Gator Panic
{{more citations needed|date=December 2019}}
{{Expand Japanese|ワニワニパニック|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Gator Panic
| image = File:Gator Panic promo flyer.png
| caption = Japanese advertising flyer
| developer = Namco
Hope (Wani Wani Panic 3)
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Namco|NA|Data East}}
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|February 1988|NA|1990}}
| platforms = Arcade, mobile phone, iOS
| genre = Redemption
| series = Gator Panic
| modes = Single-player
}}
Gator Panic{{efn|Also known as Wacky Gator or {{nihongo|Wani Wani Panic|ワニワニパニック|Wani Wani Panikku}}}} is a redemption arcade game released in 1988 by Namco in Japan and Data East in North America. The game plays very much like Whac-A-Mole, but features alligators coming out of the cabinet horizontally instead of moles coming out vertically.{{cite web |title=『ワニワニパニック』開発者からグループ会長にまで上り詰めた男が語る、ナムコ激動の40年。創業者・中村雅哉との思い出、バンダイ経営統合の舞台裏【バンダイナムコ前会長・石川祝男インタビュー：ゲームの企画書】 |url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/projectbook/180914 |website=Den Famicogamer |accessdate=February 19, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114070754/https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/projectbook/180914 |archivedate=January 14, 2020 |date=September 14, 2018}}
Legacy
A digital remake was made in 2006 for Point Blank DS on the Nintendo DS, and retains the original design from the Japanese release. The game was digitally remade again in 2007 for Namco Museum Remix under the name Gator Panic Remix. This version has the player swing Pac-Man at the alligators by using the Wii Remote and Nunchuck; it was included again in Namco Museum Megamix which was released in 2010.{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |website=Nintendo Life |accessdate=August 1, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429204017/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |archivedate=April 29, 2019 |date=July 12, 2009}}{{cite web |author1=IGN Staff |title=Namco Museum Megamix Now Available for Wii |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/16/namco-museum-megamix-now-available-for-wii |publisher=IGN |accessdate=August 2, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413222829/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/16/namco-museum-megamix-now-available-for-wii |archivedate=April 13, 2019 |date=November 16, 2010}} An iOS version of Gator Panic was also released in 2010, but was removed from the app store on March 30, 2015. All digital versions of the game retain the title Gator Panic in regions outside Japan.
The game has had several sequels and revisions since the original's release:
- Kani Kani Panic AKA Cracky Crab (1991) - a similar title that uses crabs instead of alligators (naturally, they move sideways).{{cite journal |title=Coin Machine - Namco's Cracky Crab |journal=Cashbox |date=May 30, 1992 |page=38 |issn=0008-7289}}
- Same Same Panic - (1994) - revised version featuring sharks instead of alligators.
- Wani Wani Panic 2 - (1996) - released in America in 2012 as Funky Gators.{{Cite web | url=https://www.vendingtimes.com/articles/namco-america-readies-three-new-arcade-games-8657?iid |title = Namco America Readies Three New Arcade Games}}
- CR Wani Wani Panic - (2000) - Pachinko game.
- Wani Wani Panic RT - (2003){{cite web |title=バンダイナムコのリハビリ玩具が熊本県の認知症予防モデル事業の対象に |url=https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2009/12/07/762.html |website=Game Business |publisher=IID |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811064340/https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2009/12/07/762.html |archivedate=August 11, 2020 |language=ja |date=December 7, 2009}}
- Wani Wani Panic 3 (2008)
- Whack'em Funky Gators (2016) - a digital remake of the game.{{Cite web | url=https://www.bandainamco-am.com/game.php?gameid=58 | title = Whack'em Funky Gators}} It is known in Europe as Gator Panic.{{Cite web | url=http://www.arcadebelgium.be/ab.php?l=en&r=art&p=repeag2015 | title = Arcade Belgium - EAG International 2015 Report (english)}}
- Wani Wani Panic R (2020){{cite web |last1=Ashcraft |first1=Brian |title=After 30 Years, Namco Bandai Releases New Version Of Amusement Arcade Game |url=https://www.kotaku.co.uk/2020/06/18/after-30-years-namco-bandai-releases-new-version-of-amusement-arcade-game |website=Kotaku UK |publisher=G/O Media |accessdate=August 31, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818134308/https://www.kotaku.co.uk/2020/06/18/after-30-years-namco-bandai-releases-new-version-of-amusement-arcade-game |archivedate=August 18, 2020 |date=June 18, 2020}}
In the 2021 JRPG Tales of Arise a mallet-like artifact called "Crocodile Crusher" can be found, with the in-game description saying it was "once used to beat back alligators" above a small trademark reference to Gator Panic.
File:WANI-WANI PANIC 2.jpg|Wani Wani Panic 2
File:WINI-WANI PANIC 3.jpg|Wani Wani Panic 3
Notes
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References
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{{Namco electro mechanical games}}
Category:Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises
Category:Namco redemption games
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