Obake no Q-Taro

Published by Bandai in 1985, this Famicom side-scrolling action game is based on Fujiko F. Fujio's beloved manga of the same name. Players control Q-Taro, a lovable ghost with a fondness for food and sleep, running and jumping through stages set in a town, a park, and underground sewers. Along the way Q-Taro must collect bread, dodge stray dogs, and avoid traps while working to rescue his friend Shōta from kidnappers. Q-Taro can briefly float to clear pitfalls, and certain power-ups grant speed boosts or transformations. Its cartoon aesthetic and simple controls made it one of the earliest licensed platform games on the Famicom.