Polar opposites now from yesterday’s Match Point which was all healthy people and Barley Water (whatever that is?) to working in a bar with Tapper today, where the only serving you have here is flinging ale down a bar to patrons before they grab you by the neck.
Tapper was released by the ‘publish anything and fast’ software house U.S. Gold back in 1985, based upon the arcade game of the same name – from Bally Midway – back in 1983. Though it was published by U.S. Gold according to World of Spectrum it was programmed by another software giant Ocean Software, along with Platinum Productions. The original Tapper – the arcade version – was sponsored by Budweiser but your task was to serve “root beer”, however in the computer release the Pepsi logo was promoted within the mini-game.
As bartender, your goal is to keep the patrons topped up with their ale, and as they appear at the bar you move up and down and slide a glass down to them. Once they’ve finished they’ll slide the glass back and you’ve got to catch it at the end. Sounds simple enough, but things get extremely tricky when the numerous bars get busy and you start flinging beer down and glasses are coming back elsewhere, patrons are leaving tips or even worse – they’re getting to the edge of the bar and they’re thirsty. All of these levels are broken up with point scoring mini-games too.
Tapper is one of those games which is extremely basic in concept and design – in truth it’s a “Game & Watch” from the early 1980’s. However like those electronic toys Tapper is highly addictive and its gameplay is set at the correct mark to keep you coming back. Yes the graphics may look slightly dated now but that really doesn’t take away from the game in full. For those that haven’t played Tapper you should really give it five minutes, because I promise you it will then have you for the rest of the day.
Originally published June 21, 2016. Updated November 10, 2022.
