AGH Atari 2600 Review: GOPHER by U.S. Games By 1982, you would've figured that third party companies would have started to bring out more complex and challenging games while moving away from the overly simplistic offerings of early 2600 titles. Not so with Gopher by U.S. Games, which is somewhat derived from the Whack-A-Mole games that you can find at arcades and amusement parks. So Gopher is cute. Everything about it. The visuals are actually quite colorful and realistic looking, though the little gophers look a bit more like speeding hedgehogs. The sound is nothing but basics and is simply a small enhancement. At least they made an effort in one aspect of the game. Basically, you control Framer John who's out standing his garden full of yummy carrots. Furry, scurrying gophers beneath the ground are busily digging out tunnels to the carrots while Farmer waits for one to break through the ground. At this point, a bonk on the head eliminates the gopher. Missing the opportunity to get rid of the toothy pest means the little critter will scoot past in a flash and abscond with a carrotty prize. Once in awhile, a bird flies overhead and drops another seed for John to plant, but if he's too busy beaning gophers, he may miss a chance to increase his crop. You might get a chuckle or three, but you won't get any long-term play value with this one. Younger players and new ones will be the ones most likely to enjoy this offering once it gets into the home. On the other hand, it might prove to be a good game to take a "break" on, although I highly doubt it. Title Gopher Publisher U.S. Games System Atari 2600 (VCS) Graphics 5 Sound 4 Gameplay 3 Overall 3 Reviewer Keita Iida