Gopher

Gopher is a video game in the action genre developed by James Wickstead Design Associates and published by U.S. Games originally released in 1982. It is currently playable on Atari 2600.

The year is 1982 and the Atari 2600 gaming console is at the height of its popularity. In the midst of this booming gaming industry, a little-known game called Gopher was released. Developed by US Games, Gopher may not have received as much attention as some of the other popular Atari games of its time, but it certainly deserves recognition for its unique gameplay and challenging levels.

Gopher is a simple yet addictive game where players take on the role of a farmer trying to protect his garden from hungry gophers. The gameplay is divided into two main screens – the garden screen and the farmhouse screen. In the garden screen, players move a bucket back and forth to catch gophers popping up from their holes. The challenge lies in timing and precision, as the gophers move at a rapid pace and players must be quick to catch them.

Once a certain number of gophers have been caught, players move on to the farmhouse screen. This is where things get even more interesting. In this screen, players control a farmer armed with a shovel, defending his garden from gophers trying to steal his vegetables. The gophers in this level not only move faster, but they also have different tactics such as digging underground tunnels and even disguising themselves as carrots.

One of the most unique features of Gopher is the ability to play with a friend in multiplayer mode. Players can alternate turns, competing to see who can catch the most gophers and protect their garden the longest. This added social element makes Gopher a great game for parties and gatherings, even by today's standards.

But Gopher isn't just fun and games – it requires strategy and skill as well. As players progress through the levels, the difficulty increases and new challenges are introduced. For instance, the gophers may become faster or players may have to protect multiple gardens at once. This ensures that players never get bored and constantly have new challenges to conquer.

Unfortunately, due to the saturated gaming market at the time, Gopher didn't receive much attention and eventually fell into obscurity. However, for those who did get their hands on this game, it quickly became a cult classic. The charming graphics, catchy music, and addictive gameplay have stood the test of time, making Gopher a beloved game among retro gamers.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.