Madhouse

Madhouse is a video game in the adventure genre and published by SoftSide Magazine originally released in 1983. It is currently playable on Atari 8-bit.

Atari 8-bit's 1983 release, Madhouse, is a two-player maze simulation game that pits players against one another in a thrillingly strategic set-up. In the game, each player maneuvers a white ghost icon around a pac-man-ish maze in an effort to outlast their opponent. The objective is to collect all of the dots scattered throughout while also avoiding a moving enemy, which can be controlled by another human or the CPU.

Madhouse is sure to ramp up competitive tension, as players must be mindful of obstacles and watch out for threats in their immediate vicinity. Once the enemy is spotted, the player must be ready to take clever evasive maneuvers in order to confuse the opposition's pursuer.

Moreover, in order for a player to succeed, they must stay in the game as long as possible. To further their longevity, they can hold onto four power pellets, allowing them to transform into a powerful ghost and grant them the power of invincibility. While in this form they can travel through walls and take out the enemy, only a few seconds last, so they must be manipulated carefully.

In addition, there are laser gates that can help a player to elude their opponent or lock them in a specific area. To make matters even more difficult, the mazes are quite large, and can easily become maze-like, which can be disorienting.

Finally, beating Madhouse requires a level of agility and strategic foresanight, in order to outsmart the pursuer. As the player collects dots and collect power-pills, they will also gain higher speeds enabling them to evade their assailant. Though Madhouse may at first appear a bit dated, the addicting combination of tactical smarts and dexterity makes the game an intriguing challenge for those up for a good game.

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