Ludography
Snack Attack cover

1982 · Arcade · Maze

Snack Attack

A Pac-Man variant written by Dan Illowsky and published by Datamost for the Apple II.

Released
1982
Platforms
Apple II
Genres
ArcadeMaze
Developers
—
Publishers
Datamost
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Bird view / Isometric
Themes
Action
Country
United States

About

Snack Attack is a maze video game developed by Dan Illowsky for the Apple II and published by Datamost in 1981. Snack Attack is a Pac-Man clone.

Keywords

  • maze
  • pixel art
  • platform exclusive
  • collectibles
  • non-humanoid protagonist
  • single-screen level
  • real-time combat
  • wraparound world
  • temporary invincibility
  • no dialogue
  • vore
  • eat or be eaten

Media

Snack Attack screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player controls the Snacker, a small, white, fish-like character, and moves through a maze to "eat" all the gumdrops scattered throughout. Gumdrop Guards, four enemies that patrol the maze, attempt to catch the Snacker. There are green and purple barriers that can only be crossed by the Snacker and the Guards, respectively.

The character can move in four directions, allowing the player to escape the Gumdrop Guards.

Reception

The game debuted in October 1981, and sold 25,000 copies by June 1982, tied for fourth on Computer Gaming World's list of top sellers. Snack Attack won an award in the category of "Best Solitaire Computer Game" at the 4th annual Arkie Awards, where judges praised its "multiple mazes, charming graphics and sound effects, and well-nigh-addictive play action". The game's color-coded doors were also described as "another big plus, adding an extra dollop of strategy". David H. Ahl of Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games said of Snack Attack and Jawbreaker, that "for Pac-Man [sic] fans, either is recommended.

Legacy

The sequel, Snack Attack II, is an IBM PC compatible-only game co-authored with Michael Abrash and published by Funtastic.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Apple II31 December 1982North America

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Collections1 collection

Platform libraries

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.