Arcade Archives Mappy

Genre: Arcade / Platformer

Players: 1-2 Alternating (Local), Online Leaderboards

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Review:

(Note: The Nintendo Entertainment System version of this game is included in Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1, along with the Nintendo Entertainment System versions of Dig Dug, Dragon Buster, Dragon Spirit: The New Legend, Galaxian, Pac-Man, Pac-Man Championship Edition (8-Bit Demake), Sky Kid, Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti, The Tower of Druaga, and Xevious. Check out this page for a breakdown of which games can be found in multiple releases on Nintendo Switch.)

Releasing in Arcades in 1983 and later ported to numerous other platforms, Mappy is an Arcade-style game with Platformer elements that puts players in the role of a mouse cop evading cat criminals while trying to collect all of their stolen goods. Players will bounce on trampolines (one place the cats can’t touch you) and open and shut doors to move around and evade the cats.

As far as the presentation goes, this game has a classic look typical of Platformers of the era, using 2D pixel art visuals with colorful, cartoony characters against a black background, backed by cutesy chiptune sound. It works well, and gives this game a nostalgic appeal.

When it comes to the gameplay, this game’s mechanics take a lot of getting used to, and players will have to expect to die a lot before they figure out how this game works, something that runs counter to the family-friendly presentation. Ironically, I think the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game controls better, and as such I think those wanting to play this game on Nintendo Switch may want to instead get Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1, which includes that version of the game.

This release of the game includes a new “Hi-Score Mode” that challenges players to get as far as they can in one run. There is also a new “Caravan Mode” that does much the same, but with the limit being five minutes. In addition, this release of the game gives players a decent array of options, including various display options, sound options, challenge modifiers, button mapping, and online leaderboards.

At $8, the Arcade Archives release of Mappy is terribly overpriced, and as I noted before, I think the NES version of the game plays better anyway. As such, if you’re curious to try this game, I suggest you play the version included on Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1, since you’ll be getting a bunch of other games along with it.

tl;dr – Mappy is an Arcade game with Platformer elements where you play as a mouse cop trying to evade criminal cats and steal back their stolen goods. The gameplay here takes some getting used to, and I ultimately think you’re better off playing the NES version in Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1, which at $20 for 11 games is a far better deal than the overpriced $8 for this one game is.

Grade: C-

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