The Maze & Chase Grasp

In case you’re speaking about a few of the greatest arcade video games of the ’80s, names like Donkey Kong, Joust, Tempest, and even Mario Bros. could also be introduced up. However regardless of all of those traditional titles, one arcade recreation has chomped extra quarters than any of them: Pac-Man. Regardless of Pac-Man being most well-known for his authentic arcade cupboard, there are many video games within the Pac-Man collection that transcend the traditional maze motion gameplay of the unique. From celebration video games to racing titles to 3D platformers, he’s accomplished all of it after which some. Right here’s our rating for the High 10 Pac-Man titles.

10. Pac-Land (1984)

Made only some years after the unique arcade title, Pac-Land traded the maze for a 2D side-scrolling journey. Pac-Land sees gamers operating from the left of the display to the proper. All of the whereas, Pac-Man should keep away from the ghosts trying to maintain him from reaching the magic door on the finish of the extent. As soon as Pac-Man makes it to the magic door on the finish of every journey, he’ll be given a pair of enchanted footwear to run dwelling earlier than time runs out. It’s a easy platformer recreation with pleasant sounds and enjoyable gimmicks on every journey. Made as a response to the recognition of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Pac-Land is a captivating recreation, similar to it’s a cartoon.

9. Pac-Man 99 (2021)

With the recognition of Tetris 99, and Mario 35, Namco teamed up with Akira Co. Ltd. to develop its personal model of the retro battle royale. Very like Akria’s earlier endeavors, Pac-Man 99 pits 99 gamers in opposition to each other in a Pac-Man gauntlet. Gamers should survive by way of the traditional maze, avoiding ghosts and gathering dots. Any ghost a participant eats is distributed to a different participant’s maze as a Pac-Man that may sluggish them down upon contact. Whoever is left on the finish is topped the victor. Pac-Man 99 is a nail-biting, high-adrenaline tackle the traditional title, placing even probably the most seasoned Pac-Man veterans to the take a look at. It’s too unhealthy the sport is getting delisted this October.

8. Pac-Man Vs. (2003)

Eager to discover a strategy to showcase the facility of the Sport Boy Advance Hyperlink Cable, Shigeru Miyamoto himself teamed up with Nintendo EAD to create a multiplayer model of Pac-Man. Pac-Man Vs. lets 4 gamers tackle the roles of each Pac-Man and the ghosts as they compete to see who can obtain the very best rating. All ghosts could have the identical objective of capturing Pac-Man. If any of them are capable of do it earlier than all of the pellets are cleared from the stage, they take over as Pac-Man within the subsequent spherical.

Each Pac-Man and the ghosts can decide up the fruits that seem within the maze. Whereas awarding bonus factors for Pac-Man, the ghosts will get a bigger view of the maze, making it simpler to trace down their goal. Charles Martinet additionally makes a cameo as Mario, taking the position of the announcer for the sport. Listening to Mario name out, “Pac-Man Ate a Energy Pellet!” or “Oooh, this-a trying not so good!” as the sport reaches its conclusion is the cherry on prime of the cake.
Pac-Man Vs. is a terrific celebration recreation, giving gamers the possibility to play as ghosts, and permitting associates to compete with each other in a novel Pac-Man expertise.

7. Pac-Man World Rally (2006)

Pac-Man has had his boxing gloves in nearly each style in the course of the top of the GameCube, and racing video games are not any exception. Don’t hearken to modern critiques of this recreation, as a result of Pac-Man World Rally is a delightfully enjoyable arcade racer in the identical vein as Mario Kart or Crash Group Racing. Nonetheless, some  Pac-Man-centric gimmicks maintain it from being a clone of different titles. World Rally brings again mechanics from Pac-Man World into its races. For instance, some tracks incorporate fruit gates, permitting gamers a shortcut in the event that they’ve snagged a fruit to pay. Pac-Dots additionally litter the map, however as an alternative of souping up your automobile, they remodel your automobile right into a chomping machine, turning all enemy racers into ghosts.

Charging a number of drifts additionally fills a meter up, permitting you to retailer 3 shields, which may block you from many assaults. The sport has two primary factions for characters as properly. The heroes embody Pac, Ms. Pac, Jr. Pac, Pooka, and The Prince from Katamari Damacy. And, the villains, together with all 4 ghosts, in addition to Toc-Man, Spooky, and Erwin, the villains from all 3 video games within the Pac-Man World collection.
Whereas the presentation isn’t the sport’s robust swimsuit, its tight controls, enjoyable soundtrack, and distinctive Pac-Man-centric mechanics make it a must-play for each Pac-Man followers and arcade racing followers alike.

6. Pac-Assault (1993)

If it wasn’t for the Pac-Man branding and characters, this wouldn’t go as a Pac-Man recreation. Nonetheless, Pac-Assault is a delightfully enjoyable and addicting puzzle title. This falling block puzzle recreation has the participant placing down tiles to clear strains. Some tiles embody ghosts, making it inconceivable to clear these strains. That is the place Pac-Man is available in, as on occasion, the ghost-chomping hero will seem as an alternative of a ghost. As soon as positioned, he’ll head in a course till he can’t transfer anymore. If any ghosts are in the best way, they’ll be swiftly eaten, and the tiles they blocked will fall into place. It’s an amazingly enjoyable title, although it’s a disgrace Pac-Man Museum+ solely consists of the Tremendous Nintendo model, because the PlayStation 1 model of the sport permits the participant to rotate the blocks in both course.

5. The World’s Largest Pac-Man (2011)

The World’s Largest Pac-Man is an attention-grabbing addition to this checklist. This is because of how downright large the scope of the sport is. Created by Namco, Microsoft, and Cleaning soap Inventive, The World’s Largest Pac-Man is a browser recreation that connects a number of user-made mazes collectively through the exits on the highest, backside, and sides of the maze. The gameplay itself is functionally just like the unique Pac-Man, though, by exiting the map, you’re linked to a different maze made by another person. With some mazes solely having one or two exits of their creation, this builds a maze, inside, a maze. As gamers can depart one maze, and get misplaced within the close to infinity The World’s Largest Pac-Man gives.

This makes The World’s Largest Pac-Man some of the distinctive takes on the traditional title.

4. Ms. Pac-Man (1982)

Regardless of the authentic Pac-Man did proper, Ms. Pac-Man did it higher. Introducing new maps, extra methods to be caught, and an total extra enhanced model of the unique, what began out as a modification for Pac-Man usurped its predecessor. The one draw back to this recreation is the feud between Namco and AtGames, all however erasing Pac-Man’s higher half from any new releases.

3. Pac-Man World 2 (2002)

The second entry into Pac-Man’s foray into 3D platforming, this 2002 title took the whole lot that made Pac-Man World so entertaining and cranked it as much as 11. Introducing a foolish Saturday morning cartoon plot, and having Pac-Man trek by way of forests full of trampolines, skate down icy mountains, and battle mechs piloted by the 4 primary ghosts. Pac-Man World 2 oozes allure from each place attainable, and it might be within the prime spot if it wasn’t for the 2 obligatory submarine ranges that kill the tempo of the sport. Right here’s to hoping it will get the Re-Pac remedy like its older brother.

2. Pac-Man Championship Version DX (2013)

Pac-Man Championship Version DX is likely one of the most high-octane takes on the Maze & Chase fashion of gameplay and for good cause. Pac-Man CEDX places the participant on a set time restrict with one objective…Eat Every part. Finishing Pac-Dot Chains and beginning a practice of ghosts following Pac-Man will enhance the velocity of the sport, making it simpler to finish chains quicker, and simpler for gamers to make a mistake. Once in a while, an influence pellet will likely be positioned on the chain, and Pac-Man can flip round and chomp the prolonged practice of ghosts at his again, racking up some critical rating. As soon as time runs out, gamers can put up their scores on-line or tackle a brand new maze in the event that they’re up for the problem.
Apart from the 5 or ten-minute time restrict, there’s additionally a time assault mode as properly. Gamers also can customise their maze with completely different visuals, in addition to change the bassy beats to chomp dots, too. The one factor Pac-Man Championship Version DX is lacking is an limitless mode.

1. Pac-Man Association (1996)

To not be confused with the PSP title of the identical title, Pac-Man Association was launched to the arcades throughout the Namco Traditional Assortment Vol. 2 cupboard. That is the top of the “Maze & Chase” titles, conserving the traditional top-down perspective with charming graphics, a number of powerups, a number of maze gimmicks, and a fifth ghost that may be a strolling energy pellet if Pac-Man catches it, or a critical menace if he merges with a ghost. Making it to the ultimate stage will see the ghosts pilot an enormous robotic with one objective, to take down Pac-Man as soon as and for all. This ultimate boss combat, whereas enjoying like a median Pac-Man stage, is a pleasure to play by way of as every dot brings the combat nearer to its conclusion.

Ending the sport lands the participant a easy congratulations, but in addition leaves them with a message:

The sport by no means actually ends.
Somebody, someplace
Is being chased by monsters!

Cole Travis

Freelancer – Starting his journey as a blogger in 2021, Cole has seen all of it in his quick period of time. From Puzzle to VR, no recreation is exterior his attain. He stays devoted to the keyboard because it’s the place he is at his greatest.

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