Birthday Mania

About

Birthday Mania is a one-of-a-kind shooter with a party twist. As the birthday guest of honor you face waves of candles dropping from the top of the screen. The goal is to blast each one before they hit the ground. The controls are simple but timing gets tricky as the action speeds up. What makes this game special is the personalized touch each version was custom labeled with the player's name and displayed it on the title screen. This 1984 title has become a collector's item due to its limited run of about ten copies. The physical package included a plain red cartridge with blue balloons and a basic three page manual. While the gameplay itself is straightforward the customization element made it a novelty in its time. Its mix of personal branding with arcade gameplay remains a curious footnote in retro gaming history.