Kingdom of Gaming Episode 20 (Pac-Man 256)

Pac-Man 256 is an endless running video game developed by Hipster Whale and 3 Sprockets and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is part of the Pac-Man series and is inspired by the original Pac-Man game's infamous Level 256 glitch. The game was originally released as a free-to-play title for iOS and Android on August 20, 2015. A port of the game for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Windows, macOS, Linux) by Bandai Namco Studios Vancouver, featuring additional features, was released on June 21, 2016.^[1]

Gameplay[edit]

Pac-Man 256 puts players in control of Pac-Man as he continues across an endless maze, collecting dots and power-ups while avoiding enemy ghosts. The game ends if Pac-Man comes into contact with a ghost or falls behind and is consumed by a chasing glitch at the bottom of the maze. Eating 256 dots in a row awards the player a blast that clears all on-screen enemies.^[2] Along with power pellets, which enable Pac-Man to eat ghosts, Pac-Man can equip and obtain various power-ups such as lasers, tornadoes, and clones to attack the ghosts, as well as collect score-multiplying fruit. Additional power-ups are unlocked by collecting enough dots. Clearing certain missions unlock coins, also obtained either on the maze or by viewing sponsored videos, which can be used to upgrade power-ups.^[3]

The game's main mode, which allows Pac-Man to equip up to three power-ups, requires credits which are replenished over time (the player can purchase unlimited credits with real money^[4]). Alternatively, the player can use Free Play, which can be played at any time without power-ups. Credits can also be used to revive the player once per game.^[5] However, in version 2.0 the credits system was removed, continues (revives) uses coins or videos instead, and power-ups are unlocked over time and the player always can use the power-ups.^[6]

There are also themes which change the look of the game.^[7]

The console and PC versions of the game adds four-player co-operative play and removes the micro-transactions from the game. In the co-operative play mode players first select their character such as a robot, the chicken from Crossy Road, the regular Pac-Man and others. The goal is for every player to get as far as possible and contribute to the group score as much as possible. If a player dies a respawn power up appears and if collected brings back one player into play.^[8]

The ghosts involved in gameplay are the traditional foursome of Blinky (red), Pinky (pink), Inky (cyan), and Clyde (orange); Sue (purple), Funky (green), and Spunky (gray); and a new ghost aptly named Glitchy that glitches like the game itself.^[9][10]