One of the most iconic games of all time, Pac-Man is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. In the 31 years since its release, Pac-Man has spawned many spinoffs and game adaptations. Some have even tried to copy it by creating their own versions called Pac-Chomp or Pac-Man Battle Royale but none have been able to match the magic that is the original. The game combined elements of other video games at the time such as the original Space Invaders, Frogger and Ghosts’n Goblins; with simple graphics and easy to understand gameplay, it quickly became popular in arcades around the world. As a result, Namco released several sequels over the following two decades including different variations of Pac-Man (which were basically just different stages of one game). The creators eventually revealed that there was an ending to each version after becoming so popular. However, up until now no one knew what happens at the end except for creator Arakawa who probably wanted to keep it a secret: Now that we know how things end for every version of Pac-Man we can finally look forward to what will happen in future iterations!
Pac-Man Championship Edition
This version of Pac-Man takes place in the 1980s and follows the protagonist as he tries to win the “Pac-Man Championship”. In order to win this game you have to eat ghosts and avoid being eaten by them. This version of Pac-Man is a bit of a throwback with its graphics being a bit more basic than what you would expect and the levels being more maze-like. This version of Pac-Man also comes with a variety of gameplay modes and challenges. Some of these include the “Original Pac-Man Championship”, the “Ghost Challenge”, “Time Attack” and “Survivor”.
Pac Land
This game is similar to Pac-Man Championship Edition but with some major differences. In Pac-Land you control a guy who is fighting ghosts in a Pac-Man world. Pac-Man’s main objective is to find keys and open up doors that are closed, but your main goal is to explore the world and collect treasures. The game has a classic 2D graphics style with many similarities to other platform games such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. The game received some mixed reviews and it may be best suited towards younger gamers, but there’s a good chance they will enjoy it nonetheless. The game also has a number of unlockable characters with the option to play as Pac-Man, Ms Pac-Man, and Pac-Man Plus. Not only that, but there’s also a multiplayer mode where you can battle against players in Pac-Land.
Pac-Mania
After Pac-Land came Pac-Mania, a game which has a much darker plot than the previous games. In Pac-Mania, Pac-Man is now the antagonist and he has kidnapped former rival Blinky and Pinky in order to get revenge on the rest of the ghosts. To do this, he has created a machine that contains a video game world where he controls the ghosts and Blinky and Pinky are his opponents. In order to rescue them, the other ghosts must enter the machine and defeat Pac-Man. This game was released with the intent of selling more hardware devices, as it was the first game to be released on the Nintendo Entertainment System as a cartridge instead of being on a membrane rom chip tape.
Pac-Pix
This game takes place in ancient Egypt and is the first one to make use of the word “pac-man” in the title. In this game, the objective is to guide Pac-Man through forty mazes and avoid the ghosts. Unlike the previous games, the graphics in this one are much more realistic. The levels are more like a video game but with a more Egyptian theme to them. It’s also worth noting that this game is the first one to make use of the word “pac-man” in the title.
Pac-Tour
This game takes place in a futuristic city with an interesting premise. There’s a tour that takes players through the city and they are provided with a map of the city and a guide who tells them which route to take. However, the tour guides are actually controlled by a group of ghosts who want to make sure no one leaves the city. This game uses a space themed level design with some futuristic elements, such as a map where you can trace the route the ghost controls are taking. It’s worth noting that this game is the first one to make use of the word “pac-man” in the title.
Pac-Zone
This game takes place in a jungle. Pac-Man must eat the dots on the maze and avoid being eaten by the ghosts. This game uses a more classic style of graphics, with the levels being more maze-like than the other games. Unlike the other games in the series, this one doesn’t use any words in the title. This game is also the first not to feature Ms. Pac-Man.
Ms.Pac-Man (or Yume Kojo: Machienmann)
This game takes place in a futuristic setting and features a plot which is quite similar to Pac-Man Championship Edition. However, this time the protagonist is a woman that has to rescue her boyfriend who has been kidnapped by Pac-Man. This one has the most complex level design and it also has the most complex graphics. The game also features a plot that’s similar to other games in the series but it’s also the first game to feature the word “pac-man” in the title. This is also the first game in the series to have a sequel called Ms. Pac-Man.
Final Words
The original arcade version of Pac-Man was released in 1980 and was based on an arcade game of the same name created by Toru Iwatani. Nearly 40 years later, the game has become one of the most iconic video games of all time. Pac-Man’s impact is hard to overstate. It leveraged the early gaming industry, helped revolutionize the home console market, and changed the way that games are produced and marketed. No other video game has been able to create such a lasting impact in such a short amount of time. Pac-Man has also stayed relevant over the years. While many games have fallen by the wayside, Pac-Man has consistently been a mainstay in popular culture. There have been countless replays and adaptations over the years, ranging from the 1980s-inspired Pac-Land to the 2015 Pac-Man Championship Edition.
