Power Pellet

Merchandising artwork of multiple Pac-Dots and a Power Pellet, 2010s

A Power Pellet (パワーエサ Pawāesa) (also known as Energizers, Power Pills, Power Dots, Big Flashing Dots, Big Dots, Energy Dots, Energy Pellets, or Power Cookies) is a recurring powered-up Pac-Dot that appears in the Pac-Man series, commonly appearing alongside the Pac-Dots. In most appearances, Power Pellets temporarily power up Pac-Man or their users, allowing them to overpower the ghosts and their enemies and eat or defeat them.

History

Pac-Man

Main article: Pac-Man (game)

Power Pellets make their debut in Pac-Man as Energizers or Power Capsules. Four Energizers are present on the four corners of every maze. When Pac-Man eats an Energizer, all ghost within the maze turn blue and scared, as Pac-Man gains the temporary ability to eat Ghost Monsters. When Pac-Man eats a Ghost, he gains a 200 point bonus as the screen temporarily freezes (with the exception of any ghost eyes fleeing to the Ghost House), and the eaten ghost flees with its eyes to the Ghost House to regenerate their body. If consecutive Ghosts are eaten during the same Energizer effect, they will give out 400, 800 and 1,600 point bonuses for each of the consecutive ghosts in order. Ghosts will also slow down significantly during the effects, allowing Pac-Man to eat Dots safely. If an Energizer is eaten while the ghost is still without a body, they will not turn blue and will regenerate as a regular, non-scared Ghost when they arrive to the Ghost House.

When the Energizer effects are about to wear off, the scared ghosts will flash white five times before returning to normal (in shorter length occasions, they may flash three or two times). In later levels, the Energizer effects are weakened and last for shorter lengths. After the 21st round of the game, the Energizer will be weakened to the point where eating an Energizer will simply make the ghosts reverse directions, no longer turning blue at all, giving Pac-Man less breathing room. Each Energizer is worth 50 points.

Pac-Man Plus

Main article: Pac-Man Plus

The features of Energizers remain the same in Pac-Man Plus, though one of the following effects may occur along the Energizer effects:

• The regular Energizer effects occur, where all four ghosts become scared.
• Only three of the ghosts will become scared, while the fourth remains unaffected; although that ghost will reverse direction.
• The maze walls will become invisible until the Energizer wears off.
• The maze walls and all the remaining Dots will become invisible until the effect of the Energizer wears off.
• The scared ghosts will become invisible, but become visible again when they begin to flash white.

Eating the Bonus Fruit that appears in in the maze will trigger one of the same functions as the Energizer; which make the ghosts become scared and invisible, but also increases the point value of the Ghosts from 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 points for each consecutive ghost eaten. The Energizers remain at the same point value as the original Pac-Man, remaining at 50 points.

Ms. Pac-Man

Main article: Ms. Pac-Man (game)

Power Pellets return in Ms. Pac-Man. This time, they are called Energizers or Power Dots. Sharing the same functions and appearance from Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man gains the temporary ability to eat ghosts. The Energizers' ambience now has a sound tone that gradually increases, and the colors of the Energizers change alongside the Dots depending on the maze. The score values for each consecutive ghost eaten are the same as Pac-Man. Like its predecessor, each Energizer is worth 50 points.

Super Pac-Man

Main article: Super Pac-Man

In Super Pac-Man, Power Pellets return under the name of energy dots. Sharing similar functions to its predecessors, energy dots temporarily allow Pac-Man to eat Ghosts. The score values for each consecutive ghost eaten are the same as Pac-Man.

If Pac-Man has already eaten a super energy dot, eating an energy dot will extend the length of the Super form as long as the energy dot effects remain active. Unlike its predecessors, any Ghosts without their bodies will become scared and instantly regenerate their bodies if Pac-Man eats another energy dot, allowing them to be eaten. During the temporary screen freeze while a Ghost is being eaten, they will not move during this timeframe unlike its predecessors. Each energy dot is worth 100 points.

Jr. Pac-Man

Main article: Jr. Pac-Man (game)

Power Pellets return in Jr. Pac-Man, once again called Energizers. Sharing the same functions as its predecessors Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, eating an Energizer allows Jr. Pac-Man to temporarily eat the ghosts. Unlike its predecessors, Jr. Pac-Man features six Energizers across the mazes. with four Energizers appearing in the sixth and seventh mazes. The score values for each consecutive ghost eaten are the same as Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.

Energizers now face the risk of being destroyed, as a moving Bonus Fruit will move towards an Energizer and destroy the Energizer if the Bonus Fruit remains on the maze for a while. Like Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, each Energizer is worth 50 points.

Animated Series

Power Pellets being launched out of a vending machine in the Pac-Man animated series.

In Hanna Barbera’s Pac-Man, the Power Pellets are one of the main energy sources in Pac-Land. As well as powering up the people who consume the Power Pellets for combat against the Ghost Monsters, the energy of the Power Pellets is used as a power source for Pac-Land. Power Pellets are naturally produced through Power Pellet trees located at the Power Pellet Forest.

As the Power Pellets are a source of power, they become the target of Mezmaron and the Ghost Monsters, who intend to steal the Power Pellets and use their power to seize control of Pac-Land. Despite multiple occasions of Mezmaron and the Ghost Monsters succeeding in stealing the Power Pellets, their plans are foiled as they are reclaimed by Pac-Man and the Pac-People.

Baby Pac-Man

Main article: Baby Pac-Man (game)

Power Pellets appear in Baby Pac-Man, once again called Energizers. Like previous games, eating an Energizer allows Baby Pac-Man to eat the ghosts. The point value for each consecutive ghost eaten increases from 2,000 to 4,000, 8,000 and a maximum of 16,000 points.

When the maze begins, there are no Energizers present in the maze, which make it difficult to avoid the ghosts. Energizers can be earned by lighting up the P-A-C-M-A-N lights on the pinball side of the maze, which can be accessed by traveling through the tunnels below each maze. Each Energizer eaten is worth 500 points.

Pac-Land

Main article: Pac-Land

Power Pellets appear in Pac-Land, which are referred to as energy pellets. Unlike its predecessors, the energy pellet has a consistent yellow color throughout its appearances and flashes white. Energy pellets appear a maximum of two times in rounds, though in some rounds they do not appear. When Pac-Man eats an energy pellet, all the Ghosts and miniature Ghosts turn dark purple and scared, allowing Pac-Man to eat them. Any Ghosts riding vehicles will lose their vehicle and will come out slowly floating downwards, also slowly moving towards the left of the area during the effects. The energy pellets can also be used to escape a speeding Sue when the timer is depleted. When the energy pellet's effects wear off, any uneaten ghosts will flee off-screen.

Pac-Man can eat the Ghosts and miniature Ghosts for bonus points, accumulating from 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200 and a maximum of 7,650 points for each consecutive Ghost eaten during the effects. If Pac-Man eats four Ghosts and eats Sue as the fifth Ghost, a Lucky Pac will spawn, which converts remaining time into bonus points and fully replenishes the timer. Unlike previous games, there is no point value for eating an energy pellet.

Pac-Mania

Main article: Pac-Mania

In Pac-Mania, Power Pellets, referred as Power Pills, return. Like Pac-Land, Power Pills retain their yellow color. Functioning similar to its predecessors, the Power Pills once again allow Pac-Man to eat the ghosts temporarily. Unlike its predecessors, eating another Power Pill while Power Pill effects are still active will not reset the point values of the ghosts, allowing the player to accumulate points faster. The point values will increase for each consecutive ghost eaten, going from 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200 and a maximum of 7650 points.

In certain rounds, a Red Power Pill will appear in the Bonus Fruit location of the maze. While functioning the same as a regular Power Pill, the Red Power Pill's effects are shorter, though they double the point values for all ghosts after eating a Red Power Pill (the score value for each consecutive ghost changes to 400, 800 and 7,650 points for all ghosts following). This scoring change continues to apply until Pac-Man loses a life. If Pac-Man is under the effects of both a Green Power Pill and a normal Power Pill, both effects will wear off at the same time. Each Power Pill is worth 300 points, while the Red Power Pills are worth 7,650 points.

Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures

Main article: Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures

In Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures, Power Pellets serve as a throwable object that aids Pac-Man alongside the slingshot pellets. When the player uses the Y Button to throw a Power Pellet to Pac-Man, Pac-Man will notice and eat the Power Pellet, which temporarily transforms him into Super Pac-Man. The player can hold up to three Power Pellets at once, though more Power Pellets can be obtained through several circumstances; including Pac-Man's Tree, trash cans, machines and playing the Pac-Man games at the arcades.

As Super Pac-Man, Pac-Man gains muscles, a red bandana and a cape. Super Pac-Man can fly in the air and eat the Ghosts. After the end of the Power Pellet effects, Pac-Man returns to his regular form and returns to his normal happy state, regardless of his previous emotional state. The Power Pellets are required to progress in some circumstances, such as retrieving Pac-Jr's guitar from the Ghosts and fighting off the Gum Monster.

Pac-In-Time

Main article: Pac-In-Time

In Pac-In-Time, Power Pellets appear throughout the levels and allow Pac-Man to eat Ghosts, which cannot be defeated through Pac-Man's normal attacks.

Pac-Man Arrangement (1996)

Main article: Pac-Man Arrangement (1996)

In Pac-Man Arrangement, Power Pellets return, sharing similar effects to its predecessors. Like the previous maze games, the colors of each Power Pellet change between levels, though they now pulse in size and have the letter "P" marked on the dots. Sharing mostly the same mechanics as the original Pac-Man, Power Pellets allows Pac-Man to eat Ghosts. Ghosts will also slow down while Pac-Man is under the effect of a Power Pellet; this mechanic is most relevant for Kinky, who normally moves much faster than the other Ghosts. Unlike previous games, there is no brief screen freeze when Pac-Man eats a Ghost; instead, Pac-Man continues to move and all the other Ghosts will freeze in place for a split second.

The point values for each consecutive Ghost eaten are 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200 and a maximum of 7,650 points per consecutive ghost. If a Large Ghost is eaten, the point value of said Ghost will double, and will continue doubling from that point value until it reaches 7,650 points (i.e., if a Large Ghost is the second Ghost eaten, it will give out a total of 800 points (400 * 2). The next Ghost eaten will give out 1,600 points, and so on.). Eating Kinky triggers the same effect as a Power Pellet; if any other Ghosts are normal during the effects of a Power Pellet when Kinky is eaten, they will become vulnerable until the effect wears off.

Pac-Man World series

Pac-Man World

Main article: Pac-Man World

In Pac-Man World, Power Pellets—just like in the original arcade game—are used to eat Ghosts, whom Pac-Man cannot defeat with his regular attacks. They are regularly placed throughout normal levels and mazes and appear alongside Pac-Dots after activating certain Switches.

Power Pellets also serve a special purpose in Clown Prix, where they are found scattered across several points on the racetrack. If Pac-Man collects a Power Pellets and then presses the 〇 button, he will quickly dash forward. This move can be used to bypass the various Clown Racers or to knock them off the course more easily. Also unique to this level is a counter specifically for Power Pellets. Collecting one increases the counter by one, and using one decreases it by one. If the counter is at zero, Pac-Man is unable to dash.

During the game's ending cutscene, Pac-Man uses a Power Pellet to eat Orson after the latter laments about Ghosts being unappreciated.

Pac-Man World Re-Pac

Main article: Pac-Man World Re-Pac

Pac-Man World Re-Pac has Pac-Man transform into Mega Pac-Man whenever he eats a Power Pellet.

Power Pellets return in the aforementioned game's remake, Pac-Man World Re-Pac. In this game, eating a Power Pellet will make Pac-Man transform into Mega Pac-Man, allowing him to eat Ghosts and other enemies, as well as destroy fragile objects like boxes. While the Power Pellet is in effect, temporary platforms appear to prevent Mega Pac-Man from falling into a bottomless pit.

Power Pellets have special roles in two of the game's boss fights. In King Galaxian, touching a Power Pellet will temporarily upgrade Pac-Man's Cannon into a spread shot, allowing him to more easily shred through enemies and obstacles. Power Pellets also once again appear in Clown Prix; however, they function differently in this game. Instead of providing a burst of speed, touching a Power Pellet simply makes Pac-Man invulnerable for a short period of time. It also changes the size and color of Pac-Man's kart.

During the game's final boss fight, Toc-Man fuses two Power Pellets to create a large and powerful Power Pellet. He then consumes it, enlarging himself to a gargantuan size and immensely increasing his power. At the end of the fight, Toc-Man slams Pac-Man into his birthday cake, which just so happens to have a Power Pellet. Pac-Man eats the Power Pellet, transforms into an even larger Mega Pac-Man, and overpowers the giant Toc-Man by chomping him. Additionally, if Pac-Man failed to save all his family members before fighting Toc-Man, he will pull out a Power Pellet and chomp Orson like in the original game.

Pac-Man World 2

Main article: Pac-Man World 2

In Pac-Man World 2, Power Pellets share the same function as in its predecessor: it allows Pac-Man to eat the otherwise invulnerable Ghosts.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac

Main article: Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac

Power Pellets return in Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, once again turning Pac-Man into Mega Pac-Man. Mega Pac-Man is able to instantly defeat Ghosts and other enemies by running into them. He is also able to break certain environmental objects—such as rocks—that are otherwise indestructible. Mega Pac-Man is not completely invincible, however, as he will still die if he touches an instant-killing hazard, such as lava. Unlike in Pac-Man World Re-Pac, temporary platforms do not appear while a Power Pellet is in effect, even in areas that are suspended above a bottomless pit.

Pac-Man World 3

In Pac-Man World 3, Power Pellets share the same function as its predecessors, where Pac-Man uses the large Power Pellet to defeat Spectral Monsters, which cannot be defeated with Pac-Man's regular attacks.

Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness

In Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness, Power Pellets give Ms. Pac-Man gains the temporary ability to overpower her enemies. In addition to being able to eat ghosts, Ms. Pac-Man can also defeat the maze's enemies, whom also turn blue during Power Pellet effects. The maze enemies do not respawn until a life is lost. Multiple Power Pellets are spread across the mazes.

Pac-Man: Adventures in Time

In Pac-Man: Adventures in Time, Pac-Man uses the Power Pellet to eat the ghosts, although it does not save him from any maze hazards.

Pac-Man Vs.

In Pac-Man Vs., the player controlling Pac-Man can eat Power Pellets in the maze in order to eat the Ghost players. Like the original Pac-Man, the ghosts will slow down upon Power Pellet effects activating. For each consecutive ghost Pac-Man eats, the player controlling Pac-Man will steal 200, 400 and 800 points from the chomped players for each consecutive ghost eaten.

Pac 'n Roll

In Pac 'n Roll, Power Pellets are used to eat ghosts and Golvis, as they cannot be harmed by Pac-Man's dash attacks. If Pac-Man eats three ghosts in a row while Power Pellet effects are active, a portion of his health will be replenished. In order to defeat Golvis in the boss rounds, Pac-Man must stack up to three simultaneous Power Pellet effects in order to make Golvis turn blue.

In the plot of the game, Pac-Master uses a Power Pellet in order to stop Golvis and the Ghosts from ambushing the Harvest Festival, but this fails as Golvis is immune to the effects of a single Power Pellet. Golvis boastfully mentions that one or two Power Pellets won't affect him, which Pac-Man and Krystal take advantage of and discover his weakness.

Pac-Man Championship Edition series

Pac-Man Championship Edition

In Pac-Man Championship Edition, Power Pellets return and function the same way as they did in the original Pac-Man. The maze will distort and turn red during Power Pellet effects, and will slowly revert to its original color as the effects wear off.

If Pac-Man eats a Power Pellet while Power Pellet effects are still active, the current consecutive ghost point value will be retained. For each consecutive ghost eaten, the point value of the ghosts will increase from 400, 800, 1,200, 1,600, 2,000, 2,400, 2,800 and a maximum of 3,200 points. Each Power Pellet, like a Pac-Dot, is worth 10 points.

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

In Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, the Power Pellets share the same function as its predecessor, though they now appear less frequently and appear only in specific maze portions. A timer for Power Pellet effects is indicated below the round timer. The timer will flash white when a Power Pellet is eaten while another one is still active to indicate the ghost combo hasn't been lost.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

In Pac-Man Championship Edition 2, the Power Pellets share the same function as its predecessors, also appearing less frequently in comparsion to its predecessors. The amount of points awarded for each leader Ghost eaten will increase by 10,000 points for each leader Ghost eaten, while each Minion Ghost eaten will increase by 100 points per consecutive ghost eaten. Power Pellets typically appear in mazes where a large amount of Minion Ghosts spawn, and appear more frequently around the later mazes. In later mazes and always in the Extreme mode, the Power Pellets will become enclosed in Runaway Bubbles.

At the end of boss rounds in the Tutorial and Adventure, there is a super-powered Power Pellet (referred as a Super Pellet) which clears the round when eaten, allowing Pac-Man to shatter the giant boss ghost roaming in the background and call all of his remaining lives to eat the fleeing Minion Ghosts.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus

The Power Pellets in Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus remain identical to the regular Pac-Man Championship Edition 2. In the Plus 2P mode, Power Pellets will turn the ghosts and blue and can be pushed to the middle line of the maze, where they can be sandwiched by the two Pac-Men and eaten. The Ghost Train can also be sandwiched by the Pac-Men for a large point bonus.

Power Pellets also spawn when all the Pac-Dots in a boss maze are eaten, which makes the boss ghost angry when it appears. When eaten, the Power Pellet effects will make the boss ghost vulnerable, allowing the Pac-Men to attack the boss ghost and destroy it.

Pac-Man Party

Main article: Cookies

In Pac-Man Party, Power Pellets go under the name as Power Cookies. Power Cookies are earned through playing mini-games, which are triggered by attacking a player's castle.

Each player being able to hold up to eight Power Cookies at a time, using one allows the player eating the Power Cookie to gain a boost in the mini-games, making the mini-game easier for the player. The effects of the Power Cookie depend on the mini-game selected.

Pac-Man Tilt

In Pac-Man Tilt, Pac-Man can store Power Pellets and eat ghosts like it normally does but unusual for most of its appearances, it can also turn him invincible during its duration against other traps.

Pac-Man Battle Royale

In Pac-Man Battle Royale, eating a Power Pellet generated by one of the Fruits will turn that player's Pac-Man giant, which allows them to eat ghosts and other Pac-Man players.

During Power Pellet effects, the supersized Pac-Man moves faster than other players and ghosts. Depending on the player's position, the Power Pellet's effects may last shorter than the regular timeframe. If a player loses the game, one of the statics that are tracked involve the total amount of ghosts eaten by the player.

Pac-Man 256

In Pac-Man 256, Power Pellets are a default Power-Up that appear in the mazes, and allow Pac-Man to eat ghosts. Unlike previous games, Power Pellets do not give point values.

For each ghost eaten, the point value for each ghost will increase by 10 points for each ghost eaten (going from 10, 20, 30 points and etc.). If another Power Pellet is eaten during Power Pellet effects, the time will be renewed and the score value will not reset. Eating other Power-Ups during Power Pellet effects will increase the time of the effect by a portion. Eating a ghost during Power Pellet effects will also extend the effect by a small amount.

Gallery

Artwork

Merchandising, 2000s

Merchandising, 2010s

Screenshots

Pac-Man World 3 (pre-release)

Pac-Man World 3

Pac 'n Roll Remix

Sprites

Pac-Man

Related articles

• Power Berry, an alternative to Power Pellets used in Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures.
• Steel Ball Power Up, a special Pac-Dot featured in the Pac-Man World series