Pac-Man

Pac-Man - the 1983 maze chase for Commodore 64 from Atarisoft.

Chomp every dot while dodging four ghosts that tighten the noose with
speed and smarts. Flip the hunt by timing power pills, then clear the maze
to push the pace higher.

Core loop
- run the maze to eat dots and energizers
- turn ghosts blue with a power pill and eat them for points
- finish the board by clearing every dot to advance

Systems and items
- power pill - short window where ghosts turn blue and can be eaten
- fruit bonus - appears briefly near the ghost pen for extra points
- side tunnels - wrap around and help break pursuit

Level design and feel
Single-screen maze with escalating speed and intermission scenes after
key rounds. Joystick response in port 2 is crisp, with clean arcade-like
beeps and the familiar waka rhythm.

Why it is notable
- official Atarisoft cartridge on C64 in 1983
- supports two players taking turns
- faithful maze, ghost behaviors, and wrap tunnels preserved

Tips
- park near a power pill and wait for a cluster before chomping it
- use side tunnels to stretch the ghost train and escape
- learn ghost roles: red pursues, pink ambushes, blue mirrors, orange wanders

At a glance
Year - 1983
Developer - Atarisoft (conversion team uncredited)
Design and programming - based on Toru Iwatani’s arcade design
Publisher - Atarisoft
Genre - Maze chase
Players - 1 or 2 alternating
Controls - Joystick in port 2