Championship Pac-Man
NES demake of Pac-Man Championship Edition with regenerating mazes
Mission Overview & Story
An authentic 8-bit demake of Pac-Man Championship Edition for the RP6502 Picocomputer. Builds on the high-speed mechanics of the 2007 classic adapted for 6502 hardware: escalating Pac-Dot point multipliers, split-maze dynamic fruit regenerations, and an uncapped ghost combo chain system that rewards intense, high-speed routing.
1. Pac-Dots & Escalating Multipliers
Dots start at 10 points each. Every 60 Pac-Dots consumed within a single life raises the multiplier:
- 0–59 dots: 10 pts each
- 60–119 dots: 20 pts each
- 120–179 dots: 30 pts each
- 180–239 dots: 40 pts each
- 240+ dots: 50 pts each (Maximum!)
Penalty: Losing a life resets the multiplier back to 10 points.
2. Scared Ghost Combo System
Traditional Pac-Man ghost points double up to 1,600 after 4 ghosts. In Championship Edition, the sequence continues scaling indefinitely: 400 → 800 → 1,200 → 1,600 → 2,000 → 2,400 → 2,800 → 3,200 pts each! Eating a fresh Power Pellet while the energized timer is running extends the combo chain.
3. Split Mazes & Dynamic Fruit Regeneration
The maze is divided into left and right wings. Clearing all dots on one side causes a bonus fruit to spawn on the opposite side. Collecting the fruit instantly refreshes and rearranges the cleared half-maze with a fresh layout and new Power Pellets!
4. Timed Modes & Dynamic Speed
Championship Mode features an intense 5-minute countdown timer. Game speed increases dynamically as your score climbs. Extra lives are awarded every 20,000 points.
Controls Reference
Keyboard Controls
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Steer Pac-Man | ← → ↑ ↓ Arrow Keys |
| Start / Pause | Enter or P |
Gamepad Controls
| Action | Button / Input |
|---|---|
| Steer Pac-Man | D-Pad or Left Analog Stick |
| Start Game / Pause | Start Button |
Scoring & Multipliers
| Event / Target | Points | Effect / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pac-Dots | 10 to 50 pts each | Scales with 60-dot milestones |
| Ghost Combo #1 to #4 | 400 to 1,600 pts | Traditional doubling |
| Ghost Combo #5 to #7 | 2,000 to 2,800 pts | Championship scaling |
| Ghost Combo #8+ | 3,200 pts each | Max score per ghost |
| Bonus Fruits | 1,000 to 7,650 pts | Cherry → Key → Crown |
Pro Strategies & Survival Tips
- Keep the ghost combo chain alive! Time your side-clears so a new Power Pellet is reachable before the frightened timer ends.
- Stay alive at all costs to preserve the 50 pts/dot multiplier — score velocity drops sharply upon losing a life.
- Memorize the ghost eye return routes so you can intercept them the moment they respawn.