Ms. Pac-Man
The most famous yellow lady in video game history returned to the Atari Lynx in 1990 in a version that has something to offer even seasoned fans of the original. Ms. Pac-Man was never just a cosmetic variation on Pac-Man; it was an improved, more dynamic game, and the Lynx port carries that legacy forward with grace.
The foundation remains immortal. You cruise through a maze, gobble dots, dodge the four ghosts, and the moment you swallow a big energizing pellet the roles reverse and you can set off after the frightened ghosts yourself. Ms. Pac-Man added several mazes instead of one over the original game, moving bonus fruit, and generally less predictable ghost behavior, so it couldn't be beaten with memorized patterns alone.
The Lynx version goes even further and enriches the experience with things the arcade didn't have. It offers extra mazes on top, a power-up in the form of a speed boost that briefly lets you escape the ghosts more easily, and it also carries over the cute animated interludes that told the tales of Mr. and Mrs. Pac-Man. The only thing that's noticeably missing is the two-player mode from some other versions; otherwise it's a generous package.
On the console's color display the game looks charming and clean. The bright colors of the mazes and characters make the Lynx an ideal platform for this kind of instantly comprehensible fun. It's exactly the sort of game you switch on "for one round" in a queue or on the bus and walk away feeling you've given your reflexes a proper workout.
Ms. Pac-Man is among the most successful arcade games of all time and its character became a cultural icon. The Lynx conversion is a faithful yet enriched tribute to the classic, one that proved even a time-tested concept can be freshened up on new hardware without losing its charm.
Why play: For a faithful and moreover enriched port of an immortal classic with extra mazes and a speed boost, ideal for a quick portion of nostalgia.
Game 14 of 30 for Atari Lynx
The same title elsewhere (1)
The arcade original offers four distinct mazes, a richer palette and smoothly animated ghosts, which is why it's often called the most complete version of the game. The Atari 2600 port counts among that machine's surprisingly good conversions — unlike the infamously botched Pac-Man port, developers here managed to preserve the gameplay and pace despite blockier graphics and a limited color range. The Atari 5200 had more powerful hardware than the 2600, so its version delivered smoother ghost movement and colors closer to the arcade look, placing it among the best home conversions of its time. Anyone wanting the experience closest to the original should reach for the arcade version; anyone after a solid early-1980s home release will appreciate the Atari 5200.
