Pac-Mania (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Tengen's 1991 arcade game for the NES, Pac-Mania.
Pac-Mania was originally released in 1987, and it really seemed to impress. Critics raved about how the addition of a jump mechanic and the beautiful faux-3D graphics (thanks to Namco's new System 1 hardware) made the Pac-Man formula feel fresh and new again. It won a lot of awards, and made a fair amount of money.
In the years following the release of the arcade game, Pac-Mania saw ports across the typical 80s console/PC suspects, as well as a couple of unexpected ones - the Acorn Archimedes, anybody? (To be fair though, it was a fantastic conversion. If you don't know the machine, you should look it up!). Nowadays, the easiest way to play it is probably with the iOS port, or if you prefer a controller, Namco Museum Vol. 5 (PS1) and Pac-Man Museum (PS3/360/Steam) both include it.
I've always really enjoyed this one. The game is still unmistakably Pac-Man, but the perspective shift and themed worlds really adds a lot more visual variety to the game without compromising its playability. Even though the board now scrolls, the screen stays centered on Pac-Man at all times, and the speed and behavior of the ghosts has been adjusted to better suit the limited view.
The jump mechanic was also a neat and meaningful addition - it was a genius way of adding a whole new layer of complexity to the game. For as simple as it is, it allows for far more variety and daredevilry in your strategy than Pac-Man ever did.
The NES version of it was very good. Like the great majority of Tengen's unlicensed games (and despite this one not being developed by Atari themselves), Pac-Mania is far better made than many of the system's officially sanctioned titles. The graphics by necessity are mere shadows of their former arcade selves, but the general idea holds together well - the game retains the unique perspective and style of its big brother. The music is also pretty good - it's nice to hear something besides "waka waka waka blooop" nonstop in a Pac-Man game, and the tunes here are pretty catchy.
The gameplay is really where this one succeeds the most, though. The controls are sharp, the mazes are just big enough to let you stretch your legs while staying small enough to prevent you for getting lost while looking for that single pellet you need to finish the stage. You end up with up to nine ghosts in the maze at a time later on which gets pretty hectic, but the jump mechanic eases the burden a bit. Just remember to not make a habit of trying to jump the green or black ones, and be careful where you land!
I clearly remember years ago when I beat it for the first time - I had no idea it had an ending! But, as I show here, the game lasts for nineteen rounds before it sends you on your way. Since Pac-Mania is extremely easy compared to the older, garden-variety Pac-Man games, don't be surprised to if you see the ending screen sooner than you expected.
The Sega Genesis version clearly has the advantage over the NES one, but the NES port of Pac-Mania's gameplay can't be faulted - it's true to the original and it's still a whole lot of fun.
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@NintendoComplete]

Pac-Mania is just as addictive as the original Pac-Man, and has just enough new stuff in it to make it feel both fresh and familiar at the same time. I highly recommend it!

[@LPetal86]

I really like how this game took the new concepts that added not only new fun but more challenge to go with it, like being able to jump means the ghosts can now jump too, and they even made the ghosts have different behavior--the dark purple one sure wants to kill you! Also, I thought four ghosts was challenging, but NINE?! I wonder what would have happened if they had made the Power Pellets not affect the ghosts at all in the later levels, like in Ms. Pac-Man on Genesis.

[@Dorian_Scott]

I saw that this was for Sega's ill-fated 8-bit home console, but I never heard of Pac-Mania for NES. This *seems* to be a good game!

[@jamesborlan2850]

NintendoComplete I have this game on gba as part of the pac man collection great stuff

[@KepanoJ]

NintendoComplete ok!

[@Jac2Mac]

This port of Pac-Mania was done by Westwood Associates who would later hit it big with Dune 2 and Command & Conquer.

[@l1305]

This version is much faster than other ports, I like how the NES can handled with that speed without lose frames

[@jackc7165]

I’m definitely buying this game now.

[@Diego_Aracena_Kovacevic]

A Pac-Man game with end credits, now I have seen everything.

[@SoshiTheYoshi]

The arcade version has credits too

[@pattrell5257]

​@SoshiTheYoshi I think the SNES version does, too...

[@notarmani4804]

I really hope one day Namco can do a deal with Tengen if they are still around to rerelease these unlicensed carts. They are actually better than the official releases on NES too (can’t beat Championship Edition’s Demake though)!

[@XJLuke765]

This port was rereleased as part of a plug n play in 2018, so Bandai Namco must own this port

[@shimo_retro_gameplays6288]

Some tricks to make the green speedy pellet appear: • First level: do not eat any of the big pellets before the appearance of a fruit or an item; • second level: eat only one big pellet before the appearance of a fruit/item; • third level: same as level 2; • Fourth level: eat 2 big pellets before the appearance of a fruit/item; • fifth level: do not eat any big pellet before the appearance of a fruit/item; • sixth level: I haven't found any way to make it appear; • seventh level: do not eat any big pellet before the appearance of a fruit/item; From the 8th level on, I do not recommend to eat green pellets, game is already fast.

[@pattrell5257]

Red pellet, too. Plus, your power pellets do overlap, meaning that--if you continue to eat power pellets/blue or flashing ghosts--you can remain at 7650 points per chump with a little strategy and until you get out.

[@ExtremeWreck]

I GOT A PACMAN FEVER!!!! *PACMAN FEVER* IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!! *DIVING ME CRAZY*

[@Jenb13171]

Oh no your a pac maniac

[@PeaceArt1]

I played the GBA collection and genesis version, but never heard of the nes version. thanks!

[@starman2517]

1. The game was made released by Namco in the arcades. 2. This port is based off the American arcade version which has less levels.

[@NintendoComplete]

Ah, thanks for catching that

[@KepanoJ]

NintendoComplete yes

[@KepanoJ]

Starman25 u

[@Bloodreign1]

I'm not aware of any extra levels in the Japanese version at all.

[@MrGonzalo94541]

26:47

[@bgasman]

Pac-Mania is a pretty cool game!

[@knuclear200x]

>Isometric JUMPING Pac-man The concept was created by a maniac!!!

[@Jenb13171]

Or a Pac maniac

[@pattrell5257]

People that play(ed)/own(ed) the SMS version claimed that the NES version was average or bad! Looks, plays, and sounds next gen to me!

[@jaredabbate2402]

Nothing beats Pacmania original(arcade). Nintendo did a good job

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

FIRST LOOP 01 - Block Town 02 - Pac-Man's Park (1) 03 - Pac-Man's Park (2) 04 - Sandbox Land (1) 05 - Sandbox Land (2) 06 - Jungly Steps (1) 07 - Jungly Steps (2) SECOND LOOP 08 - Block Town (1) 09 - Block Town (2) 10 - Block Town (3) 11 - Pac-Man's Park (1) 12 - Pac-Man's Park (2) 13 - Pac-Man's Park (3) 14 - Sandbox Land (1) 15 - Sandbox Land (2) 16 - Sandbox Land (3) 17 - Jungly Steps (1) 18 - Jungly Steps (2) 19 - Jungly Steps (3)

[@fahriakalin5936]

does this version run faster than the arcade version? It's been a while, but I remember the arcade version being really slow.

[@cristinamisaros8271]

Block town - nice place to visit!

[@AquiestaSmokeAlfa]

Why is blinky happy in nes? Blinky is mad not happy

[@Jenb13171]

Actually blinky has a neutral expression. But when only a few pellets remain then he gets mad

[@WayatMoyisDorsiinviil]

Pac mania is so good. My favorite versions are the nes and genesis

[@kainu.9005]

Pac-Mania - It's Pac-Man, but this time, he can jump !

[@apostolosbulgarakis3845]

What about pac-mania in Arcade ?

[@KepanoJ]

Apostolos Bulgarakis no

[@andresgamer6741]

The song of some leves remember me a Vodafone´s commercial song.

[@Peter_Morris]

Westwood Associates? Holy cow! It's always interesting how to see how humbly some of the biggest names in gaming got their start. Though sadly we know the story ends in the EA gas chambers. But they were HUGE in the 90s, by then known as Westwood Studios.

[@TheRedCap]

Should have seen how Epic Games got their start. They made some weird shareware games for PCs in the mid-late 90s

[@kingtrophyguide4362]

*PAC-MANIA* Characters: 💛Pacman, the yellow circular and friendly creature of the game star.💛 Ghosts: -Blinky, the red ghost represents as the responsible leader of the ghosts. He eventually speeds up when he gets angry!😡 -Inky, Blinky's highly unpredictable sidekick who behaves shatter-brained.🥴 -Pinky, the smitten stalker. She's ahead of you!☺️ -Spunky, Funky's cousin. It's impossible to jump over her!😏 -Funky, the green athletic bouncing ghost. Small, energetic and deadly.😃 -Sue, the purple who does the same thing as Blinky. Beware of this female playful ghost!😉 -Clyde, the slow and most stupid ghost. He often distracts himself!😟

[@jenniferchavira]

That one dislike is from Blinky

[@vincently2552]

Tengen-converted Pac-Man games

[@SAM-ru4vx]

tengen is atari?

[@NintendoComplete]

@@SAM-ru4vx Yup, but they didnt develop this. They just published it. You can see on the credits screen that Westwood Associates built the game.

[@JHLEZ]

oh! Never seen this one, looks pretty fun, can I request Hudson Hawk on the Nes?? Its horrible but I know you can beat that thing :D

[@NintendoComplete]

Just put it up if you wanna check it out

[@MrWolfTickets]

The password is 'Pac -Mania':... Ummm things no one asked for... uhhh A mental state that no one suffered from in 1987...ohhh Things you find in a failing arcade... shoot, Move on please! 😋 I was too busy blowing my entire allowance in 45 min on APB and Thunder Blade to even slow down near this machine, but thanks, as always to Nintendocomplete, I can appreciate today what i missed back then.

[@Bloodreign1]

This game caught my attention when it came out in 1 of the 2 mall arcades we had here in those days. It looked incredibly cool, hell it felt incredibly cooler to play. It got some of my tokens put within it, and I have the arcade version a whopping 3 times over PS1 and PS2 Namco compilations (yet own none of the console ports yet).

[@zoesdada8923]

Lame