Pac-Attack

aka: Pac-Panic
Moby ID: 22590
SNES Specs
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Description official description

Based on Namco's Japanese-only arcade puzzler Cosmo Gang the Puzzle, Pac-Attack is similar to many block-dropping puzzle games from the time, such as Puyo Puyo.

The objective of the game is to place ghosts and then, after three pieces (which can include one or two blocks as well), make Pac-Man eat as many ghosts as possible to try and clear up the game area. Pac-Man's directions are chosen at random between left or right, but as he goes moving on the game area (after you place him, of course), if he bumps against a block or a "wall" on the game area, he will change his direction. As with many block-dropping puzzlers, if a line of blocks and/or ghosts reaches the top, the game ends. However, by filling up a meter on the left of the game area, a fairy may appear that can clear approximately 6 or 7 lines with ghosts, but it only clears the ghosts, although the blocks that were on top of them will drop.

Also, like many puzzlers, it contains a versus mode against another human player. It's similar to the many versus modes of puzzle games: eat plenty of ghosts and your opponent will recieve many ghosts on his area.

The game also includes a Puzzle mode. It features 100 levels, in which you have to eat all ghosts with no more than 4 Pac-Men at least (the number reduces in certain levels), and, unlike the other modes, you can change Pac-Man's direction with the press of a button.

All of the handheld versions (including the one on Pac-Man Collection) lack the versus mode.

Spellings

  • パックパニック - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (SNES version)

20 People (14 developers, 6 thanks)

Producer
  • Sunadorinekosan
Planner
  • Ojean
Directors
  • Tai
  • Aussie. Go
Programmers
  • Mukamuka
  • Yok-Sama
Visual Designers
  • I. M. Harl
  • Shalong
Sound Designer
Assistant Designers
  • Masabou
  • Darna
  • Kagura
  • M. Imai
  • King. K
Special Thanks To

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 73% (based on 26 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.4 out of 5 (based on 27 ratings with 1 reviews)

No one-line summary available

The Good
In Pac-Attack, the object of the game is to manipulate (and rotate) a brown bar that approaches the bottom of the playfield and sits there. You have to manipulate the next piece and bring that piece down next to the last one. Now repeat this until you form a straight line. You are also trying not to screw up. There are actually two playfields: one for the “Normal” mode, and the other for the “Puzzle” mode.

You may think that this is just another Tetris clone, until you finally start to play the game and realize that ghosts have been added. These ghosts try to stop you from forming complete lines, but it is a good thing that Pac comes by occasionally and fix things up, but you must make him come in contact with one or more ghosts or he will do nothing. If the playfield is filling up quickly, a green fairy might come along and fix everything.

As expected, Pac moves across the screen and gobbles up ghosts that block his way, like he does in the original game. What I like about this is how smooth that he does it, and how he just warps out whenever he collides with the bar. As the player, you will know that Pac is going to come: by looking to the left of the playfield, at the next set of blocks. The way that this flashes and changes is excellent.

The graphics remind us of how cartoon-like that Pac and his enemies are. The graphics that serve as the backgrounds to the playfields looks much better than the plain black background of the Tetris games. The music, which uses that modified Pac-Man music, is enjoyable to listen to while you play. The gameplay itself is challenging as you have a combination of ghosts, Pac-Men, and bars to work with. This would be ideal for people who want to take a break from the Tetris games, and want more of a challenge.

The Bad
I hate it when the blocks float down the playfields much faster than the speed that you start the game on.

The Bottom Line
Pac-Attack is a step up from Tetris. Not only do you have to worry about forming straight bars across the playfield, but you have to deal with ghosts as well. Pac-Man gobbles up the ghosts that he comes in contact with, then disappears when he collides with one bar. The main purpose is trying not to fill up the playfield. Doing so will land you in a bit of trouble if the fairy isn't there to help you. The graphics and sound are very good, and gives Pac-Attack that look of the previous one or two Pac games.

SNES · by Katakis | カタキス (43092) · 2006

Trivia

Compilations

Pac-Attack was not only released as a stand-alone game, but has been bundled with a lot of other Pac-themed games:
Pac-Man World 2 (unlocked by collecting 30 tokens) * Pac-Man: Special Color Edition Pac-Man Collection

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Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 22590
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by NovedSelim.

Wii U added by Michael Cassidy. Wii added by gamewarrior. CD-i added by DarkFalzX.

Additional contributors: chirinea, Alaka, Игги Друге.

Game added May 31, 2006. Last modified February 12, 2024.