Question 1

In the classic arcade game Pac-Man, how many points does Pac-Man score for eating one of the small dots scattered around the maze?

Accepted Answer

10 points. The small dots are worth 10 points each, while the larger power pellets in the corners are worth 50 — a full maze of dots totals 2,400 points.

Question 2

Which Nintendo character, famous for his red cap and dungarees, starred in the landmark 1985 NES platformer Super Mario Bros.?

Accepted Answer

Mario. Super Mario Bros. is widely credited with reviving the video game industry after the 1983 crash, selling over 40 million copies on the NES.

Question 3

In the original Space Invaders arcade game, in which direction do the rows of alien invaders primarily move across the screen?

Accepted Answer

Side to side (left and right). Each time the aliens reach the screen edge, they drop down one row and reverse direction — this gradual descent builds the game's famous sense of tension.

Question 4

Which 1989 Capcom arcade beat-'em-up let players brawl through Metro City as wrestler Mike Haggar and his allies, and is considered a landmark of the genre?

Accepted Answer

Final Fight. Mike Haggar, a wrestler-turned-mayor of Metro City, became one of gaming's most memorable protagonists by piledriving criminals to clean up his city.

Question 5

In the original Donkey Kong arcade game, what is the name of the hero who climbs ladders to rescue a kidnapped woman from the giant ape?

Accepted Answer

Jumpman (also accepted: Mario). Jumpman was a carpenter in the original Donkey Kong — he became a plumber when Nintendo developed Mario Bros., set in underground sewers.

Question 6

In Street Fighter II, which character performs a spinning piledriver move known as the Screw Piledriver as one of his signature attacks?

Accepted Answer

Zangief. Zangief's Spinning Piledriver requires a full 360-degree joystick rotation to execute, making it one of the most technically demanding moves in fighting game history.

Question 7

The Commodore 64 home computer used which sound chip, beloved by chiptune enthusiasts for its distinctive three-voice synthesiser, that gave the machine its characteristic audio?

Accepted Answer

SID (Sound Interface Device). The SID chip, designed by Bob Yannes at MOS Technology, gave the Commodore 64 its distinctive sound and inspired an entire chiptune music subculture.

Question 8

Which 1984 home computer game by David Braben and Ian Bell was groundbreaking for its open-world space trading and combat, and gave players the goal of reaching the titular rank?

Accepted Answer

Elite. Elite was revolutionary for its open-ended gameplay — players could trade, fight, or explore across eight galaxies with no set objectives.

Question 9

In the original 1986 Metroid on the NES, what was the shocking secret revealed at the end of the game about the protagonist Samus Aran?

Accepted Answer

Samus Aran is a woman. Samus was one of gaming's first major female protagonists — players who completed the game quickly enough were rewarded with the surprise reveal.

Question 10

Which Japanese developer created the shoot-'em-up series that includes Gradius, first released in arcades in 1985?

Accepted Answer

Konami. Gradius introduced the innovative power-up bar system, allowing players to choose which weapon upgrade to activate rather than collecting random pickups.

🧠 Retro Gaming Quiz

Retro Gaming Quiz — Questions and Answers

Retro Gaming

1easyIn the classic arcade game Pac-Man, how many points does Pac-Man score for eating one of the small dots scattered around the maze?

2easyWhich Nintendo character, famous for his red cap and dungarees, starred in the landmark 1985 NES platformer Super Mario Bros.?

3easyIn the original Space Invaders arcade game, in which direction do the rows of alien invaders primarily move across the screen?

4mediumWhich 1989 Capcom arcade beat-'em-up let players brawl through Metro City as wrestler Mike Haggar and his allies, and is considered a landmark of the genre?

5mediumIn the original Donkey Kong arcade game, what is the name of the hero who climbs ladders to rescue a kidnapped woman from the giant ape?

6mediumIn Street Fighter II, which character performs a spinning piledriver move known as the Screw Piledriver as one of his signature attacks?

7mediumThe Commodore 64 home computer used which sound chip, beloved by chiptune enthusiasts for its distinctive three-voice synthesiser, that gave the machine its characteristic audio?

8hardWhich 1984 home computer game by David Braben and Ian Bell was groundbreaking for its open-world space trading and combat, and gave players the goal of reaching the titular rank?

9hardIn the original 1986 Metroid on the NES, what was the shocking secret revealed at the end of the game about the protagonist Samus Aran?

10hardWhich Japanese developer created the shoot-'em-up series that includes Gradius, first released in arcades in 1985?