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Best Home Version of Pac-Man?


VectorGamer

  

69 members have voted

  1. 1. Best Home Version of Pac-Man?

    • Pac-Man (2600)
      5
    • Pac-Man Arcade (2600)
      1
    • Pac-Man 4K (2600)
      0
    • Pac-Man (5200/8bit)
      15
    • Pac-Man Collection (7800)
      15
    • Pac-Man Collection (ColecoVision)
      16
    • Pac-Man (C64)
      3
    • Pac-Man (INTV)
      2
    • Pac-Man (NES)
      3
    • Other (post)
      9

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There are a lot of home versions of Pac-Man and I tried to cover most of them in the poll. If it's not listed, select "other" and then post what your favorite is. Even if it is listed, you can post why that particular version is your favorite.

 

The kids and I managed to play all the home versions of Pac-Man that I own. The hatred I have for the original VCS Pac-Man remains some 30 years later. A lot of hype and a huge disappointment that game was and a traumatic experience that may require some psych sessions to finally let the anger go.

 

So, two games out of the bunch that rise to the top: PacManPlus' Pac-Man Collection (7800) and Opcode Games' Pac-Man Collection (ColecoVision). Both are beautiful translations of Pac-Man but I have to give the edge to the 7800 version simply because of the configurable options. I prefer playing Pac-Man Turbo, and I can do so on the 7800. The ColecoVision port is arcade accurate, and the pattern I use in the arcade game can be used there.

 

The NES version is good but any pattern you use in the arcade game probably will not work - mine didn't. If you have an NES Advantage controller, I suggest using it instead of the NES Gamepad.

 

Speaking of controllers, you may know that I use the Epyx controller for maze games. It's the best IMHO but not good for shooters.

 

post-13-1126634076.jpg

 

Pac-Man (2600)

http://youtu.be/9JpzN5AtEws

 

Pac-Man Arcade (2600)

http://youtu.be/heTq66RMkLA

 

Pac-Man (5200)

http://youtu.be/ldrBYJv7egg

 

Pac-Man Collection (7800)

http://youtu.be/OQi7fwPJ-84

 

Pac-Man Collection (ColecoVision)

http://youtu.be/LBiZXOVj01U

 

Pac-Man (INTV)

http://youtu.be/wCMoTYZD37c

 

Pac-Man (NES)

http://youtu.be/R9zBQ6Hqr2c

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I voted for Pac-Man Collection on the ColecoVision as the best overall package.

 

Not necessarily on-topic, but for what it's worth, the Epyx 500XJ is still my all-time favorite classic joystick. I've all but worn out my originals, but they're still good for a play today.

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Pac Man Collection for the 7800 easily wins my vote.

 

The poll is missing a couple of very good ones. There's a Pac Man Arcade for the 5200. There's also Hack 'em for the 2600.

 

I've probably played the 2600 version the most. I don't have anything against it. I spent many a lazy afternoon with it, and I still play from time to time even with all the other options available.

 

I very much enjoy Pac Man Arcade, and it's probably the Pac Man port we deserved back in 1982. I prefer the Pac Man Arcade Enhanced version though.

 

Pac Man 4K is also excellent. Personally, I have a hard time getting excited about it, though. It feels like Pac Man Arcade part 2. I don't play it often, preferring to just play Arcade Enhanced when I'm in that kind of mood.

 

I definitely would have been happy with the 5200 version back in the day, but I never owned it then. I don't play it much now, as other versions scratch my itch more effectively.

 

As I've already stated Pac Man Collection on the 7800 is my favorite and my go to Pac Man cart.

 

Pac Man Collection on the Colecovision is amazing, but I'd just rather play the 7800 version. Plus, Colecovision controllers just inherently suck.

 

I don't recall ever having played the C64 version of Pac Man. I probably have, but I don't remember it and therefore have no opinion.

 

I've never played the INTV version of Pac-Man. Until about 2000, I never had any idea there was a INTV version of Pac-Man.

 

I don't particularly like the NES version of Pac-Man. It's OK, but the controls don't feel right. I'd rather play just about any other version of Pac-Man than the NES port.

 

Hack 'em is fantastic on the 2600, and would be my go to VCS Pac game, BUT the game rolls like crazy on the TV I currently have my 7800 hooked up to, so I don't play it anymore.

 

Pac Man Arcade is the version I play when I want to play Pac Man on my 5200.

 

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Pac Man Collection on the Colecovision is amazing, but I'd just rather play the 7800 version. Plus, Colecovision controllers just inherently suck.

 

 

Both the stock 7800 and ColecoVision controllers are awful, but that's easily fixable on both systems for a game like Pac-Man, so I don't really consider that a factor in the decision.

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I don't particularly like the NES version of Pac-Man. It's OK, but the controls don't feel right. I'd rather play just about any other version of Pac-Man than the NES port.

 

 

 

Do you have an NES Advantage controller? As I stated in the OP, it plays much better than with the standard NES Gamepad.

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I like the different and not-arcade-perfect versions of the games. Playing the unique version for a specific system gives me a reason to use the old hardware. I even prefer playing those unique versions via emulation.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love all of the amazing work people have done with modern, more accurate ports and conversions of classic arcade titles. It's incredible to see what people can accomplish with modern programming tools on the old hardware.

 

But if I want to play arcade Pac-Man, I can play it anywhere, in any room, in the car, in a store, in the doctor's office, at a party, anywhere my heart desires with MAME on my phones, tablets, computers, and PSP. I don't need another arcade version of Pac-Man in 2014. Other than the neat-o factor, I currently have no desire to play arcade perfect Pac-Man on classic home systems.

 

If I'm not playing Pac-Man in MAME, my current favorite is the A8/5200 version. I like its personality.

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Both the stock 7800 and ColecoVision controllers are awful, but that's easily fixable on both systems for a game like Pac-Man, so I don't really consider that a factor in the decision.

 

For my 7800 I typically keep a CX-40 style controller hooked to it. If I don't have that hooked to it, I have a Pro-Line style stick hooked up, which I like just fine for playing Pac-Man. Regardless, it's pretty easy to swap out controllers on my 7800.

 

On the Colecovision, I've found it best to keep the stock controllers hooked up to it because some games are simply unplayable otherwise. The 2600 controller in port one and the CV controller in port 2 just doesn't work for some games. In addition, the controller ports on the CV are in an inconvenient spot and hooded in such a way that I find it a pain in the ass to swap out controllers.

 

Even though I have some of Yurkie's fantastic controller mods for the CV, I just find my 7800 controller options preferable. Even if the above considerations didn't matter to me, I still find playing with a CX-40 or ProLine more nostalgic, so that's why it's a factor for me.

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For me, the 5200 version is the best - looks great, plays great, just super fun decade-in and decade-out. I'm actually much more of a fan of the Ms., but Pac Man on the 5200 is awesome. If I play the original, it's that version.

Have not played Pac Man Collection so I can't vote for that.

 

 

 

Pac-Man 5200. I don't think the A8 and 5200 versions are the same. They only look the same. The A8 version is much slower and has less aggresive ghosts.
My A8 Pac Man cart is very different from my 5200 cart - A8 is much slower and chunkier. Don't know if an "updated" version was released, but as far as I know they're not the same game. Edited by BydoEmpire
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Do you have an NES Advantage controller? As I stated in the OP, it plays much better than with the standard NES Gamepad.

 

Yes. I don't keep it hooked up, though. I don't play the NES much, so it's typically in a space conserving hookup state with only one dogbone controller attached.

 

To me the control with the NES Advantage is better, but it's still a bit iffy. Plus, there are just minor things about the port's look which irrationally bug me. So, it's not a version I readily reach to for Pac-entertainment with so many other options.

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Yeah I think you have to discern which are ports and which are emulations.. And how would you define Opcodes version which is a combination of both (i.e. adapted arcade code)?

 

It's still not emulation in my opinion. If it's emulation, of course it's "best" because it's running all original code and audio-visuals. Adapting portions of the code is still creating a new version.

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If we are going to put recent releases in then I vote "Other." This game just never really impresses me that much (any version). Pac Man CE and/or Pac Man CE Dx on XBLA are the best experiences that I've ever had with anything Pac Man. If I had to pick from one of the original releases (not homebrew/modern era), I'd probably pick the 5200 although the INTV version is really good.

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A bit biased here again, but I have to go with the ColecoVision version made by Opcode. It's an incredible port that uses the actual arcade code and the many known patterns work. In this case, I have actually played some of the other versions and none of them impressed me as much as Opcode's version.

 

BTW, the Atarisoft prototype version for the CV is very well done as well.

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I went with the Atari 5200 version. The 400/800 does seem a bit slower. The Commodore 64 version is pretty much a port of the 400/800 version, I believe.

The Intellivision version is good (one of the best games for the system, IMO) but not as close to the arcade as the 5200, 400/800, or C64 versions. And I actually like playing the Atari 2600 version quite a bit, but there's no way it compares technically to these other versions.

Never played the NES version, but if the Tengen version of Ms. Pac-Man is any indication, it would probably top the list. And I never count homebrews or hacks.

"Others:"
-Apple II: sure, it's technically a hack (of HAL's Tax-Man), and it's a little on the slow side, but I've had some fun with this one.
-TI99/4a: has among the best graphics of all the original ports, but plays way too slowly even at high levels, and the fact the TI seemingly can't overlap music and sound effects is annoying (see also: Burgertime).
-VIC-20: pass.
-Game Boy: people say the scrolling screen is a problem (yet they're fine with it in Jr. Pac-Man?), but I still played this one a bit growing up.

Edited by BassGuitari
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-Game Boy: people say the scrolling screen is a problem (yet they're fine with it in Jr. Pac-Man?), but I still played this one a bit growing up.

 

The difference is that the original Jr. Pac-Man used a scrolling screen and the original Pac-Man was designed around a static screen. However, the GB Pac-Man has a full screen mode (a bit small, but it works). I like it, but I prefer the GBC version since it's the same game, but in color. Despite the similar look, it has some differences from the NES version in sound and in gameplay (the game gets to the point where the energizers don't do anything on GB and that doesn't seem to be the case with the NES version).

 

The Tengen Ms. Pac-Man isn't any indication since it was done by Tengen themselves (actually from the designer of the arcade Crystal Castles) and Pac-Man was programmed by Namco. I like both quite a bit, though. My vote goes to the CV version, however. As far as BITD ports, NES gets my vote (and it was originally made in 1984, one of Namco's first FC games).

Edited by BrianC
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If we are going to put recent releases in then I vote "Other." This game just never really impresses me that much (any version). Pac Man CE and/or Pac Man CE Dx on XBLA are the best experiences that I've ever had with anything Pac Man.

I can identify. I never cared much for Pac-Man in any incarnation until 2010 or so when I got hooked on Pac-Man CE-DX on PS3. From there, I tried it in MAME and really enjoyed it with a fresh perspective. Then, I tried out a bunch of the ports. I like Pac-man now.

 

Of the ports I've tried, I like the 5200 and A8 ones the best. Even though I never had either of those systems or played Pac-Man on them back in the 80's, I just like the general experience of those versions: they're very playable, unmistakably Pac-Man, yet they harken back to the days when home games still lagged behind the Gold Standard of the arcade.

 

The latter day whiz-bang homebrews, impressive as they are from a technical perspective, don't interest me very much at all. Personally, if I'm going to play Pac-Man, I want either interesting historical context or arcade perfection, and the new games provide neither.

 

I picked up the GB version of Pac-Man, thinking it would be a fun game to have on a portable retro system, but Pac-Man with a d-pad sucks wang.

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-VIC-20: pass.

While I agree that the Atarisoft version of Pac-Man on the VIC is quite dull and uninspired (and so is the Ms. Pac-Man port IIRC), Commodore's own version which was legally sold as Pac-Man in Japan and unauthorized as Jelly Monsters in the west, is rather ok for being an early VIC-20 game. Yes, it flickers but not as much as the original 2600 Pac-Man. I kind of wish that Namco would have acquired or somehow made a licensing agreement with Commodore to keep selling that version, or even managed to transfer it to Atarisoft later on. I see that Tax-Man on the Apple ][ got a treatment similar to that, so it should not have been unthinkable.

 

Also in modern times there have been better Pac-Man homebrews on the VIC too, but I gather this poll mainly is about official, licensed versions or at least hacks/homebrews strongly based on the original code, not reimagined clones no matter how slick they are?

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I voted for Opcode's Pac-Man Collection for Colecovision because I feel it's the best in an objective sense. But I'll always think of the 5200 version as being "best" because I played that so much back in the day and absolutely loved it (and still do).

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Out of this list, I voted Atari 5200. Great original Pac-Man port for it's time. Though the Atari 7800 and ColecoVision Pac-Man homebrews are impressive, they were released decades after the consoles' heydays.

 

LOL @ Atari 2600 Pac-Man. Muncher on the Astrocade and K.C. Munchkin on the Odyssey 2 are both far superior Pac-Man "clones".

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