Pakacuda
Description
Pakacuda is a Pac-Man variant. The difference from other games of its kind is that it features an underwater theme. The player is the titular pakacuda fish and has to make their way through the maze and eat all the smaller fish they comes across. The pakacuda is not only a predator but a prey too. They have to avoid the octopuses that chase them around the maze. If they come into contact with an octopus they will lose one life. To protect themself the player has to eat eels that provide them with a charge enough to take on the octopuses. Charges only last a limited time though and once it's over the defeated octopuses will reappear.
Spellings
- Pacakuda - Alternative spelling
Groups +
Screenshots
Credits (Commodore 64 version)
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 60% (based on 3 ratings)
Players
Average score: 1.9 out of 5 (based on 3 ratings with 1 reviews)
Pac-Man as played by King Neptune
The Good
If you were around in the Eighties, chances were that you heard of Pac-Man, Namco’s pill-popping success that led to many official ports being released on the popular home systems. Of the many bootlegs that came shortly afterwards, the one I am most familiar with is Piranha. It is set underwater and it was quite difficult, given there are no walls and the octopuses are more aggressive.
Another underwater-themed game is Pakacuda, released for early Commodore computers as well as the ZX Spectrum. You control a Barracuda who must go around eating fish scattered around the maze, while avoiding the octopuses that chase you around. You can turn the tables by eating electric eels, but you have limited time to eat your enemies. Whatever octopus is eaten gets respawned in one of the corners, so make sure you steer clear of these corners or else you will lose a life.
There are passages that you can go around, and warp tunnels on both sides of the maze allow you to confuse the octopuses. The way the passages are curved presents a challenge. Even though I had a bit of trouble getting out of them before I got trapped, I managed to get out after the first few tries and had no problem after that.
The octopuses themselves are drawn nicely, and behave the same way as the ghosts in Pac-Man. The Barracuda is also drawn nicely, as are the octopuses. The way the Barracuda opens and closes its mouth in quick succession is rather amusing. I like the sound effect that plays when you go around eating fish; it reminds me of the theme for “The Twilight Zone”. There is an ominous sound when you eat an eel.
The Bad
I can’t think of anything.
The Bottom Line
Pakacuda is an excellent take on the Pac-Man concept. Set underwater, you eat fish instead dots, avoid octopuses instead of ghosts, and turn the tables around by eating eels, not power pellets. The animations are brilliant, the graphics are good, and the sound is good as well. If you have played too much Pac-Man lately and want a different take on it, then give this game a try.
Commodore 64 · by Katakis | カタキス (43087) · 2022
Analytics
Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Kabushi.
Game added January 31, 2012. Last modified September 24, 2023.