Summary
- Release Year: 1982
- Genres: Arcade
- Platforms: Apple II, Arcade, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Commodore VIC-20, DOS, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System/Mark III, Texas Instruments TI-99, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum
- Developers: General Computer Corporation (GCC)
- Publishers: Atari, Inc., Atarisoft, Bally Midway, Namco Hometek, Tengen
Ms. Pac-Man: A Classic Sequel That Improved Upon the Original
Released in 1982, Ms. Pac-Man was the highly anticipated sequel to the massively popular Pac-Man. Developed by General Computer Corporation and published by Midway, Ms. Pac-Man introduced a number of new features and improvements that made it a classic in its own right.
Gameplay
Ms. Pac-Man retained the core gameplay of its predecessor. Players control Ms. Pac-Man, a yellow circle with a bow and lipstick, as she navigates through a maze filled with dots, fruits, and ghosts. The goal of the game is to eat all of the dots in the maze while avoiding the ghosts. If Ms. Pac-Man is touched by a ghost, she loses a life.
One of the most significant changes in Ms. Pac-Man was the addition of new mazes. The original Pac-Man featured only one maze, but Ms. Pac-Man introduced four different mazes, each with its own unique layout and challenges. This added variety to the gameplay and kept players coming back for more.
Another new feature in Ms. Pac-Man was the addition of fruits. Fruits appear randomly in the maze, and eating them gives Ms. Pac-Man bonus points. The fruits also have different point values, so players have to strategize which fruits to eat and when.
The ghosts in Ms. Pac-Man also received some changes. In the original Pac-Man, the ghosts were all identical in their behavior. However, in Ms. Pac-Man, each ghost has its own unique personality and tactics. Inky is the blue ghost who is known for his erratic behavior. Blinky is the red ghost who is known for his aggressive pursuit of Ms. Pac-Man. Pinky is the pink ghost who is known for her ability to ambush Ms. Pac-Man. And Sue is the orange ghost who is known for her slow but steady pursuit of Ms. Pac-Man.
Power-Ups
Ms. Pac-Man introduced a new power-up known as the Energizer. When Ms. Pac-Man eats an Energizer, the ghosts turn blue and become vulnerable to being eaten. This gives Ms. Pac-Man a chance to earn bonus points and clear the maze of ghosts.
Intermissions
Another unique feature of Ms. Pac-Man is the intermissions that occur between levels. These intermissions show the growing romantic relationship between Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man. The intermissions are humorous and add a bit of personality to the game.
Critical Reception
Ms. Pac-Man was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its improved gameplay, new features, and charming graphics. Ms. Pac-Man was also one of the first video games to feature a female protagonist, which was a groundbreaking move at the time.
Legacy
Ms. Pac-Man is considered to be one of the greatest video games of all time. It has been ported to numerous platforms and has been included in several compilations. Ms. Pac-Man has also been the inspiration for several sequels and spin-offs.
Conclusion
Ms. Pac-Man is a classic video game that improved upon the original Pac-Man in every way. With its new mazes, fruits, ghosts, and power-ups, Ms. Pac-Man is a must-play for fans of arcade classics.
Review Score
9/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
