The second compilation of the yellow puck's games, Pac-Man Museum+, is out today on Switch (and other consoles!), and this collection of 14 of Pac-Man's very best games is out there looking to celebrate one of gaming's oldest icons. You'll get to see him with legs, without legs — the lot!
The collection comes at the end of Pac-Man's 42nd birthday celebrations, and there's plenty to celebrate --including a brand new theme song and a collaboration with Fortnite — but fans have been spotting something a bit off in this compilation that threatens to spoil the party.
In Pac-Man Museum+, you can play all 14 games inside an in-game arcade. Every arcade machine is loaded up with missions that give you coins to unlock all sorts of decorative items for your arcade. It's a really neat little way of paying homage to Pack-Man's legacy, and we love the novelty of it, especially the old (and best) Bandai logo on the machines. One of the things you can unlock are little gachapon figures — the popular capsule toys that you get out of machines — and many of these are replicas of famous Pac-Man characters. Albeit, a few have taken on a brand new identity, as spotted by @DailyPacMan on Twitter:
Sorry, who is Pac-Boy? Pac-Buddy!? Has someone kidnapped Pac-Man's family? Did Pac-Man remarry?
No, no he didn't. This is yet another chapter in the chronicles of Pac-Man's legal woes that date way back to the '80s, and it all kicked off with Ms. Pac-Man. We covered Ms. Pac-Man's legal woes at length back when Pac-Land launched on Switch as part of the Arcade Archives collection. But in more recent times, plug-and-play company AtGames reached a deal with GCC — the creators of Crazy Otto and, eventually, Ms. Pac-Man (under Midway's supervision).
- Further reading - Random: Where's Ms. Pac-Man In Pac-Land?
While many thought the dispute was over, the release of Pac-Land and Pac-Man Museum+ seems to indicate otherwise. In Pac-Land, Ms. Pac-Man had a totally different hairstyle, and Baby Pac-Man also got a similar, brand-new look. Pac-Man Museum+ has done something similar, giving this new Ms. Pac-Man — called Pac-Mom — a hat in some appearances.
Given that Baby Pac-Man is also in Pac-Land, she's now got a brand new name too — Pac-Sis. Don't worry, her brother — Pac-Jr., uh, we mean Pac-Boy — is also here, otherwise that would be a bit weird. And, we're sorry, Chomp Chomp is a much better name than Pac-Buddy. He's not even round or yellow! The only character who seems to have escaped the name change is Professor Pac
Well... except for one instance of a certain character. In this version of Pac-Man Arrangement 2005 (or Arrangement '05), there's a familiar eye-lashed, pink bow-wearing friend in the game's credits. Oops... someone's obviously snacked on a power pellet behind people's backs.
https://twitter.com/KuraGyara/status/1529982748600856576
Previous releases of Arrangement '05 have removed the credits from the game entirely. It's not clear what Bandai Namco will do with the credits, but considering every other appearance of Ms. Pac-Man has been altered, it's hard to think that this will go ignored. Even if it was missed the first time.
It's a real shame, as Ms. Pac-Man and the rest of Pac-Man's family have all had some iconic appearances throughout the series. But it's likely we'll never get to see them again.
If you're playing Pac-Man Museum+, let us know if you've spotted any other changes in the game!
[source twitter.com, via twitter.com]
Comments 29
Pac MOM?!? seriously?
I know moms can be cool and all, but Ms. Pac-Man had a fairly unique visual identity carved out for herself in different games over the years, despite sharing the name of her male counterpart.
what a way to pigeonhole a cultural icon.
Couldn't they call her Pac-Ma'am or something?
@CharlieGirl
I absolutely agree. Pac mom is basically naming her after a role. I doubt Pac Man wants to be renamed Pac Middle Manager for his day job.
A mom's job is important, but Ms. Pac Man was so much more than giving birth. I mean the original Ms. Pac Man mod was more difficult than her male counterpart's game.
Somehow this just feels like a weird belittlement of the character.
Edit:
At no point am I implying that Pac Mom doesn't also have a job. I just figured "Pac Middle Manager" is more destabilizing to Pac Man's image than "Pac Dad."
Also, does anyone remember the pac Man game on the super nes with a fifth ghost that combined with other ghosts to make them more powerful?
It's name was Kinky. As a kid, that went right over my head.
@GrailUK That's a good one!
I don’t want to live in this alternate reality pac man world 😧
Yeah, no. Those changes are not only unnecessary, they're also pretty horrible.
Pac-Buddy? Pac-Mom? Seriously?
Chomp Chomp was a play on the Pac's sound and Ms. Pac-Man is just as, depending on who you ask even more popular as an IP.
Who greenlit this? O.o
I wish Ms Pac-Man wasn't in this extremely bizarre situation.
How can you own one of the most recognised arcade video games of all time, but not own all the characters from it?
According to Drawn Together Pac- Man and Ms. Pac-Man are the same.
I can live with those name changes probably. (Pac-sis may need a new name.) But Ms. Pac Man needs to come back.
I'm so annoyed with Pac Mom. It's such a shame that Ms PacMan is no longer.
Why can’t he be Pac-Dad then? Bachelor life is over now.
If they are going to define Pac-Mom for being a mother. Then he should get the same treatment.
Yeah, I don't see the point of these name changes. They were fine as is.
Why doesn't Bandai Namco purchase the rights to Ms. Pac-Man?
I'm okay with Pac-Mom, not sure why she's called Ms. Pac-Man in the first place, they never called Pac-Man, Mr. Pac-Man.
@IceEarthGuard The point is that B-N lost the rights to use the original names and designs because AtGames released enough plug n play systems with Pac-Man in it.
i feel like "defined by her relation to a man" is not particularly better than "defined by her role in the family" frankly
@link3710 Article doesn't mention this too, AtGames is the one who REALLY deserves the hate for this.
@Wurstsemmel753 its not unnecessary, they lost the rights to uss the Ms. Pac Man name
@link3710 Oh, okay. I never knew about that.
Hmm, but I don't see how they have the rights to the names though.... makes no sense, because they are common names... smh
@IceEarthGuard Well, Ms. Pac-Man, for example, would never be mistaken as a non-Pac-Man related character by the name. It's the same reason that Nintendo can throw out claims on someone using the character of Mario, despite it being a common name.
Pac-Buddy? C'mon...😒
please let AtGames fall
@NTELLIGENTMAN They do have the rights to Ms. Pac-Man but from what I understand, AtGames purchased royalty rights to Ms. Pac-Man. In otherwords, Bandai Namco must pay a sum to AtGames if Namco uses Ms. Pac-Man. Kind of stupid if you ask me.
That one in Arragement is not Ms Pac-Man, she’s Pac-Mom in her bathing suit.
I'm really enjoying the game so far. The digital version is only 20 bucks, which for 14 games is an absolute STEAL! I've been so excited for this game, after it was first announced, I bought a Pac-Man Split Pad Pro by Hori to use in handheld mode, lol. Naturally, that's how I spent most of today playing the game. Pac-Mania is as much fun as I remember it being. I have vague memories of playing Pac N' Roll and Pac-Motos on Wii, but I'm surprised by how little I actually remember. I'm enjoying my time with them, though.
Pac In Time is easily my least-favorite game in the collection. All the rest of them are worth going back to. The arcade hub area is neat, though after maybe 5 hours of playing the game, I think I'm already decently close to unlocking all the different furniture options, which is a little underwhelming. Solid package overall, though! The games are emulated well. The aspect ratio for some games is kinda small, even after adjusting the display settings, but otherwise, they're all really good. Great presentation. I'm a big fan!
Here's hoping Namco can negotiate with AtGames to add Ms. Pac-Man as paid DLC or something. That way they only split the royalties on the DLC and not the whole game. I'd pay for it I'm a heartbeat. Also...REMASTER PAC-MAN WORLD, NAMCO, YOU COWARDS! DO IT! DO OT RIGHT NOW!!!!
@link3710 Designs are one thing. But Nintendo has no power against a character name Mario that looks nothing like Nintendo's Mario though.
@EarthboundBenjy yeah it reminds me of the whole Sony/Spider-Man/MCU situation
Miss Pac?
Pac-Miss?
what did they call her in the cartoon? Pepper?
just to save a couple bucks?
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