website/content/software/pak-pak-monster.md

---
title: Pak Pak Monster
tags:
- eat them all
- maze
years:
- '1981'
params:
  image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_box-inlay_2_s.jpg
  specs:
  - label: year of release
    value: '1981'
  - label: companies
    value: Epoch
  - label: type
    value: game
  - label: media
    value: cartridge
  - label: systems
    value: Epoch Cassette Vision
  - label: number of players
    value: 1 player
  screenshots:
  - title: let's start the first level
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss01.jpg
  - title: you must eat all the crosses
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss02.jpg
  - title: when you eat a cross it changes color
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss03.jpg
  - title: only an orange cross can be definately eaten
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss04.jpg
  - title: question mark bonuses randomly appear in the maze
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss05.jpg
  - title: this one was worth 400 points
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss06.jpg
  - title: pass over the big pill to eat the monsters
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss07.jpg
  - title: you've eaten the two monsters!
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss08.jpg
  - title: ''
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss09.jpg
  - title: another question mark bonus!
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss10.jpg
  - title: only one cross left
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss11.jpg
  - title: well done, level 1 completed
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss12.jpg
  - title: let's start level 2
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss13.jpg
  - title: blocks color is different
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss14.jpg
  - title: you've been caught
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss15.jpg
  - title: level 3 - blocks are invisible
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss16.jpg
  - title: ''
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss17.jpg
  - title: only one life left
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss18.jpg
  - title: level 3 completed
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss19.jpg
  - title: level 4
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss20.jpg
  - title: game over
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_ss21.jpg
  - title: box inlay
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_box-inlay_2.jpg
  - title: box inlay
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_box-inaly_1.jpg
  - title: box - edge
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_box-edge_1.jpg
  - title: box - back
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_box-rear_1.jpg
  - title: box inlay - back
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_box-inlay-rear_2.jpg
  - title: cartridge
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_cart_2.jpg
  - title: documentation
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_doc_1.jpg
  - title: documentation (verso)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/epoch_cv_pakpakmonster_doc_2.jpg
  machines:
  - /museum/epoch-cassette-vision
  company: /companies/epoch
  oc_id: 665
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20220521093903/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/software_detail.asp?id=665
    date: '2022-05-21'
---

Pak Pak Monster is undoubtly a Pac-Man clone. But here programmers have changed enough game principles to avoid the lawsuit.

There is only one maze, if one can call this a maze, as it's more like 8 big blocks scattered around a central cross (from where the monsters regenerate themselves).

The main goal is still the same: control your pac-man to eat all the dots (7 small crosses in fact) placed around the maze. Avoid being caught by the monsters (only 2 of them), which are vulnerable for a few seconds after you eat the big pill at the top left of the screen.

In fact, when you eat a cross, it doesn't disappear instantly, it only changes color following this order: green -> purple -> orange. Only when you eat an orange cross will it be eaten for good and dissapear. Of course you can't pass over and over on the same cross. You have to eat another cross before coming back to the first one. This principle cleverly requires the player to move all around the maze constantly. Same rule apply for the special pill.

As in the original game, bonuses sometimes appear in the maze for a limited time (symbolised by a big question mark). Catch them for better score.

Speed of the monsters increases with the levels and on the third level, maze blocks are invisible!

Pak Pak Monster is an original adaptation of the Pac-Man arcade hit. It is well adjusted to the Cassette Vision limited features. However, the main drawback was how the controls are used on the console. The Cassette Vision has no up/down button or joystick, resulting in a awkward way to play the game. This was solved with the Cassette Vision Jr wich includes more practical arrow keys.