Since its introduction Pacman has probably been the most enduring of the arcade games. For Spectrum software companies it has also been the most imitated, with just about every producer having a go. As a result there are numerous versions available with very little to distinguish one from the other. Some of them will be the subject of a CRASH Comparison in the near future. Meanwhile we list them here very briefly, only making points where there is any point (if you see what I mean). For anyone who has never seen a pacman type game (can there be anyone?) you are presented with a simple maze, often connected left to right by a wrap-around tunnel, the passageways of which are littered with regular dots. Your gobbler must wend his way round eating up every dot like a good boy before he can progress to the next level of difficulty. To make life hell there are several ghosts which zoom around trying to gobble your gobbler. Four power pills per level may be eaten which then allow you to gobble ghosts for a short while. It’s all terribly enthralling and a joystick can be useful.
GHOST HUNT
Producer: PSS, 16K £4.95
Good, classic version with three skill levels and clear graphics. A pity,
though, that the makers don’t tell you which keys to use either on the inlay or
the screen. In fact they are the cursor keys — not the best arrangement for
fingers but useful because you can use a Protek or AGF joystick.
GHOST’S REVENGE
Producer: Micromania, 16K £5.95
Unfairly written off by a review in a well known magazine, this program rates
as one of the most flexible and playable of its kind. Large, bright graphics
with the usual features and a smooth action. Only four ghosts, but at the
higher skill levels they are frighteningly intelligent at getting you. 10 skill
levels, tunnel, and an unusual feature in the invisible maze mode, which starts
off easily enough with all the dots outlining the paths, but becomes difficult
as you eat the dots. Good sound too, and all round good value. Overall CRASH
rating 72%. 100% M/C.
GNASHER
Producer: Mikrogen, 16K £4.95
Made with Mikrogen’s usual bright colours and clear graphics. Classic copy.
GNASHER
Producer: R & R, 16K £4.95
Author: Jonathan Nixon
The maze in R & Rs version is simpler than many but the reward is
exceptionally clear and detailed graphics with very smooth movement. Various
fruit appear to be eaten for extra points and this version doesn’t suffer with
virtually invisible edible ghosts. Power pills, tunnel and increasingly fast
screens. Very positive keyboard action, joystick option: Kempston but most
importantly user-defined keys if you don’t like the cursors. One of the best
gobblers around.
GOBBLE A GHOST
Producer: CDS, 16K £5.95
All the usual features with machine code smooth graphics. No joystick
option.
GOBBLEMAN
Producer: Artic, 16K £4.95
Another standard version, pity though that Artic couldn’t have made the ghosts
a little slower after eating a power pill since it makes them impossible to
catch.
GULPMAN
Producer: Campbell Systems, 16K £4.95
This is slightly different in that there’s only one ghost to chase you but the
more dots you eat, the faster he gets. Five screens, nine speeds, no pills or
tunnels, but pretty addictive.
HAUNTED HEDGES
Producer: Micromega, 16K £6.95
Author: Derek Brewster
Derek Brewster is Neptune Computing, but this 3D pacman is marketed by
Micromega. The price probably reflects the fact the 3D in a title or game sells
better than mere two dimensions. In effect, though, this is very much the
ordinary ghost game with a running figure instead of the usual toothy
orange.
HUNGRY HORACE
Producer: Psion, 16K £5.95
Many critics regard this as the definitive pacman game for the Spectrum, and of
course Horace has begat a number of sequels in other categories. Highly
attractive graphics and smoothly animated make it a joy to play. There are
several mazes of increasing complexity to get through. No power pills — just
wits. Highly recommended.
MAZECHASE
Producer: Hewson, 16K £4.95
Considering the quality of most Hewson programmes, this one is a complete
mystery. Put it down to history. It’s probably the simplest one available, with
matchstick figures, white ghosts and some fruit as power pills. Four screens,
cursor keys so works with AGF or Protek joysticks. Not very good.
MAZEMAN
Producer: Abersoft, 16K £4.95
Abersoft’s maze is a bit more complex than most and the graphics are clear and
bright.
MONSTER MUNCHER
Producer: Ocean, 16K £5.90
Ocean’s graphics are always pleasing, and this version works as well as any
other.
MUNCHER
Producer: Silversoft, 16K £5.95
A good classic version, but the inlay card is all over the place telling us N
is down, when it’s M, and 5 starts a new game when it’s S. In fact the keys
used are quite sensible. No joystick option.
ROBOT RIOT
Producer: Silversoft, 48K £5.95 (2)
Author: Patrick Richmond
In a sense this is the opposite of a ‘Pac Man’ game in as much as you are
laying dots in the maze instead of gobbling them up. The story is that the
robots have run amok in the corridors of the Acme Robot Manufacturing Co, and
you must guide the robot bomber through the maze, laying mines. The amokful
robots materialise in the four corners, becoming more numerous the longer you
take to accomplish your mission — they must be avoided at all costs of course.
Your power supply drains rapidly, but there are power mites also materialising
which replenish your supply if they are run over. The object is to lay mines in
every corridor and entice the king robot out of the central control room so you
can get in. An additional problem is that some corridors are equipped with
sliding doors which keep shutting. The game has attractive graphics and manages
to be surprisingly addictive in play. It’s given an old format a new lease of
life. Good control keys, joystick: Kempston, above average, overall CRASH rating
70% m/c.