Pac-Mania

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Master System

PacMania Title.png

PacMania SMS Title.png

Pac-Mania
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Tengen
Sega Master System
TecMagik
Developer:
Distributor:
Sega Mega Drive
Domark (EU)
Original system(s): Namco System I
Developer(s) of original games: Namco
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Paul Webb
Genre: Arcade[1]

















Number of players:
Sega Mega Drive
1-2
Sega Master System
1
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • Français
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega Drive
    US
    301018-0150
    Sega Mega Drive
    EU
    301018-0170
    Sega Mega Drive
    PT
    Sega Mega Drive
    UK
    £49.9949.99[3] 301018-0170
    Sega Mega Drive
    SE
    (Rental)
    Sega Mega Drive
    AU
    Sega Master System
    EU
    25010-50
    Sega Master System
    PT
    Sega Master System
    UK
    £29.9929.99[5][6] 25010-50
    Sega Master System
    AU
    Non-Sega versions

    Pac-Mania is a sequel to Pac-Man, first released in 1987 in the arcades by Namco for its Namco System 1 hardware and brought to the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System by Tengen in 1991. It has also been ported to numerous other consoles and computers, including the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, NES, Zeebo and ZX Spectrum. It is a pseudo-3D take on the Pac-Man gameplay formula, though offers many other additions.

    Gameplay

    The game is presented in an oblique perspective with more detailed backgrounds than in previous Pac-Man arcade games. The disadvantage of this is that only a section of the play area is visible and therefore there is more of a reliance on scrolling. To counter this, Pac-Man now has the ability to jump, which can be used to avoid ghosts (apart from ghosts that can also jump). There are more ghosts on-screen than in previous titles too, who are found in a variety of different colors and are left unnamed. Unlike the original game there are now four maps, one of which is unlockable and each having their own music track.

    History

    Legacy

    Though Pac-Mania was seen as a return to form for the Pac-Man franchise (previous entries such as Super Pac-Man, Pac & Pal and Pac Land had radically changed the original formula and were therefore not as successful), the game failed to receive the popularity obtained by the original Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man, mostly because despite appearing in 1987, it failed to offer much improvement over the original 1980 game.

    Production credits

    Mega Drive version

    • Programmed by: Arti Haroutunian
    • Artwork by: Lorin Nelson
    • Sounds by: Paul Webb
    Source:
    In-game credits

    Master System version

    • Converted by: Steve Lamb, Dan Duncalf, Simon Freeman, Jeff Gamon, and Muffy Vashele at TecMagik Inc, Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.
    • August—October 1990
    Source:
    EU manual
    PacmaniaSMSEUManual7L.pdf
    [7]


    Magazine articles

    Main article: Pac-Mania/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Main article: Pac-Mania/Promotional material.

    Physical scans

    Mega Drive version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    85 [3]
    65 [8]
    80 [9]
    50 №38
    90 [10]
    82 [11]
    64 №5, p93
    70 [12]
    86 [13]
    83 [14]
    76 [15]
    82 [16]
    82 №18, p66
    93 [17]
    71 [18]
    84 [19]
    Sega Mega Drive
    78
    Based on
    16 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    50
    [20]
    ACE (UK)
    85
    [21]
    Consoles + (FR)
    65
    [8]
    Console XS (UK) PAL
    82
    [22]
    Game Power (IT)
    80
    [23]
    Games-X (UK)
    50
    [24]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    90
    [25]
    Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
    82
    [11]
    Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
    64
    [26]
    Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
    50
    [27]
    MegaTech (UK)
    70
    [28]
    Mean Machines (UK)
    86
    [29]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK)
    86
    [30]
    Player One (FR)
    83
    [14]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    76
    [15]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    82
    [31]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    82
    [32]
    Supersonic (FR)
    84
    [19]
    Tricks 16 bit (RU)
    70
    [33]
    VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)
    70
    [34]
    Sega Mega Drive
    74
    Based on
    20 reviews

    Pac-Mania

    Mega Drive, US
    PacMania MD US Box.jpg
    Cover
    PacMania md us cart.jpg
    Cart
    Mega Drive, EU
    PacMania MD EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    PacMania MD EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Pac-Mania MD EU Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, PT

    Mega Drive, SE (Rental)
    PacMania MD SE rental cover.jpg
    Cover
    Mega Drive, AU

    Master System version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    ACE (UK)
    80
    [5]
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    65
    [35]
    The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
    84
    [36]
    Console XS (UK) PAL
    88
    [37]
    Computer & Video Games (UK)
    86
    [38]
    Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
    80
    [39]
    Game Mania (UK)
    90
    [40]
    Game Power (IT)
    88
    [41]
    Games-X (UK)
    80
    [42]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    88
    [43]
    Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
    79
    [44]
    Joystick (FR)
    93
    [45]
    Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
    75
    [46]
    Mean Machines (UK)
    90
    [47]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK)
    90
    [48]
    Player One (FR)
    92
    [49]
    Power Play (DE)
    66
    [50]
    Raze (UK) PAL
    86
    [51]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    94
    [52]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    75
    [53]
    Sega Pro (UK)
    90
    [54]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    88
    [55]
    Sega Force (UK)
    92
    [56]
    Video Games (DE)
    67
    [57]
    Video Games (DE)
    69
    [58]
    Zero (UK)
    90
    [59]
    Zzap! (IT)
    92
    [60]
    Sega Master System
    84
    Based on
    27 reviews

    Pac-Mania

    Master System, EU
    PacMania SMS EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    PacMania SMS EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    PacmaniaSMSEUManual7L.pdf
    Manual
    Master System, PT
    PacMania SMS PT cover.jpg
    Cover
    Master System, BX
    PacMania SMS BX Box.jpg
    Cover
    Master System, AU (Wide hotline sticker)
    PacMania SMS AU cover.jpg
    Cover
    PacMania SMS AU cartback.jpgPacMania SMS AU cart.jpg
    Cart
    Master System, AU (Short hotline sticker)
    PacMania SMS AU alt cover.jpg
    Cover
    PacMania SMS AU cartback.jpgPacMania SMS AU cart.jpg
    Cart

    Technical information

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
    Sega Mega Drive
    CRC32 74bba09b
    MD5 2256f31ff48f93a5e2f1d03f13c0f024
    SHA-1 e21546f653607d95f2747305703ddd6bf118f90a
    256kB 1991-06 Cartridge (US/EU)
    Sega Master System
     ?
    CRC32 be57a9a5
    MD5 946f3e6c2f0f546a8ebe55c8170ecc78
    SHA-1 c0a11248bbb556b643accd3c76737be35cbada54
    128kB Cartridge (EU)

    References

    1. File:PacMania SMS EU Box.jpg
    2. GamePro, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 40
    3. 3.0 3.1 ACE, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-08), page 91
    4. New Computer Express, "27th July 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 50
    5. 5.0 5.1 ACE, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-08), page 71
    6. Sega Power, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 11
    7. File:PacmaniaSMSEUManual7L.pdf, page 4
    8. 8.0 8.1 Consoles +, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 124
    9. Game Power, "Marzo 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 60/61 (62)
    10. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 134/135 (126)
    11. 11.0 11.1 Joystick, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 120
    12. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 38/39 (38)
    13. Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 62/63 (64)
    14. 14.0 14.1 Player One, "Mars 1992" (FR; 1992-03-10), page 67
    15. 15.0 15.1 Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 48
    16. Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 46 (48)
    17. Sega Force, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 52-54 (52)
    18. Sega Force Mega, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-06-24), page 88
    19. 19.0 19.1 Supersonic, "Mai/Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 11
    20. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 172
    21. ACE, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-08), page 91
    22. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 132
    23. Game Power, "Marzo 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 62
    24. Games-X, "16th-22nd January 1992" (UK; 1992-01-16), page 23
    25. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 134
    26. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
    27. Mega Play, "July/August 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 64
    28. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 38
    29. Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 62
    30. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
    31. Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 48
    32. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
    33. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 133
    34. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 42
    35. Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1991" (DE; 1991-07-26), page 159
    36. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 116
    37. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
    38. Computer & Video Games, "April 1991" (UK; 1991-03-16), page 60
    39. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 148
    40. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
    41. Game Power, "Gennaio 1992" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 42
    42. Games-X, "8th-14th August 1991" (UK; 1991-08-08), page 40
    43. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 72
    44. Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 88
    45. Joystick, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 138
    46. Micromanía (segunda época), "Noviembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 44
    47. Mean Machines, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-03-01), page 54
    48. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
    49. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 38
    50. Power Play, "5/91" (DE; 1991-04-12), page 130
    51. Raze, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-06-27), page 27
    52. Sega Power, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 10
    53. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
    54. Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 20
    55. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
    56. Sega Force, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 52
    57. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 77
    58. Video Games, "2/92" (DE; 1992-04-06), page 33
    59. Zero, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 70
    60. Zzap!, "Giugno 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 55


    Pac-Mania

    PacMania Title.png

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    Pac-Man games for Sega systems
    Sega Game Gear
    Pac-Man (1991) | Ms. Pac-Man (1993) | Pac-Attack (1994) | Pac-In-Time (unreleased)
    Sega Master System
    Ms. Pac-Man (1991) | Pac-Mania (1991)
    Sega Mega Drive
    Ms. Pac-Man (1991) | Pac-Mania (1991) | Pac-Attack (1993) | Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (1994) | Pac-In-Time (unreleased)
    Sega Dreamcast
    Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness (2000)