Ms. Pac-Man

From Sega Retro

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MS.Pacman title.png

Ms. Pac-Man
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Tengen (US), Time Warner Interactive (EU),
Sega Master System
Tengen,
Sega Game Gear
Namco, Majesco (2000)
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU 		301030-0160
Sega Master System
AU 		301030-0160
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Game Gear
US 		T-14048
Sega Game Gear
US
(Majesco) 		T-14048

Ms. Pac-Man is a 1981 arcade game developed by Midway as an unlicensed modification of the original Pac-Man, before being taken by Namco as an official game. Its success caused the game to be ported to a plethora of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System in 1991 and the Sega Game Gear in 1993.

The Sega ports of Ms. Pac-Man can be confusing. Tengen originally brought the game to the Mega Drive in North America and the Master System in 1991, but four years later the game was brought to European Mega Drives by the successor to Tengen, Time Warner Interactive (although the ROM still credits Tengen). The Game Gear port was handled in-house by Namco and was released twice - initially in 1993, and then re-released by Majesco in 2000.

Gameplay

Players move through a maze gobbling up dots while avoiding ghosts. If a big dot (power pellet) is eaten by the player ghosts become eatable and if eaten their eyes depart from the body and flee to the center of the maze, where they can claim a new body. Occasionally fruit and other objects float through the maze and give bonus points if eaten.

On the Mega Drive and Master System versions there are many new extras. There are four types of mazes: Arcade, Strange, Big, and Mini. A Pac Booster ability can be turned on and off, which gives the player a boost when pressing a button. There is also two-player simultaneous feature in which the first player will play Ms. Pac-Man and the second will play the original Pac-Man. This can be done in cooperative or competitive modes. The game also would end at level 32 in which a game ending would be displayed. The "fruit" selection is also expanded and objects such as shoes could be eaten for greater points than fruit in the arcade version.

This game doesn't have good compitability with Six Button Control Pad (Mega Drive), in this case meaning that Ms. Pacman responds badly to direction changes. Hold  MODE  button when booting up the system to switch to 3 button mode and fix this issue.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

  • Programmer: Stephane Leblanc
  • Graphics: Mike Bazzell
  • Music/Sounds: Earl Vickers
  • Music Player: Lisa Ching
  • Thanks to: Jeff Yonan, Franz Lanzinger

Promotional material

  • SegaTengenDomark MD SMS UK PrintAd.jpg

    Master System UK print advert

  • SegaTengenDomark MD SMS UK PrintAd 2.jpg

    Master System UK print advert

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Sega Visions (US) #6: "Fall 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
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Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Sega Visions (US) #7: "Winter 1991/1992" (1991-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • GamePro (US) #16bit: "16-bit Video Gaming: February 1992" (1992-xx-xx)[1]
Logo-pdf.svg
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Game Gear print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #58: "May 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
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Mega Drive print advert in Consoles + (FR) #17: "Février 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №7, p84/85[3]
60 №26, p118[4]
64 №40, p84[5]
59 №18, p69[6]
66
28 №18, p66
Sega Mega Drive
 60
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[7]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
74
[8]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
80
[3]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-U
60
[4]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
63
[9]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
64
[5]
Player One (FR) NTSC-U
59
[6]
Power Play (DE)
66
[10]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
28
[11]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
68
[12]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
70
[13]
Sega Mega Drive
 61
Based on
11 reviews

Ms. Pac-Man

Mega Drive, US
MsPacman md us cover.jpg
Cover
MsPacman md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mspacman md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US (cardboard box)
MsPacMan MD US Box Back Cardboard.jpgNospine.pngMsPacMan MD US Box Front Cardboard.jpg
Cover
MsPacMan MD US Cart Seal.jpg
Cart
Mspacman md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
MsPacman md eu cover.jpg
Cover
MsPacman md eu cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №13, p132
57 №2, p47
55
31 №15, p60/61[14]
78
65 №23, p117[15]
53 №2/54
45 №24, p138
92 №4, p52-54[16]
75 №27, p49
72 №3, p64[17]
Sega Master System
 65
Based on
11 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) PAL
90
[18]
Console XS (UK) PAL
72
[19]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
57
[20]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
55
[21]
Joypad (FR) PAL
78
[22]
Joystick (FR) PAL
65
[15]
Mega Force (FR)
65
[23]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
53
[24]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
31
[25]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
31
[26]
Player One (FR)
45
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[28]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
72
[17]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
72
[29]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
92
[16]
Supergame (BR)
77
[30]
Supersonic (FR)
73
[31]
Video Games (DE)
57
[32]
Sega Master System
 64
Based on
18 reviews

Ms. Pac-Man

Master System, EU
MsPacMan SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
MsPacMan SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU
MsPacMan SMS AU Box.jpg
Cover
MsPacMan SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
MsPacMan SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
MsPacmanSMSBrCart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Sega Game Gear
 Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
60
[33]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[34]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
61
[35]
Sega Game Gear
 67
Based on
3 reviews

Ms. Pac-Man

Game Gear, US
MsPacMan GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngMsPacMan GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
MsPacMan GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, US (Majesco)
MsPacMan GG US Box Back Majesco.jpgNospine.pngMsPacMan GG US Box Front Majesco.jpg
Cover
MsPacMan GG US Cart Majesco.jpg
Cart

References

  1. ↑ GamePro, "16-bit Video Gaming: February 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 46
  2. ↑ Mega Force, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 2
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:Joypad FR 007.pdf, page 84 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 007.pdf_p84" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:Joystick FR 026.pdf, page 118 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 026.pdf_p118" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 File:MeanMachinesSega40UK.pdf, page 84 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega40UK.pdf_p84" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:PlayerOne FR 018.pdf, page 69 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 018.pdf_p69" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 200
  8. ↑ Game Informer, "May/June 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 48
  9. ↑ Mega Play, "July/August 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 65
  10. ↑ Power Play, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-xx), page 166
  11. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 66
  12. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 124
  13. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 46
  14. ↑ File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf, page 62
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 File:Joystick FR 023.pdf, page 117 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 023.pdf_p117" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 File:SegaForce UK 04.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 04.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf, page 64 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf_p64" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ Consoles +, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 132
  19. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 142
  20. ↑ Game Zone, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-22), page 47
  21. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1992" (ES; 1992-xx-xx), page 122
  22. ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 49
  23. ↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1992" (FR; 1992-05-05), page 65
  24. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-1x-xx), page 79
  25. ↑ Mean Machines, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-28), page 60
  26. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
  27. ↑ Player One, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-10-10), page 138
  28. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 49
  29. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
  30. ↑ Supergame, "Outubro 1992" (BR; 1992-10-xx), page 36
  31. ↑ Supersonic, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 21
  32. ↑ Video Games, "2/92" (DE; 1992-04-06), page 36
  33. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 7 July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 68
  34. ↑ GamePro, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 132
  35. ↑ Game Informer, "July/August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 48



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)
Unlicensed Pac-Man games on Sega systems
Sega Master System
Arcade
Sega Mega Drive
 Pac-Man (19??) | Puckman Pockimon Genie 2000 (2000) | Pac-Man (2018) | Pac-Man Pocket Player (2018)
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