Super Pac-Man

Waka Waka Waka!

The ST already boasts a wealth of Pac-Man games, and here’s another released in 1997 by Ed Cleveland (the creator of Donkey Island, a fantastic adventure game, albeit unfinished). Super Pac-Man is Ed’s take on the pill-popping classic and supports the JagPad along with DMA samples on the Atari STe.

The concept remains the same: chomp on the pills to complete a level. However, this time there are a few notable changes. Certain sections of the maze are locked and require keys to access. The ghosts are noticeably smarter, providing a tense and satisfying chase - particularly the aggressive red ones. Alongside the traditional blue power pills, green pills supersize Pac-Man and freeze the ghosts in their tracks. Hey, here's a thought: why not try collecting both pills? That will make it easier to swallow all four ghosts at once... ;^)

Super Pac-Man features enough changes to make it feel new and different. I like how the slower movement of Pac-Man is balanced against the livelier ghosts, keeping the challenge fair without becoming frustrating. Best of all, the ghosts’ behaviour seems deliberate rather than random, so getting caught feels intentional rather than accidental. Yes, it’s just another Pac-Man, but it’s different, challenging, and super fun.

• You can grab the download from Atarimania.
• Supporting the DMA means it's entered onto the list of enhanced games!
• If one game isn't enough, there is a "Pac-Man" section here on AtariCrypt.
• This post is dedicated to my beautiful wife, whom I first met 24 years ago today!! 

4K Pacman

4KB Legacy

When Pac-Man isn't actually Pac-Man? But it's only 4Kb in size, so you'd be an idiot to demand more. 4k Pacman was released in 1995 by The Chaos Warriors and programmed by Edge, possibly around 1995 (my estimate). You know, I remember first seeing this "game" and wasn't too impressed, so I guess I was that idiot(!).

Use the cursor keys, not a joystick, to control our little Pac-Man. They are very sensitive, and you (ahem) may find real hardware is better. You get three lives, and hitting the space bar quits to the desktop. From the start, you will see how the ghosts try to get you. The AI is more like H-Mec than Pac-Man because the ghosts don't wander; instead, they blindly mirror your XY position. It's best to try to trap the ghosts rather than having them free to chase, but don't worry too much because it's really tough and (IMHO) quite impossible.

What a curious oddity, a tiny game compressed into the size of something a Vic-20 would run. An incredible achievement, and it might be worthwhile checking out the source. A programmer could easily alter the ghost AI and more. However, that guy isn't me, so I'll shut up and hope someone takes a stab at it.

• The game and source are included in the download via Atarimania and Demozoo.
• Of course, because 4K Pacman uses the Blitter, it goes straight into this list of Enhanced Games!

You've no idea how impressed I was with my performance here!!

This is the best I could do. Can you beat me?

Pacman On E's

Pac-Man? Again? Yawn... boring!!

There are already many examples of cracking Pac-Man games for the best 16-bit computer on the planet. This one really needed to bring something extra special to the table. Well, the game has been developed specifically for the enhanced Atari STe and, unlike so many lost shareware titles, this download is actually the legit registered version! This comes with lots of cool gameplay/aesthetic extras, which will impress you!

This genre is timeless, but this version takes the familiar theme to a new level thanks to its furious speed. There are 100 levels, zany visuals, funky music and a range of stereo samples: like the Road Runner's "meep meep" and the buzzer from Family Fortunes. Digital Dreams utilises the STe's extra colours, Blitter and DMA Audio. Interestingly, the Function Keys can change the bass, treble, volume (and more).

Credits

Stuart Innes - Programming/Graphics

Robert Thompson - Graphics/Sfx

Alasdair Macmillan - Graphics

Come on, play the game

PacMan On E's can be fully enjoyed solo for the most hilariously challenging take on the original concept. It's tripped out and stuffed with colourful visuals and a bucket load of wacky sound effects. The action is fast and exciting, so it's never boring, which is how the original becomes. Well, after a while.

Best of all is the simultaneous two-player support, especially when hunting for the power-ups. There are a variety of silly effects, and my recording shows my daughter and me playing it together in coop. Absolutely superb!! (When she lost, she decided to cheat by covering my eyes with her hands. Hmm!)

Download me!

You can grab this belting Pac-Man game from most ST websites, but Peter, aka 8BitChip, has adapted the registered version, which you can download from my Dropbox (while his website is offline as I type). My personal greetings to Stuart Innes, Robert Thomson and Alasdair Macmillan for this wonderful game!!

Wait, don't go just yet!! Let's see some screenshots before you download this fantastic game...

An iconic opening intro. Love it!!

Oh yes, lots of STe-only features that you can tweak.

Super-duper colourful graphics to jazz up boring old Pacman.

Fine design spruced up using fantastic colour work.

What? This screenshot looks kind of dull. But the action is furious!

The final screenshot will send your eyeballs crazy with its psychedelic design!

Crackman In The Search For His Dealer

What a belting title!!

Crackman was released for the Atari STe by Teenage [Pung] and has one of the most idiotic storylines I've ever heard - make sure you read the docs. Okay, I'm sure you've already guessed, Crackman is a Pac-Man clone, but is also one of the most challenging I have ever played. Well, that's an understatement actually...

The maps are huge with a crafty design, but it's the ghosts that cannot fail to impress with insanely intelligent AI. This dictates practice before considering matching wits, as their AI isn't like previously seen; it's more like Lode Runner. My first game almost ended in tears - I needed many more attempts before recording a video.

Along with the crazy storyline are a few surprises like mines, hidden walls, and power pad support. I love the ghosts, and our little pill-popper has a full set of teeth, but my favourite is when he dies and turns into a puddle of gore. The Atari STe produces silky smooth 50fps hardware scrolling and superb DMA audio.

Everyone knows PacMan, but if you thought it was boring, then take a look at this - I dare you!! Is it better than Crapman? I don't know... but what I do know is that we have yet another excellent Pac-Man game!!

CRAPMAN

What's that smell?

Crapman was originally featured within the Synergy megademo and later released as a standalone product in 1993. Most Atarians rate this as one of the best Pac-Man games, with spot-on perfect gameplay: those pesky ghosts are clever, and a cunning level design helps make this extremely challenging.

The graphics are marvellous, and the Scavenger music is just perfect - gorgeous and timeless! Crapman may have a silly name, but it's a fantastic twist on the original and immensely addictive. Right, I cannot stress this enough, stop what you're doing and play this game right now. Possibly the best Pac-Man clone?

Download Crapman game from the Demozoo website.

The Synergy Megademo is one of the best Atari ST demos so download it.

I also recorded a few more videos from the superb Synergy:

1. Unfinished Demo
2. Megademo Music Disk
3. DBA #6 Intro
4. Megademo - Symbiosys
5. Megademo - Credits Screen

Mac Pan

Mac Pac, err, Pac-Man? What?

After yesterday's superb (but mind-blowing!) technical flight sim, I needed something less taxing on my old brain cells. So I'm taking an easier route with a Pac-Man clone called Mac-Pan. Weird name and there are already many PacMan games, but this one is more vanilla, so let's get pill-popping & ghost munching!

Mac Pan was released in 1987 by Richard Beith and works in ST High resolution. There are a few integrated features that I really liked: hold down the fire button, and you can temporarily increase the yellow guy's speed. Hang on, he's not yellow anymore! Anyhow, the game's speed can be tinkered with in the preferences. The graphics and sounds are pretty good, plus there is support for simultaneous 2-player.

It's not the best PacMan but I still enjoyed it, and being able to choose the game's speed is a superb idea. It's easy to imagine German office workers in the 80s playing Mac Pan during their lunch break. Monochrome users should jump up & down with excitement because this is an excellent clone of the classic.

Downloads are available using AtariUpToDate.

Video Games 1

A game for Spock!

Andrei Ellman of Wacko Software created a game made from three classic genres: Pong, Space Invaders, and Pac-Man. This release is different because all three games are playable at the same time.

Yep, you heard correctly! Check this out...

• Pong is controlled by holding the fire button and moving up/down.
• Pac Man is initially quite confusing so read the docs within the download!
• Space Invaders is easy, left/right moves and pushing up/down fires the gun.

The controls are a bit odd, and things get strange when trying to play everything simultaneously. However, my tiny brain couldn’t handle it all, and I found I could only play two games at once, not three! Visually, it works well, but if you’re struggling to see clearly, adjust each game’s appearance using the numeric pad.  There’s also an option to invert colours, which makes everything a bit ugly, but it’s much better for your eyes.

I think Andrei was one crazy, mixed-up kid who had a good laugh when coding this. Don't take it too seriously and practice with the controls because Video Games 1 is ridiculously entertaining.

This is a maddening nightmare that will drive you insane. And you will love it!!

- Downloads are right here -

PacMania

Popping pills & chasing ghosts!

Pac-Mania was released in 1989 by Grandslam, a faithful conversion of the arcade classic.  It was generally well-received at the time and offered a fresh take on Pac-Man.  Instead of the familiar overhead 2D perspective, players experienced the game from a spanky new isometric viewpoint, reminiscent of games like Knight Lore.  Furthermore, the expansive play area featured scrolling, propelling Pac-Man into the modern era.

The little yellow pill-popper also received an upgrade with the ability to jump despite lacking legs (work that one out, lol). Sadly, the Atari ST version of the arcade game had a smaller screen due to the absence of hardware scrolling. Consequently, it featured a large status panel that we didn't really need. However, don’t let that fool you; the game still boasted smooth scrolling and was definitely not a lame port.

Here is a screenshot of the original ST game (I've left in the top/bottom borders for a reason)...

It looks great, albeit with that overly large status panel taking up lots of space.

What if there was an STe version?

I’m glad you asked. Samuel (also known as Zamuel_A) has created an upgrade specifically designed to maximise the Atari STe’s enhanced hardware.  The gameplay now takes place in overscan, dramatically expanding the playable area. This silky-smooth 50fps scrolling, thanks to hardware scrolling in all four directions (a much-underused feature of our computer), truly transforms the experience. A jaw-dropping moment!

That’s not all, though. The Blitter manages all the sprites, and the DMA audio hardware plays sampled sound effects while our beloved YM2149 produces wonderful chiptunes – much better than stodgy Tracker MODs. Technically, this is truly impressive, and I’m sure Samuel has utilised every computer component.

Wanna see how it looks compared to the original? Of course, so scroll down a little further...

This is how the game appears on the Atari STe using overscan and all the other goodies!

The CryptO'pinion?

This is what happens when a talented chap takes a great game and reconstructs it in remarkable ways. The results are astounding, and I doubt any software house outside Thalion would have been capable of getting such results. This is one of those sad moments when I ponder Atari not releasing the STe in 1985.

The original PacMania is a great game and a decent conversion. However, Samuel’s upgrade has completely transformed the original. It’s a modernised version of our yellow friend for the 21st-century retro gamer, and it’s impossible not to be impressed by Samuel’s dedication and hard work. It's quite mind-blowing.

This is a captivating revamp of the classic favourite and far more enjoyable than ever. Superb STuff!!

Downloads are available at Atarimania!

H-Mec II

Pac-Man is back!

H Mec II is a version of Pac-Man for the Atari STe. However, it's very different thanks to the monster AI, which makes this more of a game of chase. Like a mix of Lode Runner and Pac-Man. The graphics are excellent and make use of the hardware scrolling, Blitter, and all those extra colours. Music is by a whole host of famous people like Tao, Big Alec, Count Zero, and more. Timeless and utterly stunning tunes.

I could say this is one of the better Pac-Man games out there, but it's not. Sure, H-Mec 2 looks like PacMan and there are pills to nosh, but it plays differently when being chased around a maze by angry monsters. It really is more like Lode Runner and darn addictive. You will love every second - it's a Christmas Cracker!!

So waste no more idle time and get it downloaded from Atari Legend.