Machine Guides

Game History

Popeye is a 1982 arcade platform game developed and published by Nintendo based on E.C. Segar's comic strip characters The game was designed by Genyo Takeda and Shigeru Miyamoto, who had originally intended to create a Popeye game before developing Donkey Kong when they couldn't secure the license initially. Nintendo had developed a newer arcade system that could produce sprites at twice the resolution with less detailed backgrounds, which they first used in Sky Skipper before implementing it in Popeye.

The game was released in arcades in September 1982 in North America and December 1982 in Japan, using the same standard Nintendo cabinet as Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., and Radar Scope. The gameplay involved Popeye collecting items thrown by Olive Oyl while avoiding the brutish antagonist (named "Brutus" in the game rather than "Bluto") and other hazards like the Sea Hag and her vulture Bernard. When Popeye collected spinach, he gained temporary invincibility and could defeat Brutus by punching him.

Popeye was a commercial success, topping the Play Meter arcade chart for street locations in the United States in April 1983. 

How to Play

Objective

The main goal of Popeye is to collect items thrown by Olive Oyl at the top of the screen while avoiding the brutish antagonist Brutus and other hazards. You must successfully collect all items in each level to advance to the next one. The game emphasizes platform navigation and timing in a comic strip-inspired environment.

Controls

• Joystick: Use the joystick to move Popeye left, right, and up/down ladders and platforms
• Jump Button: Press to make Popeye jump over obstacles and between platforms

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin Popeye's quest to win Olive Oyl's affection.

• Level Navigation: Navigate through multi-level platforms to reach Olive Oyl at the top of the screen.

• Item Collection: Catch items thrown by Olive Oyl (hearts, musical notes, or letters spelling "HELP") before they fall to the ground.

• Enemy Avoidance: Avoid Brutus who chases you around the level, as well as other hazards like the Sea Hag and her vulture Bernard.

• Spinach Power-Up: Collect spinach cans to gain temporary invincibility and the ability to defeat Brutus by punching him.

• Platform Mechanics: Jump between platforms and climb ladders to navigate the level and reach Olive Oyl's position.

• Level Completion: Successfully collect all items thrown by Olive Oyl to complete the level and advance to the next one.

• Increasing Difficulty: Progress through levels with more complex layouts and faster-paced gameplay.

• Game Over: The game ends when you lose all your lives. Your final score is displayed based on items collected and levels completed.