Super Pac-Man

Super Pac-Manis a 1982maze chasearcade gamedeveloped and published byNamco.It was distributed in North America byMidway,and is Namco's take on a sequel to the originalPac-Man;Midway had previously releasedMs. Pac-Man,which Namco had little involvement with.Toru Iwatanireturns as designer.

Super Pac-Man
Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	JP:Namco NA:Midway
Designer(s)	Toru Iwatani
Composer(s)	Nobuyuki Ohnogi
Series	Pac-Man
Platform(s)	Arcade,Commodore 64,IBM PC,Sord M5,Mobile phone
Release	JP:September 26, 1982 NA:October 1982
Genre(s)	Maze
Mode(s)	Single-player,multiplayer
Arcade system	Namco Super Pac-Man

Gameplay

Arcade screenshot with Pac-Man in Super form

Sound and gameplay mechanics were altered radically from the first two entries into thePac-Manseries—instead of eating dots, the player is required to eat keys in order to open doors, which open up sections of the maze that contain what in earlier games were known as "fruits" (foods such as apples and bananas, or other prizes such asGalaxianflagships), which are now the basic items that must be cleared. Once all the food is eaten, the player advances to the next level, in which the food is worth more points. In earlier levels, keys unlock nearby doors, while as the player progresses through the levels, it is more common for keys to open faraway doors. Pac-Man can enter the ghost house at any time without a key.

In addition to the original power pellets which allow Pac-Man to eat the ghosts, two "Super" pellets are available and will turn Pac-Man into Super Pac-Man for a short time. In this form, he becomes much larger, can move with increased speed when the "Super Speed" button is held down and has the ability to eat through doors without unlocking them. He is also invulnerable to the ghosts, who appear thin and flat in order to give the illusion of Super Pac-Man "flying" over them. He still cannot eat them without the help of the original power-up. When Super Pac-Man is about to revert to regular Pac-Man, he flashes white. The Super power can then be prolonged by eating a power pellet or super pellet, if available.

A point bonus can be scored if Pac-Man eats a star that appears between the two center boxes while assorted symbols flash inside them. Usually, one symbol stops while the other continues until the star is eaten, a life is lost, or too much time elapses. If the star is eaten when two symbols match, the bonus is 2000 points for any match, and 5000 points if the matching symbols are the same as the level being played. Otherwise, the bonus is similar to the award for eating a ghost, which is 200, 400, 800 or 1600 points, depending on the level. (On some versions, higher levels might pay out the 2000 or 5000 points no matter what the symbols are.)

Bonus levels appear at intervals. Here, the player is presented with a maze full of food items and must eat them all in order to collect the points on a countdown timer. Pac-Man appears in Super Mode throughout the stage, and there should be no ghosts.

Reception

Upon release in 1982, Midway projected that the game would sell about 10,000 to 15,000 arcade units in the United States.By May 1983, it was the top-earning arcade game of the month.

Arcade Expressrated the arcade game 8 out of 10, stating that the "newly-designed maze features keys, locked doors, and Super Energy Dots, making it the latest thrill for gobbler-lovers." The review also praises the ability to increase Pac-Man's size with the "Super Dots" as well as the "Super-Speed" button that increases his movement speed.

Iwatani himself was critical on the game, criticizing how big Pac-Man was while in Super form and also calling it overall boring.

Ports

Ports for theCasio PV-2000and theSord M5were released in Japan under the titlesMr. PacknandPower Pac.In 1988,MS-DOSandCommodore 64versions were released.

Ports for theAtari 5200and theAtari 8-bit computerswere finished in 1984, but not published.

Legacy

• In 1996,Super Pac-Manappeared on the secondNamco Museumarcade compilation forSony'sPlayStation(not included in the Japanese version).
• In 1998, Namco releasedSuper Pac-Manas part ofNamco HistoryVolume 3 for the PC in Japan only.
• In 1999,Super Pac-Manwas included alongsideMs. Pac-ManinMs. Pac-Man: Special Color EditionforNintendo'sGame Boy Colorsystem.
• In 2006,Jakks Pacificreleased thePlug and PlaySuper Pac-Manjoystick that containedSuper Pac-Manalong withPac-Man,Pac-Man Plus,andPac & Pal.Super Pac-Man is also featured in TV Games'Arcade Gold: Pac-Manfrom 2007 &Retro Arcade...Pac-Manin 2008.
• Namcohas released a portable version on selectcell phonemodels exclusively onSprint.[1].As a promotion,SprintandNamcoran a sweepstakes which offered the grand prize winner aVolkswagen New Beetlecustomized withSuper Pac-Manart. The car was on display at major videogame tradeshow E3 in Los Angeles in May 2006. The Sweepstakes began June 1, 2006 and ended on July 31, 2006.
• NamcoreleasedSuper Pac-Manalong withPac & Pal,Pac 'n Roll,Pac-Maniaand other non-Pac-Mangames inNamco Museum RemixandNamco Museum Megamix,in late 2007 and late 2010 respectively.
• Namco re-releasedSuper Pac-Manon mobile phones as a deluxe version with updated 3D graphics and redone sound effects.
• On November 4, 2008,Super Pac-Manwas released inNamco Museum Virtual Arcadefor theXbox 360.
• BandaiaddedSuper Pac-Manto theirPac-Man Connect & Playcontroller in 2012.
• Super Pac-Manwas released as part ofPac-Man Museumin 2014.
• Hamsterreleased Super Pac-Man as part of theirArcade Archivesseries on January 6, 2022 forPlayStation 4andNintendo Switch.
• Super Pac-Manis included in the compilation titlePac-Man Museum+as an unlockable title, which released on May 27, 2022 forPC,PlayStation 4,Xbox OneandNintendo Switch.

External links

• Super Pac-Manat theKiller List of Videogames