increases the points awarded up to sixfold.
Doors open only toward their knobs; striking cats with opening doors temporarily stuns them and grants points. Both Meowkies and Goro can open doors but become stunned unless the door swings away from them; they are unable to open blue doors. Blue doors emit microwave waves that trap cats for extra points, with rewards doubled if Goro is captured. Cats eliminated this way reappear shortly after.
To complete each level, players must gather all stolen goods. If progress slows, a "Hurry" alert appears, accelerating the music and enemy speed while increasing the number of adversaries. Extended delays introduce the "Gosenzo Coin," an invincible foe capable of opening doors and defeating Mappy upon contact.
Every third level—and every fourth thereafter—is designated as a bonus stage where Mappy bursts balloons while bouncing on trampolines without facing any enemies. Clearing all balloons before the music ends awards additional bonuses. Following each bonus round, new gameplay features are introduced, such as bells that freeze enemy cats, and the "Hurry" warning activates earlier in subsequent levels.
Ports and sequels
- Hopping Mappy, a direct arcade sequel, was launched in 1986.
- Mappy-Land serves as a sequel exclusive to home consoles.
- Mappy was included in Namco Gallery Vol. 1, a compilation of classic Namco arcade titles for the Game Boy.
- Two mobile versions— and —were released in Japan in 2003.
- In 2004, the game was reissued for Game Boy Advance as part of the Famicom Mini collection.
- Mappy appears as a playable character in the PSP racing game Pac-Man World Rally (2007).
- A mobile version was launched in September 2011.
- Hamster Corporation brought back Mappy digitally in 2021 under the Arcade Archives label for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
- In 2022, Hopping Mappy was also re-released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 through the Arcade Archives series.
Reception
In June 1983, Japan’s Game Machine ranked Mappy as the third most popular table arcade game and placed it at number one among new table arcade cabinets that month. Additionally, in 2015, Hardcore Gamer recognized it among their list of the 200 Best Video Games of All Time.
Legacy
Under Bandai Namco's ShiftyLook project, an animated web series entitled Mappy: The Beat was developed. Created and directed by Scott Kurtz and Kris Straub—who also provided voices for all characters—the show utilized minimal animation reminiscent of their Blamimations style. The storyline centers on Mappy working as a security guard for Nyamco, the company owned by his former adversary Goro, alongside colleagues Dig Dug and Sky Kid, as well as other Bandai Namco figures. This 13-episode series debuted on ShiftyLook's YouTube channel on July 22, 2013, and wrapped up on January 20, 2014. Kurtz made a guest appearance as Mappy in the simultaneous Bravoman animated series, which also featured a crossover with Mappy: The Beat. Following the shutdown of ShiftyLook, the series was removed from YouTube and is no longer officially accessible.
A Mappy character costume is included in LittleBigPlanet 3 as part of the Namco Classics downloadable content. Furthermore, a collection of Mappy music tracks can be heard within the Pac-Land stage of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and during one of Pac-Man’s taunts. Additionally, a theme inspired by Mappy, showcasing its characters, was offered as downloadable content for Pac-Man 99 throughout the game’s availability.