I picked up ET on clearance so it was not a big sting to my small allowance pocket book but still ended up putting it away for years before trying to play it again. It was far beyond what a 7 or 8 year old might be able to grasp.

I know it says how to play in the manual but even then, I was confused then and am now.

The only thing I have read that helped me "do better" in ET was that it is laid out like a six sided di. Each screen is connected in that manner. Apparently when you map out which screen is which face of the di it makes it easier to understand where you will go when exiting any screen via the edges.

Still, I am lost. That is nearly 4D levels of thinking to figure out in the heat of the moment.

Edit to add - Honestly, this game probably would have been better had it been done like Pac-Man or something. I know it sounds trite but the pieces are there. Instead of power pellets, Reese's peanut butter cups, instead of regular dots, call them Reese's Pieces. Collect parts of the phone instead of fruits. Grab a peanut butter cup and have Elliot pick up ET and run with him else where, safely, on the map (maybe use the bicycle for added touch).

Anything other than the game we got. Lol.