Crazy Climber

Crazy Climber was released by Nichibutsu in 1980 and brought a completely new type of control scheme into arcade halls — two separate joysticks, with which the player alternately moves the left and right hand of their little character climbing up the face of a skyscraper. The goal is simple: reach the roof before the ledge is knocked out from under you by a falling flowerpot, a live wire, an opening window, or an enraged tenant leaning out.

The unusual two-joystick control scheme turned every floor into a small coordination puzzle, and thanks to it the game earned cult status — without mastering the alternating joystick movement, you won't get past more than a few floors no matter how fast you are. The colorful skyscraper graphics and the occasional appearance of a giant bird resembling Godzilla, which sweeps the player off the facade, were among the iconic moments that arcade-hall veterans still remember today, along with the distinctive melody accompanying the climb to each new floor.

Crazy Climber later inspired other titles with unconventional controls, and its two-joystick concept appeared in a number of later arcade cabinets and home ports, although it never felt as natural or physical on a keyboard or gamepad as it did on the original cabinet with its two large joysticks. It's one of the few titles of its era recognizable by the very shape of its controller, which is why it's still cited today as an example of bold design.

Why play it: Crazy Climber offers a unique and still-refreshing two-joystick control scheme that turns simple climbing into a tense coordination challenge.