2023 Pac-Man Pocket Player Pro vs. 2018 Pac-Man Pocket Player | COMPARISON

[@GenXGrownUp]

As rightly pointed out by ABTube27, the correct fruit order is as follows: Cherry, Strawberry, Orange, Orange, Apple, Apple, Melon, Melon, Galaxian, Galaxian, Bell, Bell, Key (forever)

[@AbeM.]

So then this reversion is… wrong-er? I wonder what happened there.

[@GenXGrownUp]

@@AbeM. Well, yeah. Kind of. 😁 Wrong-er in some cases - right-er in others.

[@PaulMiller-mn3me]

Also wrong for not having a screw-in joystick option. During the golden age I could play to the tenth key on one quarter (thanks Ken Uston), so can definitively say the only proper way to play this game is with a stick! @@GenXGrownUp

[@operationshutdown155]

I always thought the orange was a peach.

[@DryPaperHammerBro]

I thought it couldn't get worse. Holy shit

[@ABTube27]

15:04 Isn't Pac-Man supposed to have two levels with the same fruit, from the orange to the key? Every version of Pac-Man I've played has always had two oranges, two apples, two melons, etc. Maybe I misunderstood, lol. It's been a minute since I've watched your review on the 2018 version.

[@GenXGrownUp]

You are very right - I've spent so much time looking at wrong Pac-Man fruit ordering that I got them mixed up. At any rate, they're mismatched and not arcade-accurate here.

[@OGHUGO]

Orange on the Apple level, unacceptable ! Great video Jon, thanks for the review!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks, Hugo. I actualy mis-remembered the fruit order, but posted it in a pinned comment. At any rate, there should NEVER be a mismatch.

[@DryPaperHammerBro]

This is a *downgrade* over the 2018 version

[@johneygd]

Yeah, not only that but they should stop making those pac man handhelds because there’re already millions of them on the market,i just don’t understand how and why theres still a market for it since people do have already bought alll other versions of it whether as a handheld,or as a game for those handhelds whether the gameboy/color,gameboy advance,psp,psvita,nintendo DS,atari lynx etc,,,,whether it’s the collections edition,ultimate edition,limited edition,special edition,gold edition ,anniversary edition etc,,, Man how many more versions could be made , it’s freaking damn pacman,how about all those bootleg versions of pacman ,whether it’s called taxman,eating man,hungry man,ghost hunting man,maze man,chasing man, etc,,,, oh brother phew🤣👎

[@joezar33]

For real don't know why they even pump out a other Pac-Man handheld , they could atleast added a SD Slot or something that makes it a upgrade

[@TheRealAmericanMan]

Because people like me are psychos and idk I’ll probably be at like Walgreens or something when it’s like $15 and I’m really bored

[@desperatedan3985]

Looks like I’ll be sticking to the original 2018👌

[@retro_reflections]

To be honest, both versions come off as a bit ham-fisted, the 2023 version even more so given the number of outright flubs and errors still present. Wouldn't really be able to recommend it myself, given how good the Ms. Pac was.

[@VEGANVANIA]

GenXGrownUp reviewed the 2018 pocket player when it was brand new: there is a later version (date unknown) _that I own myself_ with 99% of the problems he reported fixed -the 1% remaining unfixed (oddly) being the missing sound effect when you eat a bonus fruit. As I said in my own boring video on the subject: you'd have no way of knowing if you were buying the fixed version of the (old) console or not (by looking at the box, etc.) but… that narrows the difference between the two models still further.

[@cryptocoffee13]

Well, I'm glad I didn't get the Pocket version of Pac-Man, instead, I have both 2018 versions of My Arcade Pac-Man, the Pocket and Micro Player. The 2023 version I have is the Micro Player Pro, it's the same as this Pocket version unfortunately. Yes, slightly better game play, slightly better visually, but the sounds and mannerisms just fall flat for me. If these came out in 2018 instead of the versions we got, then that would be fine, however, with those close to true roms that are displayed in the Mrs Pac-Man Pro and Galaga Pro Players, this is very disappointing. 😢

[@VEGANVANIA]

There's also a pixel perfect issue: @3:02 notice that the (early) version of the (2018) console that GenX has _does not_ have a consistent size for the edible dots (look at the left hand side, up and down the screen: some dots are larger than others). My version of the same (2018) console (apparently manufactured later with bugfixes) actually does solve this problem: it is pixel perfect, or at least _apparently so._

[@AbeM.]

Oh so newer versions of the old model have fixes as well? Well I’ll definitely consider buying another one before they stop selling them. Mine does have the strange pixel scaling, though it’s not super distracting.

[@VEGANVANIA]

_"Oh so newer versions of the old model have fixes as well?"_ @@AbeM. Yes, I can confirm this, and I'd say the pixel perfect issue is the "giveaway" that you're looking at the corrected version of the 2018 system (I have no idea if we should call it the 2020 version or what). The corrected version also, for example, does not play the start-of-game-music at the start of each new level, etc.

[@AbeM.]

@@VEGANVANIA I’ve heard that even older versions lack the splash screen that explains how to insert credits on Pac-Man, mine does include that. Does yours do the control test mode? I figure that’s one of those things they would try to remove with revisions. On mine, if you hold A and B during boot up, it enters a screen where you can test the inputs.

[@VEGANVANIA]

Yeah, I can't blame them for trying to improve the product, but _nobody knows_ how many versions may be circulating, because neither the package nor a version number on the title screen admits the changes were made. I do think the "ghost logic" issue (the patterns followed) is a make-or-break issue for many fans, and that has (apparently) remained consistent across all versions.@@AbeM.

[@tomw3599]

Why not just have the original arcade ROM? Why would Namco let this be sold without the original ROM? Thanks for KZbin I don't need many things.

[@dreadtheweekend]

Don’t keep us in suspense, how many tokens are you giving it? A tricky one to score I think. I have the 2018 version and played pac panic a lot, not worth upgrading. Somewhere I think I have the GBA version of pac man, I wonder how that compares - was it just a NES port?

[@GenXGrownUp]

With all the pros & cons, I'd probably put it on par with the 2018.

[@ButterSpider3]

This is some extremely in depth investigation. Thanks for show all the under the cover things to look for that people like me, fans but not super fans, would not know. I love these reviews where you dig deep and don’t just say “I like it” or “I don’t like it”. Thanks again for another stellar review and demo!

[@rmb1]

Why would you throw out instructions but keep box, packaging, etc.. as a collector that makes zero sense. Thanks for review screen too small.

[@02DooD]

I really like looking at different ports of games and Pac-Man is the treasure trove of differences in ports. It's really weird that we're this many decades from the original coming out and yet there are still different Pac-Man versions being made. The first weird thing I noticed in the original pocket player is how the dots in game are all inconsistent in size, but then I realized that it seems the game wasn't scaled properly for the system in general. You can see a lot of what is called "shimmering" which is when a game has those weird pillars of pixels on screen where pixel size distorts and messes with the whole screen. If you get really into looking at ports you can call out any modern handheld or mini arcade just from the layout of the score. The My Arcade Pac-Man with the NES port has Arcade sprites in the NES port's layout on the box to try and get away with not giving you the actual arcade game

[@MusicMan32K]

Yeah, this seems like not much improved on it. I'll keep my 2018 version

[@Roblox_mrtomas]

And it doesn't have 3 games, which means its not that entertaining. Or fun.

[@TheLadsBandLive]

MyArcade made this as a member-berry impulse-buy for casuals who won’t know or care about the differences.

[@bland9876]

It sucks they removed the continue which they should have made it an option you can choose to continue or start over also I want to know if both those oranges are worth the same amount of points or if they're worth more points on the second level. The sound does seem better to me on the vertical machine.

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

How many tokens Jon? I think this is your first review vid where you failed to rate the product. 😄

[@GenXGrownUp]

Well, technically this isn't a review... 😜 ...but with the ups & downs, I'd probably put this right on par with the 2018 unit's rating. Maybe a tiny bit lower since we've lost the bonus games.

[@dr.awkward9075]

Pac-Man accuracy = Paccuracy.

[@GenXGrownUp]

I wholeheartedly endorse this.

[@zimtage1744]

My arcade still can't get emulaton right. These consoles are still hit or miss

[@TomMannCenturia]

Hmmm, so they haven't really improved the game (bar the screen ratio, dots and extra start of level music) and taken away the two extra games. I'd stick with the 2018 version. Well actually I'd just stick the original rom on my little multi console handheld. Great review. Many thanks.

[@02DooD]

Aw come on, the least they could do is make Blinky and Pinky go to their actual corners. Also, is the game at a higher difficulty than the arcade? Pac-Man seems kinda quick for being on the Cherry. I'd probably stick with the original since it at least comes with Pac-Attack and Pac-Mania. It;s weird that they even called it Pac-Panic because that name was only used on like one port in the 90's if I'm remembering right and I think it was some random console like the Phillips CD-i that no one cared much for

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

The Sega Mega Drive version in Europe was called “Pac-Panic” as was the Japanese Game Boy version.

[@jessragan6714]

The original is just a Genesis ROM. I've got it on my Data Frog SF2000 and it scratches an itch for portable Pac-Man, although it's very picky about emulators (many have slowdown). Honestly, you're better off with Namco Museum Battle Collection for the PSP, but for a Genesis port, it's okay. Better than Pac-Man 2's port of Pac-Man, anyway.

[@VEGANVANIA]

Do you know what screen resolution the Genesis ROM is running in? (This may sound like a stupid question, but the Genesis _did_ have more than one viable resolution, and I'm wondering if that explains the emulation problems… and the pixel-perfect problems on the 2018 handheld.)

[@jessragan6714]

@@VEGANVANIA I'd give you a straight link, but those tend to get deleted. Google up the terms "cutting room floor pac man pocket player" and you should find an article about it. Evidently this kooky thing has Space Invaders '90 and a handful of other Genesis games included in the ROM.

[@corellioncrusaderproductio4679]

I was talking with my friend Bauske, and I think his assessment is spot on. The Ms. Pac-Man pocket player seems to be a modified version of the 2018 Pac-Man rom, and then it seems they repackaged it back into a Pac-Man rom for the newer units without reverting all of the major changes.

[@GenXGrownUp]

There are definitly some strong similarities. The most obvious connection between them for me is when eating two ghosts at the same coordinates, you only get one "bloop" & score animation, though all points are awarded.

[@bauske]

Yep haha. I couldn't wait for a review any longer and had to go buy one myself to see if it was any good or not. I'm pretty disappointed by it, honestly. They could have really knocked it out of the park with this, even if it wasn't 100% accurate, but the mistakes and issues really sell it short for me.

[@aler0506]

I noticed that you have the Megaman micro player marked in your checklist. I look forward for your review for that unit.

[@bc2907]

Lazy update by My Arcade

[@LBP-Seramop]

7:37 Ooh I see someone got the Megaman Micro Player Pro! Wonder when we’ll get the review! Side notes: A few details to identify that this isn’t a genuine rom is that the “Push Start Button” isn’t teal like it is in the original as shown in 11:31 Blinky doesn’t follow his pattern of going to the top right corner of the maze and instead goes to the top left of the maze where Pinky should be as seen in 11:41 Fruits also happen to be in the wrong order at 15:16 (see also GXG comment)

[@jonathanwhiteside6092]

Interestingly the Evercade Namco cartridge (That only works with handheld Evercades) uses the 2020 BNEI release. Colours and sound seem off like you described...

[@b.o.4492]

Why I’ll buy it, is I buy every version of PAC-Man that comes out. So it’s a shame it’s not just an arcade rom. I like the screen orientation.

[@VEGANVANIA]

The earlier version with two buttons will -inevitably- be rom-hacked by fans to allow you to change two of the games. This new version, with zero buttons, would be impossible to hack… unless you were going to hack it _only_ to play games that don't require face buttons. I'd say that's part of the customer value proposition here. ;-)

[@VEGANVANIA]

The "ghost logic" issue is -really- a big deal (i.e., the patterns that the ghosts move in = not arcade accurate). I have to hope that fans are getting organized to replace the ROMs, even if it is just for that reason. I say this as someone who genuinely appreciates the NES & Game Boy versions of Pac Man: I'm actually _NOT_ an arcade purist. But still.

[@Monitor1CC]

Well, that’s disappointing and some very odd choices for the rom on this in light of the Galaga and Ms. Pac Man Pro units using mostly faithful arcade roms. Hopefully the upcoming table top Pac Man Pro mini cab isn’t using the same bizarro rom as the new handheld unit. Edit: According to cryptocoffee’s comment below the 2023 Pac Man Micro Player Pro is using the same strange rom as the new handheld unit. :/

[@donaldbenjamin8342]

I always remembered two orange levels before you hit the apple, no surprise to me.

[@SylveonTrapito]

I really love Pacman. Too bad Namco killed Ms. Pacman.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Namco can't kill her as long as we keep her alive. 😉

[@Rob-z7k]

Im happy with my RS30...it has actual Real Deal 80s arcade roms of Pac Man..Ms Pacman..Punch out Narc...you name it games!

[@dcampbell97]

These pros really should have high score saves. It can't be that hard or expensive. The technology has been out there for years. For $40 and only 1 or 2 games...that is the least they could have done. I would have bought all of them if they had high score saves....now I won't be buying any of them. I have the 2018 Galaga, Pacman, Ms. Pacman and Dig Dug. They all have multiple games as well. Also, for portable usage I like the NES versions. Probably played those as a kid more than the arcade version.

[@brockfrazier9533]

For handheld, I run MAME. I bought a SONY Experia Play for MAME used years ago for less than $30. Well worth it. I should upgrade to a better screen and controls. I'm hoping the new My Arcade handheld with the trackball delivers. I returned their fake 2600 because the wireless controller lag was unacceptable. Great idea. Bad implementation.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very entertaining and fun to watch. Thanks for posting this.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@piratestation69]

Pass... what kills me why no dip switches, or even no fast pacman. No thanks. I own the original pcb along with Ms. Pac man. So im good. Nice review though. To be honest how can anyone screw up pac man? Simple z80 8 bit game that takes up very little resources.

[@mikeburkhart8336]

I got more versions of PacMan then any other game! I got it on PSP,DS,NES,Game Boy,Game Boy Color and PS1!

[@boredfireworks]

Ha ha ha very funny I only got the one from like eight years ha ha so funny it’s probably been like eight days is Christmas Yes, I got it from Christmas. And I just learned about the new version. Yay.

[@potatopakku]

Now I’ve found the reason why it doesn’t have 3 games, I found this about 4 months ago or something Now the thing is, it’s just like you said, a homebrew port of the Sega genesis, people didn’t like the horizontal so they used a unused screen set layout, also, I found in a test menu where you hold the left dpad and the 1P together, they have a test menu, when you launch the service menu, it needs A+C, which is exactly why 2P is A and C is credit. Now fusing this together allows you to get access to the service menu, I randomly held them together. And now if your wondering the rest of the pocket players from 2023, is a arcade port into the Sega genesis, the chipset and all, but the Pac-Man rom was made from scratch in the first place.

[@GenXGrownUp]

👌

[@dave24-73]

I’m surprised it’s not just running a version of Mame and the arcade rom after all as long as it’s licensed shouldn’t be an issue, would also allow new games.

[@twitchster77]

I'd feel disappointed and unhappy with either. I'd rather save my money and get a decent handheld for just a bit more.

[@AbeM.]

Honestly, the pro version seems disappointing. It’s basically the same as before, but with only a third of the content and on a vertical screen. Now that the old version is cheaper, I find it to be a better deal over all (and since it’s smaller it’s also more convenient to take on the go). I might actually go and buy a second one before they stop selling them completely. Also the screen is not centered and that kinda bothers me 😂

[@Johan-rm6ec]

They can hire me to rewrite the code.

[@Johan-rm6ec]

Thanks for the review.

[@GenXGrownUp]

@Johan-rm6ec Thank you for watching. 🙂

[@Michael-yp9ip]

Wow, surprised at this review considering your praise for the Ms.Pac-Man version!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Ms. Pac-Man Pro is a huge improvement over the version released five years ago. As you can see, this one isn't.

[@AbeM.]

Yeah, the original Ms Pac-Man pocket player had the NES rom, and at least mine had a poorer quality d-pad compared to the og Pac-Man pocket player. The new version of the game they are using now looks just super nice compared to that. The old one does have Mappy though 🤔, that almost saves it. With this one though, they’re using the same game as before, but with less features and new errors.

[@GamerAlexYT]

Thx bro! I rlly needed this too

[@KitWriter]

The same $40 for two less games. What the heck lol.

[@prosto1076]

Finally they've decided to put vertical screen vertically

[@GenXGrownUp]

Right?! 😁

[@Carlb328]

I can't see a reason to buy this when you can buy a Chinese handheld for 50$ and emulate every 8 bit game imaginable.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Good. That's what reviews are for - to help you make the right buying decison for your situation.

[@asafshuhendller1004]

Hi, what is the credits do?

[@leejoe86686]

2:09 My dad ordered me this exact device. It was $35, And it's coming soon on April 1st.

[@GenXGrownUp]

...or is it?! 😉 (April 1st)

[@leejoe86686]

@@GenXGrownUp Idk lol! 🤣

[@Mr.madmight266]

2018 version all the way for me, the newer version is a step down to me. i wanna know if the newer one is cheaper though, that's something that i believe you didn't mention. also, you might already know this, but this pacman version is basically a genesis game.

[@chriscravens4915]

It looks the same as the other one, there’s not a difference, same D pad and everything….

[@GenXGrownUp]

There are differences, and I point them out throughout the video.

[@travis303]

I think the reason why I am not so bothered by pac-man games not being exactly like the arcade is because I'm used to it. I grew up in the NES era and grew up playing the NES pac-man. I have learned to just accept that you are never going to get the arcade version of pac-man unless you go to the arcade. I just accept most home versions will have some differences. NES, portable, Atari, they're all pac-man but just different ports of it. As long as it's competent, I generally am pretty lenient and accepting of it. I find the MyArcade Pac-Man games to just be like every other port of Pac-Man, a good version but not exactly the same, and that's OK. Advertising it's "exactly like the arcade" is false advertising but everybody does it. Atari did it too with advertising that basically says "bring the arcade into your home with this Pac-Man game" or whatever. Every business does it in every commercial. We call it false advertising, they call it dressing up to sell a product. As long as it's close, I take it and accept the differences. I still get to play Pac-Man even if it's not the same as the arcade. I've decided if you want to play the arcade, either buy an arcade or go to one. Otherwise just accept what you can get at home, I guess. By the way, I never heard that called the orange level, we always called it the peach level. We thought it looked like a peach

[@GenXGrownUp]

The big clincher for me is when they call themselves, "My Arcade" or "Arcade Classics" and then house console ROMs. If it were a "My NES," that would be a different story.

[@travis303]

@@GenXGrownUp I understand that. Maybe I'm just used to disappointment I just expect the worst and when it's OK I'm like "great!" I'm the Eeyore of the group haha

[@fco64]

This was the one I was waiting for !!! edit: I'm desapointed by this version of pacman I don't want to spoil the video but the other two games we saw were much better

[@MikeS-el6vd]

I find these hand held individual players pretty cool, but with so many ways to ply Pac-Man these days, I don’t think I’ll spend my money on one of these. I think the Atari one is a better value.

[@williamcrowe2576]

I had bought the 2018 Pocket Player at a Walgreens in Goshen Indiana sometime ago while washing clothes at a nearby laundromat, and had only mostly played Pac Panic/Pac Attack on it ever since.

[@AbeM.]

Having a level-based puzzle game with passwords to keep progression was a lucky break of brilliance for the device. I actually kept a little post-it note inside the battery cover to save my most recent password 😂 Too bad the new version lacks the extra games.

[@katmacoconnor]

Waka-waka! 💜

[@catfishvega3728]

I have the 2018 version as well the Ms. Pac-Man unit.

[@ctbinary42]

I don’t have either but this is a definite maybe but in a nano player for the arcade feel 😊

[@Pasigon]

Is it possible to save the highscore ???

[@GenXGrownUp]

Sadly, no.

[@rexmandrake4182]

Wait, what is "Pro" about new one?

[@VEGANVANIA]

It has screen brightness controls. The old one doesn't. That's about it.

[@justicelizana2517]

It has no memory ?

[@GenXGrownUp]

I'm not sure what you mean. It does have some onboard memory in order to run the code.

[@restwellcloud-ix8ee]

dude that’s not an orange it’s a peach

[@GenXGrownUp]

🍊

[@neurokinetik]

Besides all the other gameplay and sound differences, my biggest problem with these are that they are left-handed. I always played Pac-Man with my right hand.

[@GenXGrownUp]

I get that. I expect that's a problem you have with any wide-form handheld. 🫲🫱

[@thegamingcouch6865]

does this one save the high score?

[@GenXGrownUp]

No, sadly it does not.

[@Starman998]

Lazy cash grab.

[@GenXGrownUp]

🤔

[@ChrisRoth1972]

Thank U 🙏 for testing out the 2023 Pocket Player to see if this is better than the 2018 version. I don’t need them.I got a near Arcade version on the Switch. Have a fantastic day 😊

[@GenXGrownUp]

You're very welcome. 😀

[@Roblox_mrtomas]

False. I mean your opinion. 2018 Verizon is actually better, because they have the other games you can play with, and its more fun, and more entertain. 2023 sucks. Because they didn't have the 3 games and those nice A and B buttons that felt good. (not in the weird way)

[@johnshank8421]

I have a blue and yellow one

[@forrestp33]

I wonder if rechargeable batteries will charge in these units.

[@GenXGrownUp]

🤔 I seem to remember reading somehwere that these won't charge in that way, but I don't have any to test and verify for you. Hopefully another viewer can.

[@dancero643]

great and funny video as allways 👍

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks! 😃

[@johnshank8421]

I have 2 of these lol

[@jayme69]

Great video as always Jon :-) Keep up the awesome work!

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks a ton!

[@johnenoch6222]

Thanks Jon. You’re really on a roll with these. Much appreciated! Love the aesthetic, but without high scores… Disappointing. still on the fence about the Atari game station pro any new thoughts?

[@talon12020]

I watch these videos because I enjoy them but in the end I almost always come to the same conclusion: if you want arcade accurate ROMs MAME exists.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Thanks for watching! 😀 For dedicated enthusiasts like you and me, I'd agree. Remember that the vast, VAST majority of average consumers couldn't tell you what a ROM is, where to get it, or how to configure MAME. I feel these are more aimed at the casual gamer and collectors.

[@johneygd]

Pfffffffffff, i have seen millions or quatillions of those pac man handhelds in whether shape or form whether emulated,ported,fpga based,noac based or based on those tiger electronic handheld technology etc,,,, How and why could there still be a market for this if there are already a quatillion ways to play pac man on the go??? not mentioning all those aftermarket ports on current game consoles,just unbelievible👎👎👎

[@GenXGrownUp]

There's a market, I believe, because there's not yet market saturation. Ask a dozen random people if they have a way to play Pac-Man, and I'll bet it's more no than yes. Every no is a potential sale (assuming there's any interest, of course). You and I, super fans, have infinite way to play arcade-perfect games, but that's not the case for the general populace.

[@johneygd]

@@GenXGrownUpbut i am sooo astonished about this,pac man has been prereleased countless times over and over again, Take for example nemco classic musuem collection for the gba and what’s included,the nes version of pac man,what. Did nintendo? They brough the nes version of pac man to the gba under their nes classic serie brand,so if i got the gba emulated nes version of it to be able to play it on the go,then why on earth do i ever want the handheld version of it,sheees🥲

[@GenXGrownUp]

@@daleb4148 Are you asserting that somehow I'm dishonest?

[@GenXGrownUp]

I understand your position.

[@bluesith]

You are incorrect. The original arcade version always had two levels per fruit starting with the orange, (example first apple, second apple) until you get to the keys (and its keys until level 256). These versions are off. Ghosts dont even move correctly, making arcade patterns useless.

[@GenXGrownUp]

Correct.