Cutie Q

Cutie Q is a two-player ball and paddle game released by Namco in 1979. Players use paddles to deflect a ball towards targets arranged on the playfield, reminiscent of pinball gameplay but with a Breakout-style structure. The goal involves hitting various elements—faces, spinners, drop targets, and rollovers—to score points and trigger bonus events. A unique scoring mechanic introduces ghostly figures that appear after clearing all drop targets in an area; successfully striking these ghosts awards additional points based on a fluctuating multiplier. The game features a distinctive aesthetic with ghost-themed artwork and playful visuals. Successfully transforming faces into smiley expressions further boosts the point multiplier, while activating extra ball opportunities is achieved through specialized rollovers. Designed by Toru Iwatani, who later created Pac-Man, Cutie Q represents an early exploration of hybrid video game/pinball concepts within Namco’s development efforts. Cutie Q's scoring system rewards skillful play with escalating point values and bonus multipliers, providing a dynamic challenge for both players competing to achieve the highest score. The game was originally released in Japan and later reappeared in various collections on Nintendo Wii consoles as part of Namco Museum compilations, alongside ports to PlayStation.