Summary

• Release Year: 1979
• Genres: Arcade, Racing
• Platforms: Arcade
• Developers: Sega/Gremlin
• Publishers: Sega/Gremlin

Head On (1979): The Precursor to Pac-Man

Head On is an arcade game developed by Sega in 1979. It is a simple but addictive maze game where the player controls a car through a maze, collecting dots while avoiding collisions with a computer-controlled car. Head On is considered to be a precursor to Namco’s 1980 hit Pac-Man, and it is still enjoyed by retro gaming enthusiasts today.

Gameplay

The goal of Head On is to collect all of the dots in the maze while avoiding collisions with the computer-controlled car. The player controls their car with a joystick, and can move up, down, left, and right. The computer-controlled car moves randomly around the maze, and will try to撞击 the player’s car. If the player’s car collides with the computer-controlled car, they will lose a life.

The maze in Head On is made up of a series of horizontal and vertical lines. The player’s car can only move along these lines, and cannot move diagonally. The computer-controlled car can move anywhere in the maze, including diagonally.

Scoring

The player scores points for collecting dots. Each dot is worth 10 points. The player also scores points for collecting special items that appear in the maze. These items include:

• Fruit: Fruit is worth 100 points.
• Keys: Keys open doors that lead to new areas of the maze.
• Stars: Stars make the player’s car invincible for a short period of time.

Legacy

Head On was a commercial success, and it helped to popularize the maze genre of video games. It is considered to be a precursor to Namco’s 1980 hit Pac-Man, which borrowed many of its gameplay elements from Head On.

Head On is still enjoyed by retro gaming enthusiasts today. It is a simple but addictive game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Critical reception

Head On was well-received by critics upon its release. It was praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, and its innovative use of computer-controlled opponents. Head On was also a commercial success, and it helped to popularize the maze genre of video games.

Cultural impact

Head On has had a significant impact on popular culture. It is one of the first video games to feature computer-controlled opponents, and it helped to popularize the maze genre of video games. Head On has also been featured in several films and television shows, including the 1982 film Tron and the 2012 television show Breaking Bad.

Conclusion

Head On is a classic arcade game that is still enjoyed by retro gaming enthusiasts today. It is a simple but addictive game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Head On is also a significant historical artifact, as it is one of the first video games to feature computer-controlled opponents and to popularize the maze genre of video games.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

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