Peter Pack Rat

Guide Peter, a resourceful rat, through increasingly challenging environments in this 1984 platformer from Atari Games. As Peter, you must navigate a junkyard, sewer, and tree-lined landscape collecting various items – bottles, watches, hats, and more – to transport back to his nest. Along the way, enemies like rats, cats, dogs, bats, and owls will attempt to thwart your progress. Players can stun these creatures by throwing collected objects, even briefly riding flying animals for a tactical advantage. Each successive round introduces additional items and adversaries, altering shortcuts and intensifying the gameplay. The game’s unique control scheme features throw buttons on both sides of the joystick that double as start functions, while the top-mounted jump button adds another layer to navigation. Though memorable for its immersive soundscape – often audible across an entire arcade – Peter Pack Rat presents a compelling and surprisingly strategic platforming experience centered around quick reflexes and clever use of the environment.