Introduction

PacMan must be one of the most famous games ever created. Even kids of today now this circular hero, though he is already 22 years old! Originally created by Toru Iwatani for the Japanese company "NAMCO" in 1979, the game was partially based on an idea he came up with while eating a pizza (just take a look at the picture to see what I mean)! Back then, the game was called "Puck Man" and it wasn't nearly as successful as those other famous games, "Space Invaders" and "Galaxian", but that wouldn't last long... 

Toru eating his famous pizza - fable or true?

A few months later American company "Midway" decided to license the game and bring it overseas for the American public! The name was changed to "Pac-Man" (They were afraid kid vandals would change the "P" on the game cabinets to an "F"!!) and by 1981 "Pac-Man" was known in every kitchen of American households! There was even a MS PacMan, to make the game more popular with girls! And a cartoon series followed. So far the history lesson on this game...

USA vs Japan

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

The first contestant, the original Pacman. What can we say about this game. This is a dead on conversion of the arcade machine. The game that started it all! There are much better versions available for your ST (just check some of the games below), still, I can't really say anything negative about it! Ok then, I think the graphics and sound effects are dated! Duhhh...

The original!

Conclusion

I don't recommend playing this version, just check it out to know what the fuss was all about back then! 

I like it more when those ghosts are locked up nicely!

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

This version features very standard graphics. Nothing special at all. You have the option to play in "Classic" or "Modern" mode. The first mode is the game we all come to know and love these days, the other one is a more graphically advanced version, with an altered maze and some faster enemy ghosts. You can also change the game speed. Choose between "normal" or "hectic". Sound effects are just plain bad and annoying. These are some of the worst gametunes I have ever heard on my ST! There is no music in this game, not even an intro tune!

Classic PacMan...

Conclusion

There are way better Pac-Man clones out there. If you want to have an idea of what the original looked like, this is a good example! A barebones Pac Man game...

"Modern" PacMan ... Huhum :-)

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

Now this is something else! Originally released by Namco in 1987 for the arcade market, the Atari ST version from Teque is just as good! "PacMania" is a 3D version of the genre. In this adventure your hero is able to jump, so you can avoid contact with those eerie ghosts. But watch out, cause while you progress in the game, your enemies will get more powerful. So don't be surprised when one of them plucks you out of the sky!  

The intro screen to this great game!

Graphics are very good! Every level has its own type of background and is very colorful! The only complaint I have is the large right menu bar. There are some good 'sing along type' level musics, true ST Yamaha chip tunes (positive or not, figure that out for yourself). While playing there are bonuses to collect. Apart from the usual fruits, there are extra invulnerability balls and more...There is even a hidden bonus level! 

Back then 3D was something else!

Pacmania is one of the best PacMan games ever. It's always fun and challenging to play a quick game. Too bad there are only 6 levels, but don't let that ruin the fun! 

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

It hasn't really got much to do with the original idea behind PacMan. This version is actually more of a platform game. It was again originally released by Namco, in 1984. In this adventure your hero has got legs. You have to complete every round by avoiding enemies and jumping over obstacles, collecting bonus items which pop up now end then. And do this within the given time limit. Some hard to get items can be reached by jumping on your opponents head. Nothing special, this has been done a million times before!  

The intro screen to this very bad game - What are you smiling at?!!

The ST version of this game is just horrible, no other word comes to mind. Apart from the boring gameplay, this one features amazingly bad scrolling and very plain and pixelated graphics. Sound is annoying, to say the least!  

The graphics look like they've been drawn by a 6 year old!

I just can't imagine there is someone out there who really likes this game. Well, maybe it is just me, but there are far better games in the genre available for the ST! This is just nice to have in the collection, for its historical value, I guess. This is one of the worst descendants in PacMan history...

Lets enter the forest... Oohh, so scary...

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

I still remember this one vividly. Snackman came on a cover disc of ST Format. It was the first release of "Impact Software", who would later become more famous with their commercial release of "Team", an STe only footy sim. "SnackMan" is true to the original, only adding some very colorful graphics and great music. I just love the way the dots change from color all the time. The gameplay is very good. This one is pretty fast too. After every 4 levels you'll enter another maze.    

Loads of colors fill the screen...

"Snackman" is a very good game, one of the better true PacMan games for the ST. I love the tunes in every level, and the graphics are simple, yet very colorful. And for you lucky STe owners, this one is STe enhanced! Very addictive, it's always fun to see which maze you'll enter next...

Now who's afraid, he!

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

I'm not gonna waste a lot of space on this one. HacMan 2 is a pretty dull PacMan clone. Of course, we can't complain a lot since it is shareware, but there are way better free versions available (just look at "Snackman"). To make it a bit special, the ghosts have their own character and they behave differently every level. Sometimes one is angry (and goes very fast), another time there is a wacky one...A nice touch, but still. Graphics are dull, but there are some nice soundsamples in the game. Speed up the game by pressing the fire button to make life easier!  

Now there's a wacky ghost!

I personally don't like this one so don't waste your time with it, go look somewhere else for PacMan! And to think there was an original Hacman...

Uh oh, bruce (the red one) seems very angry indeed!

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

I had never heard of "Synergy Software" before, but looking at the names of the people involved, they seem like a Dutch team. Let me just get it on right away, "Crapman" is an awesome game! I can't understand this is shareware, it has a really commercial quality to it. When you see the nicely looking intro screen you now that you're in for a treat. 

Let's get it on! 

Before you start the game, you may choose a language. Just pick one of the flags and the national anthem of the country can be heard. From that point on, the game menu's, instructions, just everything that appears on screen is translated in the chosen language! Talk about service, he...You can tweak some other settings like music on/off, instruction yes/no and much more. Then it is time to start your quest... 

Just check out how the bonus points appear and vanish of the screen - Marvelous.

As Crapman you will be traveling all over Europe, completing level after level. This PacMan clone has some really nice touches. Apart from the usual fruits, you can also collect extra lives, speed... The mazes are all very different looking and there are a lot of them, 50 to be precise! Graphically, this is the most advanced game in its genre for the ST. Lots of colors, great animation, between level cutscenes...It's all there! The music is superb. Every level comes with its own cool tune. And there is an awesome two player mode. Both players can play simultaniously in splitscreen mode! 

You don't understand Dutch? No problem, just start up the game and pick your own language!

Conclusion

Nothing but praise for Synergy. This is the ultimate Pacman clone for the ST. I will be playing this game a lot from now on. You should definitely check it out if you're a fan of the genre. Two big thumbs up!

And yet another completely different maze.

Graphics & Sound & Gameplay

"PacMan on E's" is by many considered as the best Pacman game available for the ST. This shareware game was released in 1994 by Digital Dreams. Featuring an adrenaline pumping techno soundtrack and colorful graphics, this was a game only for owners of an STE!  

player mode! Doesn't he look cool with sunglasses on? 

What differentiates this version with the other ones is the nifty 2 player option. It's now possible for 2 players to play a game of pacman simultaneously, on one screen (no splitscreen!)! This feature guarantees hours of fun! But that's not all, there are some really weird bonus items to collect, like the reverse control bonus, or the item which makes your enemy even more aggressive. Combine all this with loads of different mazes, great sound and music, and very nice graphics, and you have a winner in your hands! 

Now this is a different kind of maze! 

Conclusion

A very good game indeed. I personally like "Crapman" a bit more. But you can't go wrong with this one either. If you want to show of the capabilities of the STe, this is a fine example. Or if you want to experience 2 player Pacman, don't look any further. Oh, and for you techno/house lovers out there...This is heaven! 

Very colorful, if you could only hear that sound...

Now here is something interesting. A PacMan clone from everybody's favorite software team, "Paradox". This is another barebones clone, but I actually like playing this one! "Spook" is a hard game, the ghosts are as fast as your hero, and they make pretty smart moves! Before you even now it, your trapped! The graphics aren't bad (if you keep in mind this was released in 1986!) and the music is the typical ST chip stuff we're used to hearing from Paradox!   

Watch out for the spooks...They're nasty little s*ckers... 

Conclusion

I liked this one! Of course, once you played the other PacMan games available, you'll probably never touch it again... 

A nice try from Paradox!

The story of "Crackman" is just hilarious! PacMan was just sick of the luxury life. One day he gave up on it all and moved to Amsterdam. He met the love of his life and got married. One night, when he got home late, he found his house completely ruined. But that wasn't the problem. He was shocked by the fact that his wife, Ms. P. was murdered! For months PacMan lived in sadness, until he finally reached out to crack. He got addicted. Now, another terrible event has occurred. "Crackman" (that's how he is referred to from now on) lost his dealer!! And its up to you to help and find him! Strange? Wait till you have played the game! 

The title alone is worth the loading time!  

"Crackman" is indeed something else. Programmed by some crazy Dutch people, this is another STe/Falcon only game. And it shows. This clone features silky smooth hardware scrolling, combined with nice, colorful graphics. The game has a really great intro .mod tune. During gameplay, lots of great soundeffects are implemented...It's all top notch! 

Crackman really looks like he's in need for some dope... 

But that is just the beginning. The gameplay is also completely different of what you come to expect from PacMan clones! There are hidden pills of all types. You can even lay mines and shoot ghost out of the maze with your gun! There are pills that speed up the gameplay, pills that make you go through walls, freeze pills. And finally we have the famous powerpill! These are some really original features indeed...

This is where you'll meet your bloody end! 

Conclusion

I personally still prefer "CrapMan". But "CrackMan" is an original twist to the genre! The mazes take up a large number of screens and everything scrolls very smoothly. Sound and graphics are great! This game is a real trip...  

Everybody wants to have their try in computer games, especially when a successful game is fairly easy to program. I guess PacMan falls into that category. "MacPan" is such an amateurish PacMan clone, completely in German. Though it is actually pretty good. This game is for monochrome monitors only, and keeping this in mind, "MacPan" can easily be considered as one of the better monochrome games available for the ST. The set up is the usual. Nothing special in this game, powerpills, spooks and a lot of nice mazes for you to complete! Also, there are some nice soundeffects implemented, things that are always hard to find when playing monochrome games! 

Monochrome? What's that?

Conclusion

In days when emulators rule the retro gaming scene, I can't possibly imagine you boot up this game! Why should you, when you can play the other colorful counterparts? Well, that's all true...But that doesn't make "MacPan" a bad game! (There is an English version of this game in existence)

This thing is still a lot more fun than "HacMan 2"!

"Happy Worm" is a cross between the famous worm game and PacMan. You have to try and eat all the cakes and pills without hitting the walls or yourself! To control the worm you only need the 2 shift keys, to rotate left and right. Let me tell you, leading this worm true the mazes is an art! The graphics are mediocre to say the best, sounds effects are nice! There are messages all over the screen saying that the programmer was inspired by "Depeche Mode" and "Adamski" for the music in this game, strangely enough, I didn't hear a thing of it! As an idea, "Happy Worm" has potential, but in the end it just turns out to be an unplayable pile of junk!  

This was a nice idea, but it should have never made it to a real game! 

"Ms Munchie" is another PD pacman game programmed in GFA Basic. The game features some nice, colorful graphics and good sound effects (with some sampled speech), though they do get annoying after awhile. So everything seems to be okay in that department. The controls, on the other hand, are something else. The main character responds nicely to the joystick commands, but it seems she doesn't like moving in a vertical direction. I mean, our little pill eater moves faster from left to right. This is pretty annoying. 

Zzapp ... As the screen turns bloody red, the ghosts are all eliminated...

Once you manage to get used to this slight problem, you'll notice this version of pacman features some nifty additions. Apart from a variety of different mazes, you'll also have 3 "Zappers" at your disposal. They work like a charm. When you are surrounded by ghosts, just press the fire button to zapp them to oblivion. You'll sometimes also notice insects crawling over the screen area. Stay away from them, they're mean! 

Level 2 ... Those little pies sure look tasty!

Conclusion

"Mrs Munchie" is a nice PacMan game. The graphics are good, sound is okay, and the controls ... Well, you get used to them too. But let's face it, this game just pales in comparison with the likes of Crapman. Then again, which PacMan clone doesn't? 

The start of level 3, and already out of zappers.

Another nice blend of the original genre mixed with something special. Based on the original arcade game of the same name, in "Super Pacman" you have to collect keys to open gates, before you can actually get to the pills and complete a level! There are some power pills hidden in the maze, but there is also a new super pill, which turns your hero into a giant, making him faster and freezing your enemies. Keep in mind they're still able to harm you in this state. The game features mediocre graphics, with some cool sound samples (Homer Simpson makes a cameo). Sadly there is no music! "Super Pacman" is a nice addition, but the lack of different mazes makes this a game that is easy to forget!   

Giant pacman! The spooks are frozen from fear! 

"Multi Pakman", as the name suggests, is a multiplayer PacMan game. You can either play against the computer or start a game against a friend. The concept is pretty original. It is your job to eat as much pills as possible within a certain amount of time! The player who has consumed the most when the time runs out, is the winner of the game! There are the usual bonus points to earn, fruits to grab and than there are items to make your life miserable, such as the revered control bonus. Scrolling is very fast and smooth. This game features some nice tunes, some of them which seem to be ripped from other games. Graphically it isn't much. But keep in mind that it was programmed in STOS!  

Multi Pakman is a nice twist on the original game!

Conclusion

"Multi Pakman" is a neat idea. And it is fun for a while, especially when playing against a friend. But the fun factor runs out pretty fast. I still find it remarkable what this Tony Greenwood guy (of H.E.R.O. fame) can create using the STOS language. Definitely a nice try! 

Better watch out for that tombstone

HacMan (Dave Bagget)

The sequel was pretty bad, the prequel is even worse! A barebones PacMan game. To be honest, I don't even see a lot of difference to "HacMan 2". Don't waste your time with this one! 

Where the hell is the difference with its sequel??!!

Candyman (X-tream, 1996)

"Candyman" is written in GFA basic...And it shows. Bad graphics, bad animation! It's cool when you think that this was created by a hobby-ist, but that's it. There is digital music during gameplay which loops every 5 seconds or so. The quality is great, but it gets annoying as hell!    
 

This game is really bad...Still, I wish I was able to create something like it! 

MCMinos (Trifflex, 1992)

I don't know if I place this game in the correct section of this page, since I wasn't able to play it! "McMinos" is another monochrome game in the vein of MacPan. This one should feature more options then the previously mentioned game! All I can say, the intro looked promising :-) I couldn't boot it up, but you might want to give this one a try!

Back when colorscreens did not exist!

Pacmen (Wacko Software, 1994)

Sadly, I couldn't run this game with any emulator either. So I played it on the real deal, my precious STe! "Pacmen" is a bit of a multiplayer PacMan wargame. You can play it with up to 4 players, all on one screen! Every pacman is armed with rockets to battle it out on the play field! Graphics are pretty horrible, but the sampled sound effects are very cool!  

Its a warzone out there!

H-Mec (John Garry, 1993)

H-Mec is another game programmed in GFA basic. But this one features good graphics, smooth scrolling and some great, rocking tunes. It's designed for the 1 meg STe specifically and it shows. This game has a password system implemented, so you don't have to start from the beginning everytime you load it up! Every level has a completely different maze. Oh, and the spooks are some of the most difficult ones to avoid, compared to the other games. So if you're looking for a challenge, H-Mec isn't a bad choice at all!

Those enemies do look creepy to me!

Atari tried to do their own "PacMan"-like game. In "Crystal Castles" the famous yellow hero is replaced by a little honey bear. In this arcade game your character was able to jump over the enemy with great heights and speed. A really nice try. PacMan the ATARI way :-) Read the complete review here! 

The classic "Crystal Castles" from Atari. The best PacMan clone (if you may call it that) in my book!

There was a little PacMan level implemented in the arcade/adventure game "Time Bandit" (Michtron, 1985). In this version, the spooks were replaced by outlined, ghastly figures. Kind of creepy, actually. But a really nice version to play!  

I used to play this game all the time with my little sister! 

In one of Titus first ST efforts, "Titus Classiques volume 1", a little PacMan game was created. Playing this version felt as if you were playing on your own personal Tandy computer with CGA graphics and a PC speaker! Just awful...

I think it is safe to say that this is the worst version of PacMan on the ST!

The "X-Troll audiopac demo" also contains a PacMan game. This one has nice graphics and music, but no soundeffects. This demo crew would later on be responsible for "Lethal Xcess : Wings of Death 2"! Hail...

A PacMan implemented into a scroller demo - Neat!

The original Spanish version of "Pepsi Challenge" (Mad Mix Game) had a character eating coconuts, making it almost a true Pac Man game. But it was altered in the European version by US Gold. Instead of eating the coconuts, the hero just walked over them! Strange but true...

Now this is what I call advertisement!