Manhole (video game)
{{Short description|1981 LCD game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Manhole Game & Watch New Wide Screen.jpg
| caption = New Wide Screen release
| developer = Nintendo R&D1
| publisher = Nintendo
| director = Gunpei Yokoi
| platforms = Game & Watch
| released = January 27, 1981
August 24, 1983
| genre = Action game
| modes = Single-player
}}
Manhole is an action Game & Watch video game, one of six releases for the Gold Series of Game & Watch systems. The play field is split between two streets with two sewer openings each, and the player is tasked with holding a manhole cover to prevent people from falling in as they cross, with the difficulty increasing as the game goes on. It was originally released in 1981, before getting a new release in 1983. Like most Game & Watch games, Manhole was directed by Gunpei Yokoi, the creator of the Game & Watch, and was the second to feature color on the screen. Yokoi described the game as silly, a quality he hoped to achieve with its premise.
It has been featured in multiple collections of Game & Watch games, including Game & Watch Gallery and Game & Watch Gallery 4, the former which featured a new version where the player-character is replaced with Yoshi. It was also bundled with the Nintendo e-Reader for the Game Boy Advance, stored on a card that the user must swipe to play. Along with other Game & Watch games, Manhole was released as a DSiWare download for the Nintendo DSi. It was featured alongside Ball at a Game & Watch exhibit at the Nintendo Museum, allowing people to play the game using their shadow. It was among the more popular and successful Game & Watch games. Its gameplay has been found as fun by critics, though it has also been criticized for starting too slowly and being too repetitive.
Gameplay
Manhole is a single-player action game{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-za/Games/Nintendo-DSiWare/Game-Watch-Manhole-263346.html |title=Game & Watch™ Manhole |work=Nintendo.com |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} where the player is tasked with preventing people from falling into manholes by using the single manhole cover they have, receiving points for each person who crosses safely. The game has four buttons, each connected to one of the four manholes, using the respective buttons to move the player-character into position. If the player fails to prevent a person from falling through, causing the player to lose a life. Once three lives are lost, the game is over. If the player reaches a certain point threshold, they will get all their lives back.{{cite magazine |title=Manhole |magazine=Game and Watch Perfect Catalogue |page=22}} The game has two modes of play: Game A, which stays at the same speed; and Game B, which gradually increases in speed as the game goes alone. The speed decreases in Game B every 100 points. The New Wide Screen version introduces the ability to double the points afforded per person crossing if the player reaches 300 points without losing a life. It also changes how losing a life works; in the original, when a life is lost, the game pauses and then resumes. In this version, the passersby on screen reset if one falls after it pauses.
Development and release
File:Manhole - Game&Watch - Nintendo.jpg
Manhole was developed by Nintendo{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/27/dsiware-capsule-reviews-third-week-of-july |title=DSiWare Capsule Reviews: Third Week of July |work=IGN |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=July 27, 2010 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} and directed by Gunpei Yokoi, regarded Manhole as one of the "little masterpieces" of the Game & Watch line.{{cite web |url=https://shmuplations.com/gameandwatch/ |title=Gunpei Yokoi – Inventing the Game and Watch |work=Shmuplations |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} He described the premise as silly, a quality he aimed to achieve with Manhole. It was the second Game & Watch game to feature color on its screen. It has a clock and alarm functionality, and is the first Game & Watch game to have AM and PM displayed.{{cite web |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/clubn/game-and-watch-ball-reward/0/1/ |title=Using a Calculator Chip |work=Iwata Asks |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} Manhole was published by Nintendo on January 27, 1981, the first title released in the Gold Series line. The New Wide Screen version was released on August 24, 1983. This version has a bigger screen with new background graphics and more detailed art.
Re-releases and legacy
The Game Boy game Game Boy Gallery, released in 1995, features multiple Game & Watch games, including Manhole.{{cite magazine |title=Game Boy Gallery |magazine=Club Nintendo |page=59 |date=June 1994}} Game & Watch Gallery, also for the Game Boy and released in 1997,{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/07/17/game-watch-gallery-review |title=Game & Watch Gallery Review |work=IGN |last=Thomas |first=Lucas S. |date=July 17, 2011 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} featured a remake of Manhole, where the player controls Yoshi, who uses his nose and tongue to prevent characters Toad and Donkey Kong Jr. from falling through. In this version, characters freeze in place over the pit for a moment before falling, allowing Yoshi to save them before they fall through.{{cite magazine |title=Game & Watch Gallery |magazine=Nintendo Magazine |page=90 |issue=57 |date=June 1997}} The manhole covers also stay in place for longer than in the original version, allowing more room for error by the player. Game & Watch Gallery 4, released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002, features an unlockable port of Manhole.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} It was featured as a hidden game, along with other Game & Watch games, in the Nintendo DS Japanese-to-English dictionary Kanji Sonomama DS Rakubiki Jiten.
An accessory for the Game Boy Advance, the Nintendo e-Reader, came bundled with a card that, when scanned into the device, would allow the user to play Manhole.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/13/e3-2003-game-watch-e-cards |title=E3 2003: Game & Watch e-Cards |work=IGN |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=May 13, 2003 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} In Japan, 10,000 copies of the card were distributed at four stores, including Toys "R" Us.{{cite magazine |title=【 manhole』/GBA体验版 |magazine=Pocket Gamer |page=3 |issue=13}} It was the first of a series of Game & Watch cards that work similarly, which would be found in blister packs of randomized cards. This series would have included a collector version of Manhole that requires the scanning of two cards, which features Luigi as the playable character.{{cite magazine |title=Game & Watch e |magazine=Nintendo Power |date=December 2003 |issue=174 |page=127}} These Game & Watch cards never materialized, leaving the original Manhole card the only one released.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/01/feature_how_nintendos_game_and_watch_took_withered_technology_and_turned_it_into_a_million-seller |title=Feature: How Nintendo's Game & Watch Took "Withered Technology" And Turned It Into A Million-Seller |work=NintendoLife |last=McFerran |first=Damien |date=January 1, 2021 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} Manhole was re-released on the Nintendo DSi's DSiWare download service on August 19, 2009, and later in April 2010 in North America and Europe.
A Game & Watch exhibit was present at the Nintendo Museum, which allowed players to use their shadow to control one of two games, either Ball or Manhole.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/article/202409/18828 |title=ニンテンドーミュージアム内覧会リポート。任天堂の歴史が丸わかり。過去に発売した製品と最新技術を融合させた体験できる展示も魅力的 |magazine=Famitsu |date=September 25, 2024 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}}
In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the character Mr. Game & Watch was added as a playable character, who had an attack based on the game Manhole.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/11/smash-moves-mr-game-watch |title=Smash Moves: Mr. Game & Watch |work=IGN |date=January 11, 2002 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} A collectible item called a Spirit was added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate based on Manhole.{{cite web |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/guias-trucos/super-smash-bros-ultimate/todos-espiritus-super-smash-bros-ultimate-347581 |title=Todos los espíritus en Super Smash Bros Ultimate |work=Hobby Consolas |last=Hernández |first=David |date=December 21, 2018 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} Manhole has been referenced in the WarioWare series, including a mini-game based on it.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/wariowares-two-favorite-things-are-classic-nintendo-po-1827929313 |title=WarioWare's Two Favorite Things Are Classic Nintendo, Poop |work=Kotaku |last=Kohler |first=Chris |date=July 27, 2018 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}}
Reception
Video game designer and musician Kenji Eno stated that he was into Manhole when he was younger, playing it for hours at a time and feeling that it had an analogue feel despite being digital that he enjoyed.{{cite web |url=https://shmuplations.com/yokoixeno/ |title=Gunpei Yokoi x Kenji Eno - Developer Interview |work=Shmuplations |date=1996 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} Digitally Downloaded writer Matt Sainsbury considered it his favorite Game & Watch game,{{cite web |url=https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/03/on-game-watch-and-why-we-need-to.html |title= On Game & Watch and why we need to preserve Nintendo's oldest games |work=Digitally Downloaded |last=Sainsbury |first=Matt |date=March 16, 2017 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} among the first video games he ever played, describing it as entertaining and enjoying how "vibrant and cute" the designs were. He stated that it was a game he played for years since getting it as a child.{{cite web |url=https://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2020/04/its-time-for-nintendo-to-bring-back.html |title=It's time for Nintendo to bring back Game & Watch |work=Digitally Downloaded |last=Sainsbury |first=Matt |date=13 April 2020 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} Jeux Video writer Retrosaurus felt that it was nearly as simple as a game could get, though felt this was fine since the game was meant to be inexpensive and be a way to pass the time. They felt that it had rhythm game-like elements in its gameplay, believing that its sound effects helped enhance that feel. They found it an addictive game thanks to how the scoring system works, but warned it could be more repetitive depending on a person's taste. They praised the visuals, stating that the character designs helped give the game a "pleasant, childish atmosphere" which suited the premise of the game.{{cite web |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/test/1263729/manhole-un-game-watch-a-travers-les-ages.htm |title= Manhole, un Game & Watch à travers les âges |work=Jeux Video |author=Retrosaurus |date=November 27, 2020 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} NintendoLife writer Desiree Turner begrudged how slow a session of Manhole was to start, but felt that the game became more fun once it sped up. She felt that the DSiWare release was a good way for people to experience the Game & Watch games for the first time.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/04/game_and_watch_manhole_dsiware |title=Game & Watch Manhole Review |work=NintendoLife |last=Turner |first=Desiree |date=April 9, 2010 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} Eurogamer writer Kristan Reed felt that the Game & Watch Gallery version of Manhole resembled the "throwaway charm of today's score-chasing mobile games", calling it "daft as a brush".{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/download-games-roundup-review-18?page=3 |title=Download Games Roundup |work=Eurogamer |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=August 19, 2011 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} IGN writer Lucas M. Thomas felt that Manhole was a fun game when included as part of a compilation, but he could not recommend someone pay for the DSiWare version. He felt that, despite being a low price, Manhole did not offer enough gameplay to justify it, believing that the hectic gameplay wore off due to its repetitive nature.
According to Inside Games staff, Manhole was among the most popular of the Gold Series of Game & Watch systems{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2019/11/03/125515_2.html |title=ゲーム19XX～20XX第13回：『ドンキーコング』『ウィザードリィ』など伝説的名作が登場した1981年のゲームを紹介！ |work=Inside Games |date=November 3, 2019 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}} and one of the most popular alongside Helmet and Octopus, described as a "huge success" by Retrosaurus. It was also one of the most popular New Wide Screen releases, alongside Donkey Kong Jr.{{cite magazine |title=Nintendo Game and Watch Handheld Games |magazine=Vintage Technology |issue=2 |page=15 |date=January 2008}} Pocket Gamer staff attributed part of its popularity to the character designs, which they felt were funny and well done. Upon being released for the DSiWare download service, it was among the best-selling games on the platform.{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2009/08/27/37327.html |title=『ドンキーコングJR.』『マリオズセメントファクトリー』『マンホール』が初登場・・・週間DSiウェアランキング(8/26) |work=Inside Games |date=August 27, 2009 |accessdate=April 10, 2025}}