Whack

WhackIt! is a freeware arcade game by Matthew Johnson (MattTheGr8@aol.com) billed as the first truly playable and accurate port of the Whack-A-Mole arcade game to the Mac. Rodent-like critters pop from holes and the player swings a paddle to bonk them before they duck back down.

Controls

Players can steer a virtual paddle with the mouse, drive it from the keyboard, or mix both inputs at once for the truly dexterous.

Presentation

The game ships with funny sounds, smooth animation, and runs on just about any Mac of the era, keeping the system requirements deliberately light.

Difficulty

Five skill levels scale the spawn rate and timing window so younger players and quick-twitch veterans both find an appropriate challenge.

Distribution and roadmap

The release is completely free and fully functional, with a teaser for future versions promising the chance to whack annoying figures like Bill Gates, Barney, and a mime.