Munchman

Infobox VG
title=


developer=Texas Instruments
publisher=Texas Instruments
designer=Jim Dramis
released=vgy|1982
genre=Maze

"Munchman" is a video game made exclusively for the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A home computer. Loosely based on Namco's Pac-Man, Munchman includes several variations that alter and enhance gameplay.

Object

The object of the game is similar to that of Pac-Man. However, as opposed to Pac-Man where the object of the game is to eat Pac-Dots, in Munchman, the object is to interconnect individual links to form a continuous chain. A level is completed when the entire playing area chain is completed.

Gameplay

The player operates the MunchMan using either the keyboard or joystick. The object of the game is to completely fill each level's maze with interlocking chain links until the entire board is completely filled with one continuous chain. Four cunning Hoonos (the Pac-Man equivalent of ghosts) attempt to thwart the Munchman's efforts to complete his mission. However, the Munchman always has his "Energizer" (the Pac-Man equivalent of a Power Pellet) which gives the Munchman the ability to devour the Hoonos. The game ends when the player is depleted of Munchmen.

Points

Points are earned in the game in the following ways:

# 10 points are earned for every link of the chain made.
# 70 points are awarded for each of the four Texas shaped energizers eaten per level.
# 100 points are given for the first Hoono munched, 200 for the second, 400 for the third, and 800 for the fourth.

For each 10,000 points earned, an extra Munchman is awarded. Although the play screen only shows up to four additional Munchmen, the games remembers any additional earned and applies them to your overall effort.

The Hoonos

Another unique feature that differentiates Munchman from Pac-Man are the Hoonos (similar to the ghosts of Pac-Man) that Munchman employs to prevent the player from reaching his/her goal. The Hoonos are different from level to level in both appearance and ability. For example, the Hoonos on the first level aren't particularly cunning nor aggressive. With each higher level, the Hoonos not only look totally different, but they become much more aggressive. The Hoonos also become much faster with each level, eventually becoming faster the Munchman. In addition, with each level, the Hoonos have a shorter vulnerable period (the time that Munchman can eat them) making it more difficult for the player to complete the level and move on to the next.

Although the shape of the Hoonos changes with each level, the colors of them remain consistent. Each level has Hoonos colored red, yellow, blue, and purple. The red Hoono on each level is the most intelligent, therefore the most likely to eat the Munchman. The yellow Hoono is the least intelligent of the bunch. However, to make up for it's lack of intelligence, the yellow Hoono has the ability to disappear occasionally for shorts periods of time, making it possible for it to sneak up on the player when least expected. There are 20 unique sets of Hoonos. Beginning with level 21, the Hoonos recycle shape.

External Links

* [http://www.videogamehouse.net/munchman.html TI-99/4A Videogame House – "Munchman"]
* [http://www.atariguide.com/menu/tiAlphaframe.htm Atari Guide – "Munch Man for the TI 99/4 a by Texas Instruments"]