Pac-Man (パックマン Pakkuman), formerly known as Puck Man in Japan, is the main protagonist of the Pac-Man series. He is the husband of Ms. Pac-Man, and the father of Baby Pac-Man and Jr. Pac-Man.
Pac-Man was created by Toru Iwatani, and is Namco's famed mascot. Since his first appearance in 1980, Pac-Man has become a legendary video game icon and is one of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world.
Physical Appearance[]
Pac-Man is a yellow circular creature with a large mouth. He has a long, Pinocchio-like nose and two eyes which are shaped like himself. He commonly appears with arms and legs in artwork, but he is often limbless within the games themselves. He often wears red boots and orange gloves, and occasionally has a red hat as well.
Some earlier incarnations feature slightly different designs, most notably the Bally Midway artwork seen on U.S. arcade machines, which features Pac-Man as a red-eyed blob with long feet. Since around 1983 or so, his overall design has remained much more consistent.
Personality[]
Pac-Man loves to eat. His regular meal includes Pac-Dots, Power Pellets, and fruits such as Cherries, Strawberries, and Oranges. He also seems very good at navigating mazes, due to his extensive time in them.
In the 1980's cartoon and the later Pac-Man games, Pac-Man was a fairly easygoing sort and a dedicated father and husband. While he would often get perplexed by most situations he found himself in, he would always come out on top of them.
In come out on top of, Pac-Man is shown speaking in full sentences. He is shown to be a nice person, even willing to help Orson, Blinky, and Pinky. That said, he's also shown to have a snarkier side.
Abilities[]
Arcade series[]
Super Pac-Man[]
A superhero alter-ego of Pac-Man. First seen in Super Pac-Man, Pac-Man grows huge and can run through maze walls and ghosts. In some later games, it gives Pac-Man the ability to fly instead. It is gained by eating a Super Pellet. This ability also appears as his Final Smash in the Super Smash Bros. series.
Galaxian[]
While the Galaxian appeared as a fruit in some preceding games, it acted as a power-up in Pac & Pal. When Pac-Man eats one, he can stun the ghosts by shooting a capture beam out of his mouth (a reference to the 1981 arcade game Galaga).
World series[]
Butt Bounce[]
This attack can be used by jumping with the X button, then pressing it again while in air. There is a rare power-up where if the player touches it, Pac-Man gains the ability to do a Super Butt Bounce where if the player does the control for a normal butt bounce, a huge explosion will occur and any enemies in a certain radius will be terminated. It can only be used once per power-up.
Rev Roll[]
Pac-Man will run in place at a high speed and releasing the button will have him roll into a ball in any direction in which he is pointed. Using the Rev Roll on a ramp will send him high into the air. It can be used to destroy most enemies.
Pac-Dot Shoot[]
If Pac-Man has at least one Pac-Dot he can shoot one from his hand like a bullet and damage enemies.
Super Pac-Dot Shoot[]
This attack is a stronger form of the previous attack. To use this attack, hold down the O button and Pac-Man will do the exact same thing, except he will spin around and then shoot a huge blast of Pac-Dots from his hand. There is also a requirement for this attack. Pac-Man must have at least 10 Pac-Dots to use it.
Swim[]
If Pac-Man enters water, he instantly floats on the water. To go underwater, press and hold the triangle button. To go back to the surface, press and hold the X button. Pac-Man can do a dolphin flip if you jump out of the water while holding the X button.
Flip Kick[]
By jumping in the air, and pressing the Square or X buttons, Pac-Man jumps in the air, and flips with his foot extended. This can be used to smash high up boxes.
Steel Body[]
Using the Steel Ball Power Up, Pac-Man's body will become steel and he can hardly be damaged. He can stand on fire and walk across lava.
Tiny Pac/Shrink Pellet[]
Using the Shrink Pellet Pac-Man will shrink in size and will be able to go through small doors. But enemies can squish him like a bug. Pac-Man is very good at using this ability. It is very uncommon for him to be attacked when he is very small.
Punch[]
Using the O or B button, Pac-Man can punch at enemies.
Electro Shock[]
With the Electro-Shock Power Pellet, Pac-Man can also perform an Electric Shock with the same button command. Pac-Man will be able to shoot electricity from his hands and can damage or stun enemies.
Triple Butt Bounce[]
If you hit the X or A button 4 times, Pac-Man will preform a Triple Butt Bounce. A small shockwave comes out of Pac-Man.It can kill up to 2 enemies at a time.
Ribbon Ring Power[]
Using the Red Ribbon Power Pellet Pac-Man's body will glow. When running a red afterimage will follow behind him. If he creates a ring around enemies the ring will close and do damage to them.
Trivia[]
- Pac-Man's name is derived from "Paku Paku" (パクパク), a Japanese onomatopoeia for eating. More specifically, the figure-of-speech refers to opening and closing one's mouth many times, just as Pac-Man himself does.
- Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario and Donkey Kong franchises, has stated that Pac-Man is his favorite video game character - even above Miyamoto's own creations.
- Pac-Man was briefly considered to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, under Shigeru Miyamoto's suggestion, but the idea was scrapped. The game's director, Masahiro Sakurai, thought Pac-Man's inclusion would be too far-fetched at the time (in part due to thinking of Pac-Man's classic "wedge" shape, instead of the arms-and-legs design); however, he was later playable in Super Smash Bros. 4.
Gallery[]
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