How to "Eat Up" Big Points in Pac-Man

Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man are two of the most endearing games of the video game era. While other early games have gone by the way of the dinosaur and Pac-Man has also evolved into other forms, many still play the original. Here's how to maximize your potential.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man game
• Clear mind
• Competitive spirit

1. Shake out your playing hand. Make certain it is loose.

2. Concentrate on making sharp cuts through the board. One false move and the ghosts will catch you.

3. Work on a specific pattern to start every round. Head down to the bottom of the board and try to eat up all the dots before the ghosts arrive. Don't leave any--going back to get them later will likely prove fatal!

4. Cruise toward the top of the board before eating any flashing dots. Now nearly half the dots are gone, which allows for easier completion of the board.

5. Stop before eating any flashing dot! Allow as many ghosts as possible to get close. Then eat the flashing dot and go after all the flashing ghosts with a vengeance!

6. Attack the fruits, which increase in point value as the game progresses. But remain wary of the ghosts. Going after a 100-point cherry isn't worth the danger, but eating a 5,000-point banana certainly is.

7. Play it safe. Don't go after a ghost that might be ready to turn back into aggressor mode. It's not worth it. Clearing the board is more important than foolishly trying for points and risking losing a turn.

Tips & Warnings

• Try different boards and levels. Playing the same board and level repeatedly tends to get boring. The challenge of competing in a variety of situations keeps the Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man experiences fresh.
• Stop for about 30 seconds between each round. The wrist tends to tire as it maneuvers the controller. The aches and pains tend to hinder performance.