How well do you know 80s video games? – answers and explanations
Here are the answers to all 15 questions in the How well do you know 80s video games? quiz, each with a short explanation. Insert a coin and test your knowledge of classic 1980s arcade and home games. Haven't played yet? Take the quiz first and compare your score.
Play the quiz · 15 questions1. Which Japanese company created the 1980 arcade hit Pac-Man?
Answer: Namco
Pac-Man was developed by the Japanese company Namco and designed by Toru Iwatani. It came out in Japan in 1980, and Midway distributed it in North America.
2. In the original 1981 Donkey Kong, what was the hero who later became Mario called?
Answer: Jumpman
In Nintendo's 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, the hero was called Jumpman. Shigeru Miyamoto designed him, and he was later renamed Mario, reportedly after Mario Segale, the landlord of Nintendo of America's warehouse.
3. Tetris was first created in 1984 by Alexey Pajitnov in which country?
Answer: Soviet Union
Alexey Pajitnov created Tetris in 1984 while working at the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre of the Soviet Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The first version ran on an Elektronika 60 computer.
4. Super Mario Bros. was released in 1985 for which games console?
Answer: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Super Mario Bros. came out in September 1985 in Japan on the Famicom, the Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System. It launched with the NES in North America later in 1985.
5. In Pac-Man, what is the name of the red ghost that chases the player?
Answer: Blinky
Blinky is the red ghost in Pac-Man, and he chases Pac-Man directly. The other three ghosts are Pinky (pink), Inky (cyan) and Clyde (orange).
6. Which Nintendo handheld came bundled with Tetris at its 1989 launch?
Answer: Game Boy
When the Game Boy launched in North America in 1989, Tetris came bundled with it. The pairing helped make both the handheld and the puzzle game huge worldwide hits.
7. In the original Donkey Kong, what is the woman Mario rescues called?
Answer: Pauline
In the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, Mario (then called Jumpman) rescues Pauline. In early Japanese material she was simply called Lady, and she later returned as the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey.
8. What is the name of the hero in 1986's The Legend of Zelda?
Answer: Link
Link is the hero of The Legend of Zelda (1986). He sets out to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat Ganon, collecting the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom along the way.
9. Which Nintendo designer created both Donkey Kong and Super Mario Bros.?
Answer: Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto designed the arcade game Donkey Kong (1981) and the NES game Super Mario Bros. (1985). He also created The Legend of Zelda.
10. What is the name of the turtle-like villain in Super Mario Bros.?
Answer: Bowser
Bowser, the turtle-like king of the Koopas, is the main villain of Super Mario Bros. (1985). The original English manual called him King Koopa, and he kidnaps Princess Toadstool.
11. What is the name of the main villain in 1986's The Legend of Zelda?
Answer: Ganon
Ganon, the Prince of Darkness, is the main villain of The Legend of Zelda (1986). He has stolen the Triforce of Power and captured Princess Zelda, and Link must gather the eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom to reach him on Death Mountain.
12. In Super Mario Bros., which power-up makes Mario grow bigger?
Answer: Super Mushroom
In Super Mario Bros. (1985), the Super Mushroom turns small Mario into Super Mario. In that game, a block holding a power-up gives a Fire Flower instead only if Mario is already big.
13. Which Japanese company created Mega Man, first released in 1987?
Answer: Capcom
Capcom developed and published Mega Man, known in Japan as Rockman, for the NES in 1987. The series grew into one of Capcom's flagship franchises, with Dr. Wily as its recurring villain.
14. What light-gun accessory was used to play Duck Hunt on the NES?
Answer: NES Zapper
Duck Hunt (1984) was played with the NES Zapper, a light gun that detects the bright target the screen flashes when the trigger is pulled. In North America it was often sold bundled on a cartridge with Super Mario Bros.
15. Which American company released the 1981 arcade shooter Centipede?
Answer: Atari
Atari released the arcade shooter Centipede in 1981. It was designed by Ed Logg and Dona Bailey, one of the first women to design an arcade game.