Caltrops - Pac-Man





	[quote name="pinback"]Since my last post, I've done a bit of a "deep dive" into the world of Pac-Man fan games, and my initial impression was very, extremely wrong. There is a lot of amazing stuff out there. Here are my "best of the bests" at the moment, but would love to hear about others you've found and enjoyed: <a href="https://bauske.itch.io/pacman37">Pac-Man 37</a> - An masterful recreation of Pac, Ms. Pac and Jr. Pac, along with a wide variety of options for everything from maze layout to ghost AI, and you can mix and match it all. Variety that'd last you the rest of your life. <a href="https://pookin127.itch.io/jr-pac-man-40th-anniversary">Jr. Pac-Man 40th Anniversary</a> - An absolutely phenomenal love letter to the most ignored, and arguable best classic Pac-Man game. Includes mazes from every version ever made (including the 2600!), another endless array of options, and even a maze designer built right into it. If you didn't love Jr. before this, you will soon. <a href="https://lowcarb.itch.io/">The Lowcarb games</a> - "Lady Pac" gained some fame a few years ago for being a C64 remake of Ms. Pac-Man with random mazes, but he also did "RandomPac", the same idea but with the original game, and also did PC versions of the same two games. The newer versions end up offering more options (the C64 RandomPac is the best of the bunch, in my opinion) but he is still actively updating them, and they're all great, so grab 'em! <a href="https://thatlefthandman.itch.io/the-pac-man-brothers">The Pac-Man Brothers</a> - This is my favorite find of this entire adventure. What feels like the true third sequel, it was released in 2023 and would have been the perfect next candidate to show up in the arcades after Jr. Pac-Man. Large, procedurally generated levels, a fun "dodge-roll" move to add excitement to the frantic action, a unique method of gaining extra lives, co-op play, and oozing with style, I found it impossible to not fall in love with almost immediately, and just as impossible to stop playing. A masterpiece. Other notable finds, each with its own impressive features and options: <a href="https://retropone.itch.io/pacman-80">Pacman 80</a> - an insane variety of seemingly every version of Pac-Man ever made, on a fantasy OS called "Tic-80". <a href="https://circlicktech.itch.io/pac-man-5">Pac Man 5</a> - quality remake with a variety of modes, and even "jumping" from Pac-mania, which is a hoot. <a href="https://retro-specter.itch.io/pac-man-arcade-original-in-godot">Pac-Man Arcade Original</a> - just what it says on the tin, but with some very interesting display and AI options. And someday soon... <a href="https://retropone.itch.io/pac-ultimix">Pac-Man Ultimate Mix</a> - perhaps the grandest fan game of them all? We'll see if/when it comes out! Anyway, it is a testament to the brilliance of the original game that this was the most fun "research" project I've ever done, because that stupid little game is 45 years old, and god damn if it ain't as fun and thrilling and aggravating and <i>wonderful</i> as it was when I first saw that strange little yellow disc running around the maze the first time and reached for a quarter. Now, after hours with all of these awesome new choices, I think it's time to fire up MAME for one last round with the O.G. before bed. Wakka-wakka! [/quote]