This is perhaps a lesser known title from Micromania that was one of many Pacman clones available for the ZX Spectrum.
If you like Pacman then this is a decent version to try. I never played this one back in the day but took the notion for a spot of Pacman gaming today.
So here is a quick review of a nice version of one of the most classic arcade games of all time...
![Ghost's Revenge - ZX Spectrum](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTMFKwtkO9F-a0hyphenhyphen8cJATFL_S5Xt3N6WI2lH-aLCckJByyMbm7t7-quKuPsD5Hn4BecpYYC41hhd8kGlwvJXU1-mBEuWBSgzmqbEOwv24s-QqzlLSCnBxSmPygD28SzTlj-8gUtFHzSwv/s320/showscreen%255B7%255D.gif)
Look it's one of many Pacman Games available for the Speccy - there isn't too much I can say about it that you won't already know! (Unless you've been living under a rock for the last thirty years).
Travel around the maze to gobble the pellets, avoid the ghosts (which do exhibit varying AI - just as they should) munch the power pills to make the ghosts eatable for a short amount of time. The screen also has the wrap-around from left to right and right to left - like any classic Pac-Man game should.
To complete the screen you have to eat all the dots and energy blobs in the maze whilst avoiding the blue, red, purple and green ghosts.
If a ghost touches you a life is lost. Eating a pulsating blob causes the ghosts to turn light blue and become vulnerable, allowing you to eat them to score extra bonus points.
After a short time they become invulnerable again - again just like the arcade game.
![The trippy menu screen to Ghost's Revenge](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTrbVgD40orVjQm36cmWpIXcALGXvgWqmUEIlbJnu9cATqII-NLqD8cbSBDIjhBCJ-DBNCckNzt6Qbly7KhKnSmluyqHted9YUUFqn_hwSVoGoCr-IfsmFtxWqcQhvA8MZulwWE-QnsCU/s320/showscreen%255B6%255D.gif)
One good thing about this game is the difficulty selection which actually adds variety to the game as well as making it more difficult or easier.
For example:
- LEVEL 1-3 Features normal mazes in the classic Pac Man style
- LEVEL 4-6 Features mazes which become invisible after a short time - pretty novel for 1983!
- LEVEL 7-9 Features completely invisible mazes
- LEVEL 10 Features an invisible maze coupled with double speed ghosts! Pac-tastically difficult
One annoying thing about the game is the little ditty that plays after you lose a life. I mean it's okay as far as BEEPER tunes go but it gets on yer pecs after a few times.
This game was also a title that would run on a 16K Spectrum - if you like Pacman then check it out.
And that's about it!
It's Pac Man, it's playable and it is a fine example of a total retro game.
We recommend getting hold of the real hardware - but if not then download a ZX Spectrum emulator and download anything but this game for the ZX Spectrum. Alternatively you could try and play it online.
GENRE: Arcade Game (Pac Man)
RELEASE DATE: 1983
RELEASED BY: Micromania
DEVELOPER(S): Dominic Wood
PRICE: £5.95
Classic Arcade Gaming:
The Maze Disappears - Pac Man is slightly scary!
Classic Games, Arcade Games and ZX Spectrum Games