Amidar (bootleg) [Bootleg]

This is a bootleg version of Amidar, the classic arcade maze game originally developed by Konami and released in 1982 in Japan then North America via Stern. The bootleg is an unlicensed copy that popped up in arcades shortly after the original, riding on the game's quick success. It keeps the core grid-capture concept but often has altered graphics, sounds, or timing, typical of the era's clone scene. It's not an official Konami product, so expect differences in polish and behavior.

You control a character that runs around a maze made of rectangular cells. The goal is to paint over entire sections by running over every line of each cell, turning them a different color. Enemies like the 'Amidar' apes and later a car patrol the maze and will chase you. You can also jump to avoid contact, though the timing is tight. Each cleared section earns points, and completing a whole screen triggers a bonus round where you chase chickens for extra score. The bootleg might tweak enemy speed or scoring, so familiarity with the original doesn't guarantee identical results.

For a retro enthusiast, this bootleg offers a rough alternative version of a foundational arcade title. It's not as polished as the original, but that's part of the charm - you can see how unlicensed ports messed with the formula. It's worth a few credits to see how the bootleg handles differently from the real Amidar, but don't expect a refined experience. If you're into arcade history and bootleg culture, this is a fascinating piece of the grid capture sub-genre's early days.