Mouse Trap (version 5)

Navigate a maze as a small mouse in Exidy’s Mouse Trap, released in arcades in 1981. Your objective is to collect all the scattered cheese throughout each level while dodging patrolling cats. A strategic twist comes with collecting a bone, which transforms you into a dog – allowing you to temporarily turn the tables and chase down those pesky felines. However, be mindful of the hawk that periodically flies across the screen; both the mouse and dog forms are vulnerable to its attacks. The game features four colored buttons offering unique interactions within the maze environment; pressing these alters the layout to create new pathways or block off existing ones. Maintaining awareness of your surroundings is key as you maneuver through the increasingly complex levels in pursuit of all the cheese. Mouse Trap gained further recognition when it inspired a popular song by Buckner & Garcia, featured on their "Pac-Man Fever" album. The game’s design and programming credits Larry Hutcherson and Howell Ivy, with development taking place in 1981. Later revisions subtly altered some of the maze's visual elements, though these changes weren't consistently applied throughout the graphics. Mouse Trap subsequently made its way to home consoles including the Atari 2600, Colecovision, and Intellivision.