Pac-Mania (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
228A playthrough of Tengen's 1991 arcade game for the NES, Pac-Mania.
Pac-Mania was originally released in 1987, and it really seemed to impress. Critics raved about how the addition of a jump mechanic and the beautiful faux-3D graphics (thanks to Namco's new System 1 hardware) made the Pac-Man formula feel fresh and new again. It won a lot of awards, and made a fair amount of money.
In the years following the release of the arcade game, Pac-Mania saw ports across the typical 80s console/PC suspects, as well as a couple of unexpected ones - the Acorn Archimedes, anybody? (To be fair though, it was a fantastic conversion. If you don't know the machine, you should look it up!). Nowadays, the easiest way to play it is probably with the iOS port, or if you prefer a controller, Namco Museum Vol. 5 (PS1) and Pac-Man Museum (PS3/360/Steam) both include it.
I've always really enjoyed this one. The game is still unmistakably Pac-Man, but the perspective shift and themed worlds really adds a lot more visual variety to the game without compromising its playability. Even though the board now scrolls, the screen stays centered on Pac-Man at all times, and the speed and behavior of the ghosts has been adjusted to better suit the limited view.
The jump mechanic was also a neat and meaningful addition - it was a genius way of adding a whole new layer of complexity to the game. For as simple as it is, it allows for far more variety and daredevilry in your strategy than Pac-Man ever did.
The NES version of it was very good. Like the great majority of Tengen's unlicensed games (and despite this one not being developed by Atari themselves), Pac-Mania is far better made than many of the system's officially sanctioned titles. The graphics by necessity are mere shadows of their former arcade selves, but the general idea holds together well - the game retains the unique perspective and style of its big brother. The music is also pretty good - it's nice to hear something besides "waka waka waka blooop" nonstop in a Pac-Man game, and the tunes here are pretty catchy.
The gameplay is really where this one succeeds the most, though. The controls are sharp, the mazes are just big enough to let you stretch your legs while staying small enough to prevent you for getting lost while looking for that single pellet you need to finish the stage. You end up with up to nine ghosts in the maze at a time later on which gets pretty hectic, but the jump mechanic eases the burden a bit. Just remember to not make a habit of trying to jump the green or black ones, and be careful where you land!
I clearly remember years ago when I beat it for the first time - I had no idea it had an ending! But, as I show here, the game lasts for nineteen rounds before it sends you on your way. Since Pac-Mania is extremely easy compared to the older, garden-variety Pac-Man games, don't be surprised to if you see the ending screen sooner than you expected.
The Sega Genesis version clearly has the advantage over the NES one, but the NES port of Pac-Mania's gameplay can't be faulted - it's true to the original and it's still a whole lot of fun.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
Visit for the latest updates!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NintendoComplete/540091756006560
https://twitter.com/nes_complete