Wiping

In Wiping, released in 1982 by Nichibutsu, two players navigate maze-like environments using a four-way joystick to dig and maneuver through underground passages. The objective is to survive while clearing the screen of persistent monsters, earning points for each one defeated. Players can strategically use carpets to trap and eliminate multiple enemies at once for significant score bonuses – up to 10,000 points for taking out four simultaneously. Gameplay revolves around careful planning and timing; collecting bonus items scattered within the levels temporarily stuns all the creatures onscreen, offering a chance to maximize point accumulation by clearing them all before they recover. Successfully navigating the maze while avoiding enemies requires players to memorize item locations and exploit safe areas to lure monsters into carpet traps. A later update of Wiping appeared as Rug Rats, suggesting some design modifications were made to the original game. The title uses two Zilog Z80 processors alongside custom sound chips to create its unique gameplay experience.