Spunky (スパンキー Supankii) is a grey ghost from Pac-Mania, and is related to Funky.
In the Japanese versions of Pac-Mania, Spunky is referred to as being a "grey Common", following Funky's title of just "Common".
History[]
Original Spunky sprite.
Pac-Mania[]
- Main article: Pac-Mania
Spunky first appears in Pac-Mania. In the game, she is able to jump as high as Pac-Man. She is harder to avoid with jumps than Funky, but it is still possible to jump over her without being touched by her. Spunky does not chase Pac-Man as often as Funky, instead wandering around the upper areas of a maze, but will pursue Pac-Man if nearby.
In-game, Spunky first appears in Jungly Steps. After completing Jungly Steps, the second loop of mazes starts, in which she begins appearing in the other three levels; but she can only jump in Sandbox Land and Jungly Steps.
Pac-Man 256/Pac-Man 256+[]
- Main article: Pac-Man 256
Spunky returns in Pac-Man 256, alongside Funky. She sleeps until Pac-Man gets close to her; upon being woken up by him, she will chase Pac-Man mercilessly until she falls back to sleep (or when Pac-Man eats a Power Pellet).
- Main article: Pac-Man 256+
Spunky reprises her role as an enemy in Pac-Man 256+. Her behavior is nearly identical to that in Pac-Man 256. Unlike in the original game, though, Spunky will no longer flash when she is woken up.
The Sandbox Evolution[]
Spunky’s "awoken" sprite.
- Main article: The Sandbox Evolution
In The Sandbox Evolution, Spunky is once again seen sleeping, and will pursue Pac-Man if woken up. Spunky has a unique animation when woken up as opposed to simply flashing like before. When awoken, Spunky’s eyes will briefly display themselves as pink as she makes an angry expression.
Trivia[]
- In an interview with Polygon, Hipster Whale co-founder Matt Hall credited the bats from Spelunky as an inspiration for Spunky's behavior Pac-Man 256.[4]
- Her behavior in Pac-Man 256 is also similar to that of the Sleeping Ghosts from Pac-Man Championship Edition DX.
- She is the only ghost from Pac-Mania who lacks official artwork.
- Spunky's relationship with Funky is inconsistent, as some sources, such as promotional flyers, state that they are siblings, while others state that they are cousins, like the manual for Pac-Mania on the NES.[5][6][7]
- In pre-release footage of Pac-Man 256 seen in the game's trailer, Spunky's color is black instead of grey.
References[]
- ↑ "グレーは兄。" (Original)
"Grey is the older brother." (Translation)
- Pac-Mania Flyer - ↑ "He stays asleep unless PAC-MAN wakes him up." - The Sandbox Evolution Element Info
- ↑ "...the grey one is a strong jumper, so you can't jump over her." - Namco Museum Vol. 5 and Pac-Man Collection, Pac-Mania Tips
- ↑ https://youtu.be/l78IQycS4Y4?t=183
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ "Spunky (Black): 'Funky's Cousin'." - Pac-Mania (NES) manual, page 3 (PDF source)
- ↑ "For the record, the gray one is SPUNKY, the older brother, and the green one is the younger brother." - Arcade Archives Pac-Mania
| Pac-Man Characters | |
|---|---|
| Main Characters | Pac-Man • Ms. Pac-Man • Jr. Pac-Man • Baby Pac-Man • Professor Pac-Man • Chomp-Chomp |
| Other Characters | Miru • Sour Puss • Pac-Devil • Sir Pac-A-Lot • Pac-Master • Ms. Pac-Master • Krystal • Buttercup • Fairy |
| Pac-Ghosts | Blinky • Pinky • Inky • Clyde • Sue • Funky • Spunky • Kinky • Tim • Orson • Yum-Yum |
| Main Antagonists | Ghost Witch • Toc-Man • Mesmerelda • Mollusc • Spooky • Wandy • Erwin • Golvis • Ink Master • Mezmaron |
| Minor Antagonists | Gobblin • Jack • Wormwood • The Fiend |
| Pac-Man Party | Mr. Cookie • Patra • Roger • Woofa • Bearserk |
| Ghostly Adventures | Pacster • Cylindria • Spiral • Betrayus • Fuzbitz • Sir Cumference • Spheros • Dr. Buttocks • Butt-ler |
| Crossovers | Pooka • Fygar • Dig Dug • Mappy • Mr. Driller • The Prince • Mario • Sonic the Hedgehog |