Rompers (1989) - MobyGames (2024)

Gameplay is not very difficult when you get the hang of the controls and the mechanics and the levels only gradually get harder as you progress. The physics are more realistic than what you see in games like Bubble Bobble and Dig Dug, so far as gravity goes, especially when you do a domino chain reaction with several wall slabs. It seems almost a shame to squash such cutesy-looking enemies. New enemies always do something new which makes them tricky to tackle at first fight. In addition to the welcome power-ups, there are sneaky ways to slip by enemies, simply standing in spots between grid squares. And there's no shortage of opportunities to rack up your points for that sweet high score.

The Bad
No personal complaints about the game itself. The only real complaint that there is - the game was never released outside Japan. It didn't even get ported to other systems like the NES, Master System or Sharp X68000. Even the arcade complitation "Namco Museum Encore" did not make it outside Japan. Oh! Well, if you haven't heard of this title before, you have now.

The Bottom Line
This is a largely forgotten and underrated arcade game, no thanks to the fact it never got US or PAL releases, until it reached the Nintendo Switch. Back in the day Pac-Man got all the attention and praise, and this title not so much. Every element and character in this game would be welcome in a Pac-Man crossover or at least cameo appearances. This a very treasurable arcade game you'll want to try out if it's eluded your nostalgia. Highly recommendable and deserves the recognition it never got worldwide.