View source for Pac-Land

{{short description|1984 video game}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Pac-Land
| image = Pac-Land arcadeflyer.png
| caption = Japanese arcade flyer
| developer = [[Namco]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Namco|NA|[[Bally Midway]]<ref name="Akagi"/>|EU|[[Atari Games]]<ref name="CG"/>}}
| programmer = Yoshihiro Kishimoto
| designer = Tsukasa Negoro
| artist = [[Hiroshi Ono (artist)|Hiroshi Ono]]
| composer = Yuriko Keino
| series = ''[[List of Pac-Man video games|Pac-Man]]''
| platforms = {{Collapsible list
 | title = {{nobold|[[Arcade video game|Arcade]]}}
 | [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[PC-8001]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[MSX]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[TurboGrafx-16]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Atari Lynx]], [[LCD game]], [[X68000]]
}}
| released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|October 29, 1984}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|October 29, 1984{{efn|Sources for the release date are conflicting. The [[United States Copyright Office]] catalogs the game's date of publication as October 29, 1984,<ref name="Copyright"/> but other sources list it as early as August 1984.<ref name="Akagi"/>}}|NA|December 1984<ref name="Akagi"/>|EU|Early 1985<ref name="CG"/>}} '''Famicom'''{{vgrelease|JP|November 21, 1985}} '''PC-8001'''{{vgrelease|JP|1985}} '''CPC, MSX'''{{vgrelease|EU|1988}} '''ZX Spectrum'''{{vgrelease|UK|April 1989<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=March 1989 |title=Previews |url=https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-62/page/n96/mode/1up |magazine=[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]] |publisher=[[Newsfield]] |issue=62 |page=97}}</ref>}} '''TurboGrafx-16'''{{vgrelease|JP|June 1, 1989<ref>{{cite web |title=PC Engine Software List 1989 |url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NEC1_PCE1989.html |website=GAME Data Room |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827210551/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NEC1_PCE1989.html |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref>|NA|January 1990}} '''Amiga, Atari ST, C64'''{{vgrelease|UK|1989}} '''Lynx'''{{vgrelease|NA|August 1991<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=August 1991 |title=The Games of August 1991... Appearing in Local Stores Now! |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_Issue_025_August_1991/page/n29/mode/2up |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Sendai Publications |volume=4 |issue=8 |page=31}}</ref>}} '''X68000'''{{vgrelease|JP|1994}}
}}
| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| arcade system = [[Namco Pac-Land]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Pac-Land'''''|パックランド|Pakku Rando|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1984 [[platform game]] developed and published by [[Namco]] for Japanese [[Arcade video game|arcades]]; it was distributed in North America by [[Bally Midway]], and in Europe by [[Atari Games]]. Controlling [[Pac-Man (character)|Pac-Man]], the player must make it to the end of each stage to return a lost fairy back to its home in Fairyland. Pac-Man will need to avoid obstacles, such as falling logs and water-spewing fire hydrants, alongside his enemies, the Ghost Gang. Eating large flashing Power Pellets will cause the ghosts to turn blue, allowing Pac-Man to eat them for points.

''Pac-Land'' was created by Namco Research and Development 1 programmer Yoshihiro Kishimoto, who was tasked with creating an arcade game based on the American [[Pac-Man (TV series)|''Pac-Man'' cartoon television series]] by [[Hanna-Barbera]]. The backgrounds were made to be vibrant and colorful, and the characters to be detailed and move smoothly to match the show's animation style. The control scheme was inspired by [[Konami]]'s ''[[Track & Field (video game)|Track & Field]]'' (1983), using buttons instead of a traditional joystick to make it stand out among other games at the time. A new [[Namco Pac-Land]] arcade system was created to make it easier to develop the game and was used for several later Namco games, including ''[[Baraduke]]'' (1985) and ''[[Metro-Cross]]'' (1985).

''Pac-Land'' was a commercial success in arcades, becoming one of the top five highest-grossing arcade games of 1985 in the United States. It was well-received by critics for its colorful graphics, stage designs, and soundtrack, but was criticized for its difficulty. It is cited as an important and influential game in the platform genre, paving the way for many games to follow such as ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'', ''[[Ghosts 'n Goblins (video game)|Ghosts 'n Goblins]]'', ''[[Alex Kidd]]'' and ''[[Wonder Boy]]''. It was ported to several home consoles and computers, including the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]], [[PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16]], [[Commodore 64]] and [[Atari Lynx]]. It is the first platform game in the ''[[List of Pac-Man video games|Pac-Man]]'' series, and was followed by ''[[Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures]]'' (1994).

==Gameplay==
[[File:Pac-Land_gameplay_ss.png|thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot]]

Controlling [[Pac-Man (character)|Pac-Man]], the player is tasked with reaching the end of each level while avoiding enemies and other obstacles. Stages are known in-game as "trips" and are broken into four sections — the first three have Pac-Man running to return a lost fairy back to "Fairyland", and the last having Pac-Man return home to his family. Pressing either of the directional buttons will make Pac-Man walk in that direction, and repeatedly tapping either button will make him run. Pac-Man can also jump over pits and obstacles by pressing the jump button.<ref name="Lynx Manual">{{cite book |title=Pac-Land Atari Lynx instruction manual |date=1992 |publisher=[[Atari Games]] |url=https://atariage.com/manual_html_page.php?SoftwareID=2383 |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317200610/https://atariage.com/manual_html_page.php?SoftwareID=2383 |archive-date=17 March 2017}}</ref>

In each stage, Pac-Man will encounter the four ghosts from [[Pac-Man|the original game]] — Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde — alongside a purple ghost named Sue, originally a replacement for Clyde in ''[[Ms. Pac-Man]]''.<ref name="Lynx Manual"/> Eating large flashing Power Pellets will cause the ghosts to turn blue for a short time, allowing Pac-Man to eat them for bonus points.<ref name="Lynx Manual"/> The ghosts are often seen driving vehicles, such as airplanes, buses, cars, pogo-sticks and flying saucers, and will sometimes drop miniature ghost enemies from the air to try and hit Pac-Man.<ref name="Lynx Manual"/> Other types of obstacles are also present in stages, such as water-spewing fire hydrants, springboards, falling logs, quicksand and geysers.<ref name="Lynx Manual"/>

Trips consist of cities, forests, deserts and abandoned castles. Most trip sections end with a large sign saying "BREAK TIME" with a church on a hill in the background, and bonus points are awarded for jumping at certain points at the end of each section.<ref name="IGN TG16"/> The final section of a trip gives Pac-Man a special pair of boots that will allow him to jump infinitely into the air, and tasks the player with returning home to Pac-Man's family.<ref name="Lynx Manual"/> The player can find hidden items by pushing against specific objects in certain stages, including a helmet that protects Pac-Man from falling mini ghosts, an item that makes Pac-Man temporarily invincible and a [[Galaxian|''Galaxian'' flagship]] that awards the player a large sum of points.<ref name="Lynx Manual"/><ref name="KLOV"/> Jumping in certain spots will reveal fruit items that can be consumed for points.<ref name="KLOV"/>

The game features the theme song from [[Pac-Man (TV series)|the ''Pac-Man'' television series]], which plays in a constant loop throughout.<ref name="IGN TG16"/> The North American version of the game by Midway features the characters being re-designed to more closely resemble the designs found in the show, while the Japanese Namco version has the characters modeled after ''Pac-Man'' marketing material and cabinet artwork. It's currently unknown what version the European version looks like.<ref name="IGN TG16"/><ref name="KLOV">{{cite web |title=Pac-Land - Videogame by Bally Midway |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8955 |website=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626224036/https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8955 |archive-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>

==Development==
''Pac-Land'' was programmed by Yoshihiro Kishimoto of Namco Development Division 1, who would later work on the ''[[Family Stadium]]'' franchise. After seeing the success of [[Hanna-Barbera]]'s [[Pac-Man (TV series)|''Pac-Man'' animated series]], Namco requested Kishimoto that he create an arcade game based on the show.<ref name="Untold History">{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Vol. 2 |date=4 November 2015 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1518655319 |pages=207–208 |edition=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/TheUntoldHistoryOfJapaneseGameDevelopersVol.2JohnSzczepaniak/page/n207 |access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref> Kishimoto stated that the hardest part of development were Pac-Man's animations. Most arcade games in Japan at the time simply used two or three frames to convey movement, which he found unconvincing.<ref name="Untold History"/> The team wanted the game's backgrounds to be vibrant and colorful, and to have the characters move smoothly to replicate the show's animation style.<ref name="Untold History"/> Pac-Man himself was given 24 different frame patterns, alongside several facial expressions and clothing swaps.<ref name="Untold History"/>

Kishimoto cited Konami's [[sports video game]] ''[[Track & Field (video game)|Track & Field]]'' (1983) as the "number one influence" on ''Pac-Land''. The game's controls were heavily influenced by ''Track & Field'', a game that allowed the player to become faster by constantly tapping the button in succession;<ref name="Untold History"/> Kishimoto thought the idea was interesting and that it would make it stand out among other games.<ref name="Untold History"/> To allow for two-layer scrolling backgrounds, more sprites, and more colors, the team created the [[Namco Pac-Land]] arcade board, which was used for several later Namco games including ''[[Baraduke]]'' (1985) and ''[[Metro-Cross]]'' (1985).<ref name="Untold History"/> The game was tested in [[Yokohama]], where Kishimoto recalls the springboards being difficult for new players.<ref name="Untold History"/>

==Release==
The arcade game was released in Japan in 1984, but there are conflicting release dates. ''Arcade TV Game List'', a Japanese-language book of arcade release dates authored by Masumi Akagi and published by the Amusement News Agency in 2006, lists the Japanese release date as August 1984.<ref name="Akagi">{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |lang=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=52, 125 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n53}}</ref> However, the United States Copyright Office<ref name="Copyright">{{cite web |title=Pac-land. (Registration Number PA0000242997) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=5 June 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531152425/https://cocatalog.loc.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and John Szczepaniak in the second volume of ''The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers'' (2015), when including biography details taken from Kishimoto's resume, lists the release date as October 1984.<ref name="Untold History"/> The game was later released in North America by [[Bally Midway]] in December 1984,<ref name="Akagi"/> and in Europe by [[Atari Games]] in early 1985.<ref name="CG">{{cite magazine |last1=Roberts |first1=Mike |title=Coin-Op Connection |magazine=[[Computer Gamer]] |date=May 1985 |issue=2 |pages=26–7 |publisher=[[Argus Press]] |location=United Kingdom |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gamer_Issue_02_1985-05_Argus_Press_GB/page/n25/mode/2up}}</ref>

==Ports==
The first home port of ''Pac-Land'' was for [[Nintendo]]'s [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]], released in Japan on November 21, 1985.<ref>{{cite book |title=死ぬ前にクリアしたい200の無理ゲー ファミコン&スーファミ |date=10 October 2018 |publisher=Myway Publishing |isbn=9784865119855 |page=7}}</ref> Versions for the [[Amstrad CPC]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]] and [[MSX]] were published by British company Grandslam Entertainment in 1988, and developed by Gannon Designs and Mr. Micro  for the [[Atari ST]] and [[Amiga|Commodore Amiga]] platforms.<ref name="Retro Gamer"/> Namco released a [[PC Engine]] version in June 1989, which was later released for the [[TurboGrafx-16]] by [[NEC]] in January 1990.<ref name="Retro Gamer"/> [[Atari Corporation]] developed and published a [[Atari Lynx|Lynx]] portable version in 1991, and Dempa Softworks released an [[X68000]] conversion in 1994.<ref name="Retro Gamer">{{cite news |last1=Bevan |first1=Mike |title=The Ultimate Guide to Pac-Land |url=https://archive.org/details/RetroGamerIssue127-128/page/n67?q=Pac-Land |access-date=9 September 2019 |agency=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=127 |date=22 March 2014 |pages=67–72}}</ref>

''Pac-Land'' is in the 1996 compilation ''[[Namco Museum|Namco Museum Vol. 4]]'' for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] alongside five other Namco arcade games from the 1980s,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gerstmann |first1=Jeff |title=Namco Museum Volume 4 Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/namco-museum-volume-4-review/1900-2548529/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730051820/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/namco-museum-volume-4-review/1900-2548529/ |archive-date=30 July 2019 |date=2 May 2000}}</ref> and later in the [[iOS]] game ''[[Namco Arcade]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=名作アーケードが詰まった『NAMCO ARCADE』に『パックランド』ほか2タイトルが追加 |url=https://app.famitsu.com/20120313_42869/ |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126114415/https://app.famitsu.com/20120313_42869/ |archive-date=26 November 2017 |date=13 March 2012}}</ref> In 2014, it was ported to the [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]], and [[Personal computer|PC]] as part of ''[[Pac-Man Museum]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Khan |first1=Jahanzeb |title=Review: Pac-Man Museum |url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/03/01/review-pac-man-museum/76105/ |website=Hardcore Gamer |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429184239/https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2014/03/01/review-pac-man-museum/76105/ |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=1 March 2014}}</ref> and the Famicom version was digitally re-released for the [[Wii U Virtual Console]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Pac-Land and Pac-Man Collection Both Arrive On Wii U eShop in Europe |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/06/pac_land_and_pac_man_collection_both_arrive_on_wii_u_eshop_in_europe |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926144027/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/06/pac_land_and_pac_man_collection_both_arrive_on_wii_u_eshop_in_europe |archive-date=26 September 2017 |date=12 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Wii Uバーチャルコンソールとして『パックランド』＆『パックマンコレクション』が配信開始、期間限定のディスカウントキャンペーンも開催 |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201406/11054944.html |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706112013/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201406/11054944.html |archive-date=6 July 2019 |date=11 June 2014}}</ref> and ''Namco Museum Archives Volume 2''. Aside from the ''Namco Arcade'' version, all home ports of the game are based on the Japanese Namco version. 

On March 31, 2022,<ref>{{Cite tweet |url-access=limited |title=Register |user=ez_takayoshi |number=1509501982486134789 |url=https://twitter.com/ez_takayoshi/status/1509501982486134789}}</ref> it was announced that the arcade version of ''Pac-Land'' would be released on the [[Nintendo Switch]] and [[PlayStation 4]] as part of [[Hamster Corporation]]'s ''[[Arcade Archives]]'' lineup, which was released on April 7, 2022. Though based on the original arcade version, this re-release was modified by Bandai Namco to replace the graphics of [[Ms. Pac-Man]] and Baby Pac-Man, who greet Pac-Man at the end of each trip. In their place are two new characters named "Pac-Mom" and "Pac-Sis"; which were created for the then-upcoming compilation ''Pac-Man Museum+'', which also replaced the characters in all the games featured in the collection. Bandai Namco has remained silent on the removal of the characters, though news outlets assumed the character replacements to be related to a dispute between Bandai Namco and [[AtGames]], which [[Ms. Pac-Man#AtGames Dispute|is related to ''Ms. Pac-Man'']].<ref>{{Cite tweet |url-access=limited |title=Register |user=nickisonlinet |number=1511758757218463748 |url=https://twitter.com/nickisonlinet/status/1511758757218463748}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=『Arcade Archives PAC - LAND』 Trophy Guide アーケードアーカイブス パックランド トロフィー攻略 PS4 2022/04/07 | date=April 6, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52ylaoVl0_U |language=en |access-date=2022-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=2022-04-07 |title=Pac-Man has a new wife, thanks to Ms. Pac-Man drama |url=https://www.polygon.com/23015420/ms-pac-man-pac-land-bandai-namco-atgames-lawsuit |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>

The game is included in the ''[[Pac-Man Museum+]]'' game compilation, which released on May 27, 2022. The version in this collection uses the same edited version as seen in the ''Arcade Archives'' release because of Bandai Namco's legal issues with AtGames.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: 'Pac-Man Museum+', 'Kao the Kangaroo', Plus Today's Other New Releases and Sales – TouchArcade |date=27 May 2022 |url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/05/27/pac-man-museum-plus-kao-the-kangaroo-switch-eshop-price-deal-panzer-dragoon-remake-discount-nintendo/ |access-date=2022-05-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| CVG = 90% (PCE)<ref name="CVG94">{{cite news |last1=Rignall |first1=Julian |title=Mean Machines - Pac-Land (PC Engine) |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-094/CVG_094_Sep_1989#page/n97/mode/1up |access-date=8 September 2019 |agency=[[Computer + Video Games]] |issue=94 |date=September 1989 |page=98}}</ref> <br /> 92% (PCE)<ref name="CVG">{{cite journal |title=Complete Games Guide |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=16 October 1989 |issue=Complete Guide to Consoles |pages=46–77 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf#page=46 |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611004221/https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf#page=46 |url-status=live }}</ref> <br /> 7/10 (Lynx)<ref name="CVG Lynx">{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Rob |title=Lynx Lowdown - Pac-Land |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-117/page/n35 |access-date=8 September 2019 |agency=[[Computer + Video Games]] |issue=117|page=37 |date=August 1, 1991}}</ref>
| Fam = 30/40 (PCE)<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite magazine |title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: パックランド [PCエンジン] |url=https://archive.org/stream/bi-weekly-famitsu-no.-77-june-23rd-1989/Bi-Weekly%20Famitsu%20-%20No.%2077%20June%2023rd%2C%201989%20%28Compressed%29#page/n15/mode/1up |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |issue=77 |publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]] |date=June 23, 1989 |page=16 }}</ref>
| IGN = 7/10 (Lynx)<ref name="IGN Lynx">{{cite web |last1=A. Jung |first1=Robert |title=Pac-Land |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/07/pac-land |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720052330/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/06/07/pac-land |archive-date=20 July 2018 |date=6 June 1999}}</ref> <br> 6.5/10 (TG16)<ref name="IGN TG16"/>
| Raze = 74% (Lynx)<ref name="Raze">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/RAZE_Issue_11_1991-09_Newsfield_Publishing_GB#page/n37 |title=Pac-Land |via=archive.org |publisher=Raze Magazine |issue=11 |page=39 |date=September 1991 |access-date=20 August 2018 }}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Computer Gamer]]''
| rev1Score = Positive (Arcade)<ref name="CG"/>
| award1Pub = ''[[Famitsu]]''
| award1 = Silver Hall of Fame
}}

''Pac-Land'' was a commercial success in arcades. In Japan, it entered the ''Game Machine'' arcade charts at number-two on the [[table arcade cabinet]] chart in September 1984.<ref name="GM243">{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=243|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 September 1984|page=29|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840901p.pdf#page=15|lang=ja|access-date=19 March 2021|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828172710/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840901p.pdf#page=15|url-status=live}}</ref> In North America, it was in the top 20 ''RePlay'' upright arcade game charts through November 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |page=6 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985%20%28Compressed%29/page/6}}</ref> It ended the year as one of the top five highest-grossing arcade games of 1985 in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=AMOA Expo '85: 1985 AMOA Award Nominees |magazine=RePlay |date=November 1985 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=62, 64, 66 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-11-issue-no.-2-november-1985-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2011%2C%20Issue%20No.%202%20-%20November%201985/page/62}}</ref>

The game well received by critics for its colorful graphics, level structure, and challenge. Mike Roberts gave the arcade game a positive review in the May 1985 issue of ''[[Computer Gamer]]''. He called it an "interesting game" where Pac-Man is an "animated character that moves along a horizontally scrolling landscape" while praising the "very colouful" graphics and stating it is "easy to play once you've got the hang of it."<ref name="CG"/>

Japanese publication ''[[Famitsu]]'' praised the [[PC Engine]] version's graphics and overall challenge, awarding it the "Silver Hall of Fame" badge.<ref name="Famitsu"/> ''[[Computer + Video Games]]'' called the PC Engine version a "marvelous conversion" for its vibrant visuals, stage layouts, gameplay and accuracy to the coin-op game;<ref name="CVG94"/> they had a similar response for the [[Atari Lynx]] version, claiming its accuracy to the original would entice fans of the arcade release.<ref name="CVG Lynx"/> Reviewing the Lynx conversion, ''[[IGN]]'' praised the game's colorful graphics, controls and faithfulness to the arcade original.<ref name="IGN Lynx"/> ''[[Raze (magazine)|Raze]]'' echoed a similar response, saying the visuals, stage layouts and soundtrack added replay value to the game.<ref name="Raze"/>

''Raze'' disliked the Lynx port's limited amount of lives and lack of continues, saying that the high difficulty would repel younger players.<ref name="Raze"/> ''IGN'' stated it provided little replay value for veteran players, adding that it could be easily finished.<ref name="IGN Lynx"/> ''[[AllGame]]'' was particularly critical of the [[TurboGrafx-16]] version, lambasting its poor graphics, bland stage layouts and lack of challenge, jokingly saying it was only recommended to collectors interested in "the most morbidly poor games in existence".<ref name="AllGame Review">{{cite web |last1=Knight |first1=Kyle |title=Pac-Land - Review |url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2683&tab=review |website=[[AllGame]] |access-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115040412/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2683&tab=review |archive-date=15 November 2014}}</ref> In a retrospective review for the TurboGrafx-16 conversion, ''IGN'' disliked the game's difficulty for lacking any real challenge, and said the game seems to have been made simply to keep ''Pac-Man'' relevant at the time instead of as a "real deal" game.<ref name="IGN TG16">{{cite web |last1=Buchanan |first1=Levi |title=Pac-Land Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/31/pac-land-review |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428092943/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/31/pac-land-review |archive-date=28 April 2019 |date=31 March 2008}}</ref>

==Legacy==
''Pac-Land'' is an important and influential game in the platform genre,<ref name="Untold History"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Parish |first1=Jeremy |title=Five Critical Moments in Platform Game History |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/five-critical-moments-in-platform-game-history |website=[[USgamer]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115184610/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/five-critical-moments-in-platform-game-history |archive-date=15 November 2016 |date=25 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Destructoid">{{cite web |last1=Makedonski |first1=Brett |title=If you hate the Pac-Land stage in Smash Bros., maybe this mini-game will make it better |url=https://www.destructoid.com/if-you-hate-the-pac-land-stage-in-smash-bros-maybe-this-mini-game-will-make-it-better-285748.phtml |website=[[Destructoid]] |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331071336/http://www.destructoid.com/if-you-hate-the-pac-land-stage-in-smash-bros-maybe-this-mini-game-will-make-it-better-285748.phtml |archive-date=31 March 2016 |date=5 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> paving the way for games such as ''[[Ghosts 'n Goblins (video game)|Ghosts 'n Goblins]]'', ''[[Alex Kidd]]'', and ''[[Wonder Boy]]''.<ref name="Retro Gamer"/> ''[[Pac-Man]]'' creator [[Toru Iwatani]] has since labeled it as his favorite ''Pac-Man'' sequel for its interesting concept and gameplay. He said [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] told him it had a profound influence on the creation of ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''<ref name="Untold History"/><ref>{{cite web |author1=HSals |title=EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Toru Iwatani, creator of Pac-Man |url=https://geekculture.co/interview-with-toru-iwatani-creator-of-pac-man/ |website=GeekCulture |access-date=9 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820031126/https://geekculture.co/interview-with-toru-iwatani-creator-of-pac-man/ |archive-date=20 August 2017 |date=22 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Retro Gamer"/> Shigeru Miyamoto himself also says that ''Pac-Land'' had an influence on ''Super Mario Bros.'', but to a lesser extent, saying that while he was in Tokyo seeing Namco has developed a platforming game he decided that he should follow suit. The only feature of ''Pac-Land'' Miyamoto cites as a direct inspiration was the blue background of the game as opposed to the black ones he typically would put in his games.<ref>{{cite book |last=Eno |first=Kenji  |author-link=Kenji Eno |date=June 1, 1998 |title=スーパーヒットゲーム学 単行本 |publisher=Fusosha |isbn=9784594025052 }}</ref>

Shortly after the game's release, Namco produced a board game adaptation for its ''Fantasy Board Game'' series, based on the player reaching the end of the board without losing the "fairy chip". A Japanese LCD handheld game was released in 1990. Many of Pac-Man's moves in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series are directly based on ''Pac-Land,'' such as his fire hydrant attack. ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' include a stage based on the game, featuring automatic scrolling.<ref name="Destructoid"/>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Video games|1980s}}
*{{KLOV game|id=8955}}

{{Pac-Man series|state=expanded}}

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