"JavaScript-PacMan 2" is another step in the evolution of the famous "JavaScript-PacMan". This game is written in pure JavaScript and doesn't require any plug-ins or other extensions. If Flash-Player 9.0 or higher is detected, an additional Flash-movie is used to provide the sounds.
The use of sound may affect the animation speed of the game.
Set the sound slider to zero to optimize the game for slower machines.
"JavaScript-PacMan" was originally designed as a demo-page for an advanced employment of JavaScript animation techniques. The first version (for Netscape Navigator 3.0) was published in late 1996/Jan.1997 and might well have been the first arcade style game on the web implemented in JavaScript only!
How to Play
Anyone who doesn't know Pac-Man? Really? O.K. – That's how to play:
Guide the Pac-Man, the munching yellow ball, through the maze and eat all the food, the little white dots laid out all around the passages. But be aware of the ghosts: they will give their best to pursue and catch you. (The ghosts will become more intelligent and dangerous in higher levels.)
There are also some bigger pellets: the power pills. Swallow one of these to become invincible for a few seconds. Now – while the ghosts are turned blue – you my haunt those nasty runners for some extra points.
A propos scoring: You will collect an extra live for every 10000 points (but you may not have more than five lives in stock).
Moving / Controls
Use the cursor keys or the numeric keypad to navigate the pac-man.
You may also use the following keys:
| |
| W | (up) |
| (left) | A | S | D | (right) |
| (down) | |
|
or |
| I | (up) |
| (left) | J | K | L | (right) |
| (down) | |
|
Other controls:
| |
N | .... | New game |
|
P or ESC | .... | Pause / resume |
Touch Screens / Mouse Control
Control the pac-man by strokes (mouse gestures) at the maze:
- Click (tap) anywhere in the maze and drag the pointer in the desired direction.
(You may steer in advance, not only when the pac-man is just encountering a crossing.)
- Double-click (tap rapidly twice) to pause/resume the game.
- Use the "New Game" button to start a new game.
- Special Moves:
You may even use compound gestures (e.g.: left and up in a single movement): Steer in the first direction, keep the mouse down and steer in the next direction just after the turn.
This may be especially useful to navigate through winding passages as you haven't to click again for every turn.
Levels and Layouts
There are 3 sets of maze-layouts with 5 different levels each.
You may select any of these from the "Mazes" pop-up menu:
- Standard Levels: These are the levels of the original JavaScript-PacMan
- Aztec Levels: A tribute to the charms of the 1980ies' Jump'n'Run games
- Mini-Pac Levels: These levels share some resemblance with the layout of the original Pac-Man and the 4 levels of Ms. Pac-Man
- Hacker Levels: Another 6 challenging levels for the real hacker – including a thrilling visit to the mysterious depths of /dev/null
Finally there's the unique random maze generator, which provides an unlimited number of different mazes for endless fun and varying game play. Random levels will be generated on the fly when you successfully cleared the last designed level of a set. You may also choose "Random Levels" from the "Mazes" menu to start with random generated levels just from the beginning.
Dec. 1996/Jan. 1997: first release (for Netscape 3.0 and 12" screens)
