Hello Kitty ♥ Pac-Man is a brand collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment and Sanrio, starting in 2017. A handful of different products were released for the promotion, including a new variant of the original Pac-Man arcade game.
There was an additional promotion in late 2021 titled "Pac-Man x Sanrio Characters"; adding a "Story Mode" level to the Pac-Man + Tournaments game, and representing numerous other Sanrio characters (such as Cinnamoroll and My Melody) alongside Hello Kitty and Pac-Man.
Appearances[]
Event & Arcade[]
The Hello Kitty ♥ Pac-Man video game was first released in 2017 as limited-time event for Pac-Man + Tournaments. It was later republished in 2020 as part of the World's Smallest Tiny Arcade line by Super Impulse. These are the features found in the Hello Kitty game that differ from the original arcade:
- All mazes have been changed in unique shapes and colors, such as one resembling a rubber duck.
- The ghosts have white bows on their heads.
- Some levels only feature three ghosts instead of four.
- The giant Pac-Man in the first intermission is replaced with Hello Kitty; this is the only time she actually appears in-game.
Adventure Event[]
Beginning in December of 2021, a new set of Sanrio characters levels were added to Pac-Man + Tournaments, as part of the limited-time Adventure mode. By completing the levels, the player can fill in a special Pac-Album with a Christmas Sanrio picture (featuring Pac-Man, Hello Kitty, Pompompurin, Pochacco, and Tuxedo Sam). Completing the game unlocks a Pac-Skin named "Sanrio Pac-Man", who seems to be a (rather bizarre) "loophole" attempt at representing Ms. Pac-Man.
Merchandise[]
Additional Hello Kitty ♥ Pac-Man products were also produced. There was a set of figures only sold at Comic Con 2017 with a Hello Kitty, 8-bit Pac-Man, and 8-bit ghosts. There was a variant of this set with a completely blue-colored Kitty, and four 8-bit blue ghosts. Other products included pins, bags, backpacks, and a few housewares such as ceramic bowls.
The later Pac-Man x Sanrio Characters promotion featured more merchandise pieces, the majority of which are of Ghosts wearing hats of Sanrio characters. A plush set, a keychain set, and two "blind box" figure sets were released; there are several additional items that appear to be bootlegs (such as a large pillow of Pinky in a Cinnamoroll hat).
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