History YMMV / PacMan

* BileFascination: The PortingDisaster for the UsefulNotes/Atari2600. What with the ports of ''Ms. Pac-Man'' and ''Jr. Pac-Man'' for the same console being far more {{polished|Port}}, re-releases of the original [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame arcade]] version for multiple platforms, and fan-favourite ''Pac-Man Championship Edition DX'', there's absolutely no reason to play ''Pac-Man'' on the Atari 2600 other than curiosity as to how bad it is.

** Pac-Man's design from that period is also up for debate. Some argue that it was a perfectly good design when it was originally used in ''VideoGame/PacManParty'' for the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, which lacked some of the more uncanny features which were added to it in ''Ghostly Adventures'' such as teeth, fingers, and eyelids. Some say that removing these features would help salvage the design. Others preferred when Namco simply reverted the design back to his more classic look.

* FandomVIP: Though the series is sure to have a lot of these due to its enormous cultural significance, perhaps the most notable example of a VIP is Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s own Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto. In fact, Miyamoto has gone on record saying Pac-Man is one of his favorite video game series and characters. He even ended up directing ''Pac-Man Vs.'' on the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] during a collaboration with Namco and was one of the most vocal figures in the push to include the titular character in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series.

** The Pac-Booster in the Tengen ''Ms. Pac-Man'' ports, as well as the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Genesis]] ''Pac-Mania'' port, makes the game easier due to the ability to get away from ghosts without hassle. On the "Hard" and "Crazy" difficulties though, [[DifficultyByAcceleration where the ghosts move way too fast in later levels]], having the Pac-Booster on goes from a helping hand to a requirement in order to have some breathing room.

* OvershadowedByControversy: The UsefulNotes/Atari2600 version has never managed to escape its contribution to UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, due to being a [[ChristmasRushed rushed]] PortingDisaster and Creator/{{Atari}} being [[ThisIsGoingToBeHuge so certain it would be a huge hit]] from the popularity of the original [[UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame arcade]] version that they manufactured more ''Pac-Man'' cartridges than there were Atari 2600s on the market at the time, assuming potential players would order more Atari 2600s solely to play ''Pac-Man'' at home. While the port was initially a commercial success, this marketing idiocy predictably backfired once word got out that it was a terrible port of the original, leading to many refunds and distrust towards Atari.

** The ports of ''Ms. Pac-Man'' and ''Jr. Pac-Man'' for the UsefulNotes/Atari2600 averted all the major problems of the disastrous port of the original ''Pac-Man'' and proved that a fun ''Pac-Man'' experience on the Atari 2600 was perfectly possible in spite of hardware limitations.
** While the Tengen [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]], UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, and UsefulNotes/{{Super Nintendo|EntertainmentSystem}} ports of ''Ms. Pac-Man'' did have to force the screen to scroll up and down for most mazes, it did also add simultaneous 2-player modes and three new sets of mazes to make up for it: "Mini" size mazes that neatly fit on the screen, [[MarathonLevel "Big" mazes]], and "Strange" mazes with some very [[GimmickLevel interesting]] maze designs.

** The UsefulNotes/Atari2600 version is the most infamous example of this trope, with annoying "ping" sounds replacing [[SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound the famous "wakka wakka" sounds]], ugly blocky graphics (a hallmark of the Atari 2600 but it does not work for ''Pac-Man'', and when the 2600 port of ''Ms. Pac-Man'' has more definition to its sprites, there's no excuse), the maze layout is awful, the controls are stiff, the ghosts are all one color and don't emulate the AI, and speaking of the ghosts, they flicker. A lot. Said port would infamously play a not-insignificant role in UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983.
** ''[[CompilationRerelease Pac-Man Collection]]'' for the [[UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance GBA]] has a few issues with the included games:

* SoOkayItsAverage: The general view on most games other than ''Pac-Man'' (the ''[[CompilationRerelease Namco Classic Collection]]'' version of ''Pac-Man Arrangement'' included), ''Ms. Pac-Man'', the first two games of the ''VideoGame/PacManWorld'' series, and the ''VideoGame/PacManChampionshipEdition'' games. A few other titles like ''VideoGame/PacLand'' (specifically the original arcade version and its UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 [[PolishedPort port]]) and ''VideoGame/PacMan99'' sometimes get thrown into the pile, though not without [[BrokenBase some debate]].

** When Pac-Man has eaten enough dots, Blinky goes faster. Fans call this "Cruise Elroy", but no one seems to know why.

** Clyde's AdaptationalIntelligence originated from this. Is the last to go out and be unpredictable an idiot or the boss?

** Pinky was a guy in this cartoon as well.

* DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound: Pac-Baby's loud wailing is very ear piercing to listen to.