Octopus (Game & Watch)
Octopus is a Game & Watch game originally released on July 16, 1981. It appears as a minigame in two Super Mario games: Game & Watch Gallery and Game & Watch Gallery 4. WarioWare: Smooth Moves also has a microgame based on it, titled Game & Watch Octopus.
Gameplay
Classic version
Three scuba divers head for a treasure chest under the sea, guarded by the Octopus. The divers must be patient because the Octopus's arms are moving randomly. The player earns one point for every piece of treasure they grab and three points for returning the load to the boat. As the player progresses in the game, the Octopus's arms move faster. Game B is faster and more difficult. All three lives are restored once the player hits 200 and 500 points.
Modern version
The gameplay in this version is largely the same, but the graphics are updated, and the divers are replaced by Mario down below and Princess Peach in the boat. In this version, Mario earns twice as many points for every piece of treasure he brings to Peach. However, Mario gets slower as he grabs more treasure. To counter this, he can throw all of his treasure, which lightens his load and can stun one of the Octopus's arms for a brief time. Sometimes the Octopus squirts clouds of black ink, and if one hits Mario, he receives a miss. When Mario amasses 200, 500, and 700 points, a Lakitu appears and drops a heart for him to remove a miss. The Modern version also features music, with the tempo changing depending on the speed of the game. In Game & Watch Gallery 4, the Octopus changes color each time the player gets 200 points.
In Game & Watch Gallery 4, if the player selects the game yet does not actually start it, a humorous sequence is shown. Mario arrives with a bag of loot in one hand and a Game Boy Advance in another. However, he ends up surrounded by four octopus arms (two on each side) that are menacing him. Trapped, he then calls on a Lakitu to help him. He then grabs the fishing pole of the Lakitu and, trying to hold on, is ultimately forced to drop his belongings, with a crown and gold objects falling out of the loot bag. Finally, each octopus arm retrieves a treasure, including the loot bag itself as well as the GBA.
The Modern version of Octopus from Game & Watch Gallery 4 (green Octopus)
The Modern version of Octopus from Game & Watch Gallery 4 (blue Octopus)
Controls
Game & Watch Gallery
Classic version
(up and left): Return- (down and right) and
: Advance/Pick up
Modern version
- (up and left): Return
- (down and right) and : Advance/Pick up
: Throw
Game & Watch Gallery 4
Classic version
(up and left): Return- (down and right) and
: Forward/Pick up
Modern version
- (up and left): Return
- (down and right) and : Forward/Pick up
: Discard
Gallery
Modern version
Game & Watch Gallery
Game & Watch Gallery 4
1 UP Heart
Green fish
Pink fish
Lakitu
Mario
Peach
Treasure chest
Treasure pile
| Game & Watch Gallery series | ||
|---|---|---|
| Games | Game & Watch Gallery (1997, GB) • Game & Watch Gallery 2 (1997, GB) • Game & Watch Gallery 3 (1999, GBC) • Game & Watch Gallery 4 (2002, GBA) | |
| Super Mario minigames | Donkey Kong2,4 • Donkey Kong Jr.3,4 • Donkey Kong II3 • Donkey Kong 34 • Mario Bros.3,4 • Mario's Bombs Away4 • Mario's Cement Factory4 | |
| Minigames remade with Super Mario content |
Ball2 • Boxing4 • Chef2,4 • Egg3 • Fire1,4 • Fire Attack4 • Greenhouse3 • Helmet2 • Manhole1 • Octopus1,4 • Oil Panic1 • Parachute2 • Rain Shower4 • Turtle Bridge3 • Vermin2 | |
| Gallery Corner | Message Board • Museum • Music Room | |
| Further info | Gallery (2 · 4) • Pre-release and unused content (4) • Staff (2 · 3 · 4) | |
| Related game | Game & Watch Collection | |
