Pac-Land (USA, Europe)

Pac-Land represents a bold reinvention of gaming's most recognizable character, transforming the maze-chase mechanics of the original into a colorful side-scrolling adventure. Released by Namco in 1984, Pac-Land stands as one of the most innovative retro games of its era, predating Super Mario Bros. in establishing many conventions of the platforming genre. Rather than confining Pac-Man to maze navigation, Pac-Land gives the character legs and a jaunty hat, sending him on a quest through vibrant environments filled with obstacles, enemies, and secrets.

What makes Pac-Land particularly significant is how it successfully translated Pac-Man's appeal into an entirely different genre while maintaining the character's essence. Pac-Land features the familiar ghosts as antagonists, power pellets that temporarily allow Pac-Man to turn the tables on his pursuers, and the distinctive aesthetic that made the original game instantly recognizable. The distinctive art style of Pac-Land, inspired by the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series, creates a cohesive world that expands the Pac-Man universe beyond abstract mazes into a fully realized fantasy setting with towns, forests, and mountains for players to explore.

Pac-Land holds a significant place in gaming history as one of the earliest side-scrolling platformers with distinct levels, predating even Super Mario Bros. by a year.

While many retro games struggled to evolve established characters into new genres, Pac-Land successfully translated the appeal of Pac-Man into an entirely different gameplay style.

Its influence can be seen in numerous platformers that followed, particularly in how it established conventions for power-ups, level design, and character movement that would become standard in the genre.