Q*bert
The orange protagonist who changes pyramid cubes by hopping on them.
Documented for this version
Control Pad | Move Q*bert diagonally across the pyramid. |
|---|---|
A | Jump. |
Directional movement is based on the pyramid’s four diagonal paths.
How it plays
Each round places Q*bert on a pyramid of cubes. The objective is to land on every required cube and complete the target color pattern before losing all lives.
Q*bert moves diagonally across the pyramid, while Coily, Ugg, Wrong-Way, Slick, and Sam create different threats. Discs near the sides can return him to the top, but a mistimed jump can send him off the pyramid. Later rounds introduce harder color patterns and faster enemy activity.
Plan your run
Plan a route that covers nearby cubes without trapping Q*bert on an exposed edge.
Meet the cast
The orange protagonist who changes pyramid cubes by hopping on them.
A purple enemy that begins as an egg and becomes a pursuing snake after landing.
A purple enemy that moves along the pyramid’s lower edges.
An enemy that moves across the pyramid in an unusual direction.
A green character that reverses completed cube changes.
A green character that also changes completed cubes back.
Before you begin
Prioritize a safe escape route before taking the last difficult cube.
Use enemy movement patterns to make several threats collide or fall away.
The game rewards short, controlled hops more than rapid, careless movement.
Qbert is an arcade-style action puzzle game developed by Realtime Associates for the Nintendo Entertainment System and published by Ultra Games. The player controls Qbert on an isometric pyramid, hopping across cubes to change their colors while avoiding enemies and falling from the structure. The NES version adapts Gottlieb’s classic arcade design with multiple stages, increasing hazards, and limited lives. Its play style combines precise movement with quick reactions, since enemies can enter from several directions and safe landing spots are limited. Qbert was generally recognized as a faithful home version of a distinctive arcade hit, although its controls and presentation are simpler than those of the original cabinet.
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