Pac-Man Arrangement is a remake of sorts to the hit game Pac-Man. It was released in 1996 by Namco.
Gameplay
On the screen where you are promted to choose "1P" or "2P", the ghosts are listed, and the "alternate" names (Urchin, Romp, Stylist and Crybaby) are paired with the more familiar "nicknames". However, a notable difference is that Blinky and Clyde have swapped names. ("Clyde" is now the red leader, and "Blinky" is the orange one on the bottom. This may be an indirect influence of the cartoon where "Clyde" was the leader, though he was still orange). The biggest change is the addition of a new ghost named "Kinky" (his other name is listed as "?????"), who wears sunglasses and is edible at all times. If Pac-Man eats him, he acts as an energizer, making the other ghosts edible. If Pac-Man doesn't catch him, he will eventually "merge" with one or more of the other ghosts which makes them taller and fatter and gives them super powers:
- Blinky takes on the appearance of a Viking with boxing gloves, and can zip across the screen towards Pac-Man when he is in the same aisle.
- Pinky takes on the look of a rabbit, and can hop from one side of the board to the other.
- Inky spins off a transparent copy of himself that is always on the opposite side of the board, and can catch Pac-Man. However, it disappears when an energizer is eaten.
- Clyde spits out new larger 50 point pills.
In later levels, there are "DASH" arrows on the ground that allow Pac-Man to rapidly zip from one end of the board to the other end (the same power Urchin gains from Kinky). When on the dash, hitting ghosts will make them dizzy and temporarily motionless; hitting them while they are edible will eat them up. Also, there are additional powerup items that look like firecrackers.
- The red one gives Pac-Man a slight increase in speed.
- The pink one causes all the ghosts to be thrown into a huge sack located in their house momentarily.
- The blue one gives Pac-Man the same power Inky takes on, with a transparent Pac-Man on the opposite side of the board that eats pills and ghosts, but cannot be caught.
- The orange one only seems to be worth extra points.
The game has a final level where the ghosts chase Pac-Man in a huge robot ghost. As Pac-Man eats the pills, they are shot at the robot eventually destroying it.
Differences from original
- Complete graphical and sound effect makeover.
- When Pac-Man dies, the game continues on without stopping. (Which gives Kinky, who then changes to his "true" color, yellow, plenty of time to give another ghost a power).
- Game has a more 3D look to it (similar to Pac-Mania).
- There are larger 20 point and 50 point pills, including certain levels in which the pills "flutter" to different sizes in waves.
- In other levels, the pills dance around.
- Pac-Man moves much faster than before.
Ports
This game was packaged along with Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and nine other games in the 128-bit Namco Museum version. It was also released with three other games in Pac-Man Collection.