The Golden Age in the seventies saw a boom in games and machines and there were some games that really didn’t quite make the grade, but were probably played by someone somewhere presumably. Here are some of the weirder ones.
Hatris
Hilariously this game lives up to its name perfectly. This is actually Tetris, but the twist is... wait for this... it’s played with hats. Who would have guessed that?Wall Street
Falling suicidal bankers might be fair game in this day and age, but this is a strange concept for a pastime – catching them. Oddly you also play as the brokers running around the city collecting sacks of money and then rob a bank surrounded by tanks. It’s difficult to know whose side you’re actually on!Timber
If you’ve ever had an argument with a neighbor – overhanging trees or a boundary dispute perhaps – vent your anger through the game Timber. In it you have to cut down trees in your neighbour’s garden before he notices you. Yup, that’s it. There’s not a lot to say about this game other than its premise is just plain boring. Pity the kid that put his hard earned pocket money in this game.Splatter House
The gore factor is stepped up as you play a homicidal maniac in a hockey mask (sounds familiar). Brought out in 1988 it carried the following tongue-in-cheek warning “The horrifying theme of this game may be inappropriate for young children... and cowards.” These were the days before game rating and so this actually hung around in arcades for anyone to play. |
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Snacks n Jaxson
Where to start. OK, essentially you play a clown who likes to eat his way around a room, but right at the start of a level he sneezes his nose off and must prevent it smashing into a window whilst he’s eating. It has other elements to it too, but they’re just as weird and nonsensical. Just listen to the commentary of people trying to play it without breaking into hysterics.Mikie
Because being a teenager in the 80s wasn’t tough enough, this game would warp anyone’s view of teen romance. You get to play out a high school kid called Mikie who goes around collecting parts of a love letter from girlfriend Mandy, whilst being chased by the faculty. Totally vacuous take on high school life.I’m Sorry
Not a good start to a game if the makers are already apologising to you. But their apology is earned when you start playing this absurd and pointless game. You are former Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, who has to go and fight ‘enemies’ such as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Carl Lewis. What did Carl Lewis ever do?If you’re caught by Japanese comedian Tamori, you will suddenly find yourself in a nappy while Tamori is clad in a leather bikini and whipping you. Of course.
BoongGa BoongGa
The aim of this game is to go around spanking people who you feel have wronged you – like your ex-girlfriend or a gangster. If that isn’t weird enough for you, you can also pop a finger in their posterior. The machine has a model of a human bottom that you can actually perform this action on.Widely criticised for its badly translated promotional flyer as well as the absolutely awful premise of the game and the distasteful idea it promote, this has to be one of the weirdest games ever made for public consumption.
AdamAbout the Author:
Adam works with Home Leisure Direct, the UK’s premier games room specialist. In April 2013 we were chosen as the Reader's Choice at the ECMOD Direct Commerce Award.