If you are reading this, you are probably a young fan of vintage video games or a melancholic gamer... Did I guess right?
Either way, you probably want to know more about the game that, since 1980, has conquered generations of players around the world.
I invite you to go through the most famous maze in the world together with PacMan and his colorful enemies: Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde... Run, they're coming for you!
The little yellow circle
In the 1970s, Arcade consoles were a hit in shopping malls, bars, and arcades. Up to that time, Arcade games were violent, fast, and loud, aimed at a male audience. However, things would change with the arrival of a little yellow circle.
On May 22, 1980, Namco transformed the concept of entertainment with a game as simple as it was fun: PacMan.
Since then, PacMan became a cultural icon of the 80s and 90s and is, to this day, one of the most recognized (and loved) games worldwide, expanding beyond the borders of video games to reach movies, television, and all kinds of merchandising.
Strategy, speed, and precision
Pac-Man is a game that is easy to understand but difficult to master.
The story of Pac-Man takes place inside a small maze that is displayed all over the screen. You control Pac-Man, a small yellow circle that appears to have a mouth that opens and closes.
When you start the game, you start moving the character with your controller to move through the maze while eating small blue circles.
The challenge is to escape from 4 ghosts that will chase you throughout the maze until they catch you and knock you out of the game. The difficulty increases as you advance in level, as the ghosts become faster and more cunning.
You will also be able to eat larger dots called “energy pills”, which you will find in the corners of the maze. When you eat these pills, the ghosts will turn blue to indicate that they are vulnerable, and you will be able to eat them. When you eat a ghost, it will go to the center of the maze and regenerate to return to the attack.
The power of the energy pills lasts a few seconds and depends on what level you are in. Therefore, it is ideal to strategically choose when to eat these pills in order to cause as much damage as possible to your enemies and gain time to advance in the game.
As you add hours of gameplay, you will develop skills and strategies to advance levels more quickly.
It is amazing to see that, although after 3 decades with the same interface and game mechanics, PacMan is still a classic loved by players of all ages and genders.
A classic on all devices
- Currently, you can play Pac-Man on all devices and operating systems. Download the mobile version from the App Store for iPhone or from the Google Play Store for Android.
- It is also available on online stores such as Steam for PC and on consoles such as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
- Depending on the device, there are different versions of Pac-Man. On both, mobile devices and PC, you can find free versions with ads included or paid versions without ads for a relatively low cost.
I recommend Pac-Man for players of all ages, as it contains no violence or offensive language. In principle, the only thing you need to enjoy it is skill and strategy to overcome the challenges. Although it is a very simple game, the speed of the chase makes it very exciting, and you won’t stop playing.
Although PacMan doesn't have hyperrealistic 3D graphics, charismatic characters, terrifying villains or wonderful worlds, we consider it a 5/5. In Pac-Man, the only thing you need to live a fun, exciting and entertaining adventure is a little yellow circle... How cool is that!
