Munch Man
| Munch Man | |
|---|---|
 Munch Man Manual (Front Cover) | |
| Publisher(s) | Texas Instruments |
| Original Retail Price | $39.95 |
| Programmer(s) | Jim Dramis |
| Part# | PHM 3057 |
| Format(s) | Solid State Software Command ModuleTM |
| Release | 1982 (1st Quarter) |
| Genre(s) | Action, Maze |
Munch Man is a Pac-Man clone released by Texas Instruments in the 1st quarter of 1982, and was distributed on Solid State Software Command ModuleTM. It was programmed by Jim Dramis, who also programmed Parsec and Car Wars. It originally sold for $39.95. Munch Man is one of the most popular titles produced for the TI-99/4A.
Contents
Gameplay
Although a Pac-Man clone, Munch Man introduced several differences which make for a unique gaming experience. For example, the Hoonos (equivalent to the Pac-Man ghosts) change from round to round. Each Hoono variety has unique intelligence and capabilities, making it more challenging for the player. There are 20 different Hoonos that the player needs to familiarize him/herself with. With each level, the Hoonos become more aggressive and more intelligent, eventually surpassing the speed of Munch Man.
The Hoonos maintain their color level to level, and each color signifies certain characteristics. For example, the red Hoono is the most intelligent on each level. The yellow is the most stupid but has the ability to disappear for short periods of time.
Another unique feature of Munch Man is that instead of eating pellets to clear the boars, as in Pac-Man, the Munch Man board begins clear, and Munch Man actually lays down links of a chain. To complete a level, the player must completely interlock the chain over the entire maze.
Levels 20, 40, and 60 are completely invisible, although the chain is completely connected, giving the player a fairly good sense of the maze's shape. However, as the player clears the chain, it becomes more difficult to navigate these invisible mazes.
Advertising Blurbs
Front Cover of Manual
Four cunning Hoonos are in hot pursuit of your Munchman while he races to an energizer to change the attack. Can he make it to safety, or does his fate lie in the mouth of the Hoonos?
Back Cover of Manual
Your Munch Man maneuvers through the maze, connecting the passages with a chain, when suddenly four Hoonos begin to close in around him. Can the Munch Man make it to an energizer in time or will the Hoonos devour him in his tracks? You determine the fate of the Munch Man with the Munch Man Command Module.
Munch Man tests your skill as you try to:
- Score points by connecting the passages with a chain.
- Score points by capturing Hoonos while you Munch Man is energized.
- Avoid being eaten by the Hoonos.
Fun Facts
- Originally, Munch Man gobbled dots and power-pills, just like Pac-Man. However, TI decided to avoid the risk of a lawsuit to replace the dots with laying down a chain and power pellets were changed out for TI logos.
- If you press in order "*#*" on the Munch Man title screen, it will allow you to choose the Round, Screen, and Number of Munch Men that you start with. It's an interesting way to see what the later levels are like if a player isn't able to get there by sheer skill. However, this cheat will cause the screen to display "Test Score" instead of "Your Score" so you won't be able to fool your friends. [1]
