"Come on in, my dear. I want to show you my latest invention! I call it... the Pactrometer." |
Professor Pac-Man (パック教授 Pakku Kyōju), also known as Professor Pac, is a character in the Pac-Man series. First appearing in the arcade game Professor Pac-Man, Professor Pac-Man is an elderly professor of great knowledge, often helping the Pac-Man family during quests.
History[]
Original Professor sprite.
Professor Pac-Man[]
Main article: Professor Pac-Man (game)
In his first appearance, Professor Pac-Man runs a schoolhouse, quizzing his student (the player) on puzzling questions.
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness[]
Main article: Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
A holographic Professor Pac appears as a tutorial guide for Ms. Pac-Man on how to solve certain puzzles. He is also in the opening cinematic, in which he gives Ms. Pac the Pactrometer.
Pac-Man World series[]
Pac-Man World[]
Main article: Pac-Man World
In Pac-Man World, Professor Pac is captured by Toc-Man, and must be rescued by Pac-Man. His role is reprised in the game's 2022 remake, Pac-Man World Re-Pac.
Pac-Man World 2[]
Main article: Pac-Man World 2
Professor Pac appears in the intro, informing Pac-Man about Spooky's antics the previous night. He sends Pac-Man off to defeat Spooky and reclaim the Golden Fruit.
Pac-Man: Adventures In Time[]
Main article: Pac-Man: Adventures in Time
In Pac-Man: Adventures in Time, Professor Pac talks with Pac-Man at the beginning of some levels, teaching him the game's mechanics. In the introduction, he calls Pac-Man on a television and warns him about Mollusc and his plan. He is also a playable character in the multiplayer modes.
Pac-Man Pinball Advance[]
Main article: Pac-Man Pinball Advance
In Pac-Man Pinball Advance, Professor Pac creates the Pac-Finder, a machine capable of finding the lost residents of Pac-Land that were kidnapped by the Ghost Gang.
Pac-Man Pop![]
Professor Pac in Pac-Man Pop!
Main article: Pac-Man Pop!
In Pac-Man Pop!, Professor Pac guides the player through the tutorial levels. He did not appear in the initial release - he was added in a later app revision.
Minecraft x Pac-Man[]
Main article: Minecraft x Pac-Man
Professor Pac-Man appears as a playable character in Minecraft's Pac-Man DLC.
Pac-Man Museum +[]
Main article: Pac-Man Museum +
Professor Pac appears in Pac-Man Museum+ as an NPC and a collectable figure.
Appearance[]
Professor Pac appears as an older gentleman with a white mustache. He wears glasses, and is always seen wearing a professor hat. He is often carrying a book around as well. Originally he did not have the mustache; it was added in Pac-Man World.
Trivia[]
- The Japanese website for Pac 'n Roll implies that Pac-Master is Professor Pac-Man in his youth. This would also mean that Professor Pac is the father of Ms. Pac-Man.
- The character Sir Cumference from Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is similar in nature to Professor Pac-Man, both being elderly geniuses who help Pac-Man out.
- In some Pac-Man media, Pac-Man wears a professor hat (generally in tutorial or history sections), possibly referencing Professor Pac-Man. Notable examples include Pac-Pix and the PlayStation 1 Namco Museum titles.
- Professor Pac-Man is effectively the only Midway-era Pac-Man character to have seemingly no legal issues in the present day; not being renamed or “replaced” with a similar character, as the remaining Midway cast has been (in titles such as Pac-Man Museum +).
- While it is unclear exactly why this is, it may have to do with alleged prior litigation regarding the Professor Pac-Man arcade game itself (between Midway and two industry veterans, Johnny Lott and Ed Adlum). It is possible that during this case, it was ruled that Midway/Namco properly owned the character; but due to limited information on the case, this cannot be confirmed.
Gallery[]
| 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 • Mezmeron |
| 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 |