"Galaxian" was Namco's answer to Taito's "Space Invaders", the video games phenomenon of the late 1970s. First released in 1979 it is a fixed shooter game set in space where, similar to its rival game, the object is to clear the screen of alien ships. The big difference to "Space Invaders" is that the alien ships would occasionally dive bomb the player's ship.
2. Galaga
Answer: First sequel
"Galaga" came two years after "Galaxian" and was an even greater success than the original. The new addition to the gameplay in the sequel was that the player's ship could be captured by a tractor beam from the alien mothership. The captured ship could be retrieved with the player's next life, giving the player two ships that could work in conjunction to clear the level of aliens.
3. Gaplus
Answer: Second sequel
"Gaplus" was the third game in the "Galaxian" series, released in 1984. This game added powerups that could be captured after being dropped from enemy ships. These powerups allowed for greater firepower or protection from the alien attacks.
4. Track & Field (Hyper Olympic)
Answer: Original
Konami's "Track & Field", also known as "Hyper Olympic" launched in 1983 and was responsible for a few blisters on the hands of people around the world. Affiliated loosely with the 1984 LA Olympic Games, it offered players the chance to participate in a series of track and field events involving the rapid pushing of two running buttons for speed and an action button for jumping, throwing or hurdling.
There were six events to compete in -- a 100 metres race, long jump, javelin, 110 metre hurdles, high jump and hammer. If the player met the qualifying time or distance for each event then they could move on to the next
5. Hyper Sports
Answer: First sequel
"Hyper Sports" followed on from "Track & Field" with seven more Olympic events to take part in, this time extending beyond the Olympic stadium. The events were 100 metre swim, clay pigeon shooting, gymnastic vault, archery, triple jump, weightlifting and pole vault. Again a qualifying target had to be met to move on to the next competition and if all seven were met then the player started back at the swim but with a tougher time to beat.
6. Konami '88 ('88 Games)
Answer: Second sequel
Konami returned with a third series of Olympic events to tie in with the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. "Konami '88" combined the disciplines of the first two games in the series with 100 metre run, long jump, shooting, 110 metre hurdles, archery, javelin and high jump returning. Added to these events, two 400 metre relay races were included, a qualifying event and then the final as the last round of the game.
The difference in the '88 Games was that qualifying was no longer against the clock but required the player to finish first in each event to be able to progress to the next.
7. Pac-Man
Answer: Original
First hitting the arcades in Japan in 1980 as "Puck Man", the record-breaking phenomenon that is "Pac-Man" soon swept the planet on its way into the "Guinness World Records" as the most successful coin-operated game in the world. Like so many great games of its time, the concept is very simple - guide the title character through a maze trying to eat up all the dots while avoiding the four ghosts (Pinky, Blinky, Inky and Clyde). Easily said, not so easily done.
The game inspired numerous similar-style games, inspired vast ranges of merchandise and saw multiple home entertainment ports.
8. Ms. Pac-Man
Answer: First sequel
As the first sequel to the monumentally successful "Pac-Man", the 1982 release of "Ms. Pac-Man" had a lot to live up to. The consensus of the reviews was that it not only did that but even elevated the game beyond the quality of its predecessor. Essentially the same game as before, "Ms. Pac-Man" added in fruit power-ups that when consumed gave the character more points per dot eaten.
9. Super Pac-Man
Answer: Second sequel
"Super Pac-Man" was released in 1982, the same year as "Ms. Pac-Man". It was the second sequel to the original game but the first released by the original game developers, Namco. Unlike the first sequel that had been developed by Midway, it significantly altered the gameplay.
The purpose of the game was to collect keys from a maze to enable the character to get through doors and eat the fruit behind them.
10. Out Run
Answer: Original
"Out Run" was a 1986 arcade driving game where the player had to guide their Ferrari through a series of street circuits, avoiding traffic and other obstacles to reach the finish ahead of the clock. It was notable for its 3D perspective graphics (although the gameplay was strictly 2D) and the fact that players could choose which stage to take on at the end of the previous stage, unusual for driving games to that point.
11. Turbo Out Run
Answer: First sequel
"Turbo Out Run" was the first arcade sequel to "Out Run" and was released in 1989. Unlike its predecessor, it was a linear racing game, with players driving their Ferrari from New York to Los Angeles. Other changes from the first game introduced an opponent to race against, a Porsche, and, as the title suggests, a button to engage a turbo mode that gave a short burst of extra speed.
12. OutRunners
Answer: Second sequel
"OutRunners" was a 1992 release that returned the series to non-linear gameplay. Racing around the world, players could choose their route after completing the first stage of the race. The game also supported multiplayer racing, with up to eight players competing on the same streets at the same time.
13. Mr. Do!
Answer: Original
Universal released the game "Mr. Do!" in 1982. It was a maze game where the central character had to dig through the ground to collect cherries, all the while avoiding the creeps that were trying to catch him. A level was completed when all cherries were collected, all the creeps were killed or all the bonus monsters had been captured. Mr. Do could kill the creeps either by throwing his bouncing ball or by crushing them with giant apples that could be pushed off the edge of a tunnel that Mr. Do had created.
But you had to be wary as the creeps could push the apples too and crush Mr. Do!
14. Mr. Do's Castle
Answer: First sequel
"Mr. Do's Castle" was released in 1983 following the success of the original game. Unlike the other sequels in this quiz, this game was a completely different type of game from its predecessor. The collecting of cherries and killing of monsters remained but this time as part of a platform game rather than a maze.
15. Mr. Do's Wild Ride
Answer: Second sequel
1984's "Mr. Do's Wild Ride" retained the platform gaming of its predecessor but moved the setting from a castle to a theme park. The objective was to guide Mr. Do to the top of a rollercoaster via the track and ladders between sections, all the while avoiding objects sent down the track towards him.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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