Mappy

Mappy

Out of context
Released	1983
Made By	Nintendo Namco Uncyclopedia Games
Genre	Police Mouse Simulator
Notable Features	Trampolines, Cheese Recovery, Cat Defeat
Special Power	Infinite Bouncing
Setting	A world where cheese is under siege by felines
Plot	Recover stolen cheese while evading an endless army of incompetently lazy cats
Legacy	Regarded as the most influential mouse-centered action game of 1983

Mappy (1983) is, without a doubt, the most important video game of all time. No, not Super Mario Bros., and definitely not Pac-Man. Mappy is the true defining classic, a game that set the gold standard for arcade experiences – if your standard is a police mouse bouncing around trampolines to recover stolen cheese from a gang of lazy cats.

Developed by Uncyclopedia Games (because someone had to take the credit), Mappy first graced arcade machines in 1983, where it became an instant cultural phenomenon. Unfortunately, most people have no memory of it because they were too busy playing Donkey Kong or Space Invaders. But that's okay, because Mappy was always about quality, not quantity. After all, it only takes one mouse to save the world from an impending feline-led dairy disaster.

The premise of Mappy is deceptively simple: the player controls Mappy, a police officer (yes, a mouse police officer) who must traverse a series of platforms to recover stolen cheese from the nefarious Meow Mafia. This band of feline felons is shockingly bad at being bad, mainly because their entire operation seems to rely on casually wandering around while occasionally trying to knock Mappy off platforms. And Mappy, equipped with an infinitely bouncing trampoline and a ridiculous level of stamina, is more than capable of handling the situation.

What sets Mappy apart from the countless other 8‑bit wonders of its time is its bold commitment to cheese. This was not just a game about collecting things. No, Mappy was fighting for the very soul of dairy products worldwide. And as he jumped and bounced his way through countless levels, players couldn't help but feel the urgent need to protect their own cheese at all costs. If Mappy could save cheese, why couldn't we?

But perhaps what makes Mappy truly remarkable is its legacy – or lack thereof. Sure, Mappy didn't win any awards, and it never spawned a hit franchise or movie (though there were rumors of a reboot in the works, somewhere, possibly). But that's okay. Mappy didn't need the spotlight. Mappy is the unsung hero of the arcade world, the underdog that no one appreciated – except, of course, the countless cats who still have nightmares about him.

History

Origin

The birth of Mappy is a story that has been told, retold, and more than likely fabricated by several anonymous people on the internet. Officially, the game was developed by Uncyclopedia Games in 1983, but the true origins of it are buried deep within the annals of history, or perhaps in an old pizza box behind a defunct arcade machine. Regardless, it was the brainchild of a group of game developers who believed the world was ready for a police mouse bouncing on trampolines in order to recover stolen cheese from a gang of lazy cats.

The initial concept behind it was deceptively simple: create a game where a mouse must reclaim stolen cheese from criminals. It was a noble endeavor: one that combined elements of action, adventure, and a deep philosophical questioning of why cats steal cheese. However, what was originally conceived as a basic "maze chaser" soon morphed into a completely absurd platforming game.

What exactly inspired the developers to add trampolines to the equation remains a mystery. Some say it was a reaction to the overwhelming seriousness of Space Invaders and Asteroids. Others argue that it was just a bad dream mixed with a few too many cheese sandwiches. Regardless of the true reason, one thing was clear: the developers of Mappy weren't thinking logically. They just wanted to see a mouse bounce on a trampoline.

Development

The development of Mappy was, according to highly questionable (and possibly invented) sources, a chaotic and disorganized process that involved more caffeine than anyone can reasonably explain. The primary developer, one "Sammy Tramp" (a name which has never been verified), reportedly became obsessed with the idea of creating a game where players could control a mouse who bounces around.

In the years following its release, Mappy experienced what some historians refer to as its "midlife crisis". After a few years of relative popularity in arcades, the game began to fade into obscurity. It wasn't that Mappy had been "outclassed" by other games like Pac-Man or Mario Bros. No, that would imply a level of competition Mappy was simply not equipped to handle. Rather, the game was eclipsed by newer, more advanced titles that had shiny graphics, real storylines, and most importantly, non-trampolining protagonists.

The decline of Mappy was swift, but it was not forgotten. The game remained in a small, devoted cult following, where players could still be found huddled around old arcade machines, bouncing around like they were in a 1980s version of a trampoline park. The Mappy fandom would often gather for "Cheese & Trampoline" parties, where the goal was to see who could jump the longest without breaking the game’s "infinite bounce" mechanic.

Legacy

Today, Mappy remains a touchstone of arcade gaming. Its influence can be seen in countless modern titles that feature absurd, trampoline-based mechanics, even though nobody can really name any of them. The game's refusal to take itself seriously paved the way for future generations of video games that embrace weirdness over traditional gameplay. While games like Minecraft and Undertale would eventually make their way into popular culture, it was Mappy that taught us all the value of bouncing and cheese.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Mappy is deceptively simple: bounce, collect cheese, avoid cats. But if you think that's all there is to it, you clearly haven't spent enough time pondering the true depth of the game's design. At first glance, Mappy seems like a traditional arcade platformer, but in reality, it is a deeply philosophical journey into the nature of bouncing, cheese, and *cats*. Each element of the gameplay serves as a metaphor for the chaos and unpredictability of life itself.

Objective

At the heart of Mappy lies one simple, yet profoundly important, objective: recover stolen cheese. This, of course, raises the question: why cheese? Why not a more traditional treasure, like gold, diamonds, or perhaps a rare collection of vinyl records? The answer, dear reader, is that cheese is not just food in the world of Mappy – it is the very foundation of society itself. It represents the sustenance of all life. Without cheese, there is no order, no harmony. The fabric of reality itself would unravel, and cats would have free rein to steal all the dairy in the world. But don't take our word for it – play the game and feel the weight of the cheese on your tiny mouse shoulders.

Mappy, the titular hero of the game, is tasked with navigating a series of platforms in pursuit of this stolen cheese. However, unlike traditional maze-chasing heroes like Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man (who are, quite frankly, a little too busy eating dots to care about the sanctity of cheese), Mappy is equipped with the most powerful tool in the gaming world: the trampoline. And no, this isn't your average, run-of-the-mill trampoline. This is a super-trampoline, capable of launching Mappy into the stratosphere with an almost supernatural force. How exactly Mappy is able to maintain this level of bounce without breaking every law of physics is a mystery that will go unsolved until the end of time.

Trampolines for the win

The real magic of Mappy's gameplay is the infinite bouncing ability. At first, it seems like a gimmick, but in reality, it is a game-changing mechanic. The trampoline allows Mappy to bounce directly to a different floor of a building, collecting cheese and avoiding cats. And while it may sound simple, it's a mind-bendingly complex system in practice.

Mappy bounces between two levels (there are multiple floors), relying on precision timing to avoid the ever-present danger of being squashed by the slow-moving, yet surprisingly aggressive, cats. But here's the twist: Mappy's trampolining ability is infinite. Yes, you heard that correctly. As long as there's a trampoline beneath Mappy's tiny feet, he can bounce forever, defying gravity, logic, and any reasonable expectations you might have for a platformer.

This infinite bounce allows for creative problem solving. At any moment, Mappy can leap across gaps, outmaneuver cats, and make impossible jumps that would be the envy of any Olympic gymnast. However, the true challenge of Mappy lies not in its mechanical complexity but in its commitment to total chaos. The more you bounce, the more you realize that the game isn't just about winning. It's about surviving the bounce. Each jump feels like it could be your last, especially when the cats are lurking, waiting for you to slip up.

But don't expect to just bounce around: Mappy's trampolines come with some surprisingly specific rules. You can bounce only from one floor to the next (up or down), and your strength is somewhat random – making Mappy a game of skill, luck, and an unreasonable amount of patience. Think you can simply "control" Mappy's jumps? Think again: Every jump has the potential to instantly send you directly into the paws of an angry cat, so you'll need to carefully plan your route.

The cats – lazy but dangerous

The true antagonists of Mappy are, of course, the cats. But don't let their cute faces fool you – these cats are no joke. They are the pawns of the Meow Mafia, an organization so incompetently run that it's a miracle they even manage to steal cheese in the first place. But even though these cats are more likely to nap than actually chase Mappy, their lazy demeanor shouldn’t be underestimated. The cats are *always* a threat, even if they’re often just walking around aimlessly, occasionally deciding to swipe at Mappy when the mood strikes.

Each level features several cats, and while their movements might seem slow and uncoordinated, they're nothing to scoff at. If Mappy accidentally lands on the same platform as one of these feline foes, it's game over. But unlike traditional platformers where enemies simply touch you to end the game, Mappy lets you bounce out of danger – as long as you don't get stuck in a cat's path.

The cats, interestingly, seem to have no real plan other than wandering around aimlessly and occasionally trying to swipe Mappy off the trampoline. It's as if the cats have accepted their fate as bumbling villains in a nonsensical world. But don't be fooled by their lack of aggression – their sheer numbers and proximity to the cheese can make them a dangerous obstacle, especially on the more crowded levels.

Cheese collection: the true meaning of life

At its core, Mappy is about cheese. It's all about cheese. But unlike other collect-a-thon games that focus on generic items (coins, jewels, or power-ups), Mappy's cheese is special. The stolen cheese is *the key* to restoring balance to the world. Collecting it restores order, keeps the Meow Mafia from taking over, and ensures that Mappy's tragic quest for justice is not in vain. Every time Mappy collects a piece of cheese, the world becomes just a little bit better, for a few seconds at least.

There are several types of cheese in Mappy, ranging from the classic cheddar to more exotic varieties (which, to be honest, might just be different pixel colors). However, the cheese is never just "there" it's guarded, hidden behind walls or sometimes placed in the most precarious spots possible. Collecting all the cheese in a level is a satisfying challenge, and the game rewards you with more cheese (of course) once you complete a stage.

But here's the catch: the game never tells you exactly why you need to collect all the cheese. Is it for world peace? Is it to save humanity from an impending feline uprising? Or is it just an excuse for a mouse to bounce around on trampolines, collecting food items while avoiding the world's least competent criminals? The truth is that Mappy never explains itself. It lets you decide, which is one of the many reasons the game is considered a masterpiece of abstract gameplay.

Levels

Trampolines, cheese, and cats ... Oh my! Each level of Mappy takes place in a multi-story building, with Mappy bouncing between various platforms. The layout of each stage changes slightly, with new obstacles and configurations of trampolines. The higher up you go, the more complicated the stage becomes, and the cats get more aggressive (if you can call it that). The difficulty ramps up with each stage, as the layout becomes more complex, the number of trampolines decreases, and the cats increase in number. But despite the added difficulty, the core gameplay remains the same: bounce, avoid, and collect.

At the end of each stage, Mappy must jump to the top of the screen to clear the level, all while avoiding a barrage of increasingly unpredictable cat movements. Once all the cheese is recovered, the player is treated to a new stage, and the cycle continues in a never-ending loop of bouncing and feline evasion.

See also

• Pac-Man
• Katamari Damacy