Blue Print (Midway)

In Blue Print, players navigate interconnected houses in a maze-like environment to recover scattered components for a vital machine. As one of two players, you'll search each house carefully, as hazards like monsters and bombs obstruct your progress. Once all the blueprint pieces are gathered, the assembled weapon can be used to defend a character’s girlfriend from a pursuing monster – success depends on skillful aiming and a bit of luck given the random firing pattern. The game presents a unique collect-and-put mechanic alongside its maze navigation, requiring players to manage time, bombs, and monstrous encounters simultaneously. Strategic use of speed boosts is crucial for avoiding danger and efficiently collecting weapon components. The development team behind Blue Print would later form Ultimate Play the Game, establishing a legacy that included pivotal titles for home computers and significant contributions to Nintendo’s console lineup as Rare. A vertical screen displays the action in a palette of sixteen colors, controlled with an eight-way joystick and single button. Published by Bally Midway in 1982, Blue Print offers a challenging cooperative experience built around puzzle solving and quick reflexes, with high scores recorded that demonstrate mastery over its randomized elements and perils.