Pac-Man

Lore & Background

Long before the Smash Bros. universe had a name, Pac-Man was already a household legend. Born in the fluorescent glow of 1980s arcades, the cheerful yellow circle set out on an endless quest to devour every pellet in a labyrinthine maze, all while dodging the four mischievous ghosts—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde—who chased him with relentless, almost theatrical determination. His world was one of simple, pure joy: a maze, a trail of dots, and the satisfying *nom nom nom* of a hungry, round hero.

In Their Own Story

The stage was quiet. A single pellet glinted under the arena lights, rolling slowly toward the edge of the platform. Then—a soft *womp womp* from the audience, the unmistakable jingle of a coin being collected—and there he was: a small, bright yellow circle, chomping in a smooth, endless rhythm. He rolled past a dazed opponent, leaving a faint trail of golden dots in his wake. A ghost, pink and slightly confused, tumbled off the stage and vanished into the void below. Pac-Man didn't even pause. He was already heading for the next pellet. The crowd roared. In the multiverse of Smash, even the smallest hero gets a standing ovation.

Reader's Guide

Name: Pac-Man Source Franchise: Pac-Man (Namco / Bandai Namco)

Unlock Method (Assist Trophy, 3DS/Wii U): Available as a standard Assist Trophy item, summoned by throwing the item onto the stage like any other. No special unlock conditions beyond standard item availability.

Single Action & Duration: Upon being thrown, Pac-Man flies in from off-screen as a small yellow circle. He rolls across the stage for a brief window—roughly three to five seconds—chomping pellets and occasionally nipping at a nearby ghost. He does not lock onto opponents or deal meaningful knockback. His primary utility is distraction and stage presence: he can briefly occupy an opponent's attention, block a path, or simply add a burst of arcade flavor to a chaotic match. After his short run, he flies off-screen and the item is spent. He is extremely small and easy to hit away if an opponent chooses to attack him during his active window.

Brawl Playable Moveset (for reference): In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pac-Man was a full lightweight fighter. His neutral attack was a quick forward chomp. His side special launched a ghost (reminiscent of the classic maze pursuers) that tracked toward opponents. His up special provided a vertical boost. His down special involved a pellet-eating action. His aerials featured spinning chomp attacks, and his smash attacks delivered heavier, wider chomps. His grab was a short-range mouth-based capture. He was notably light, fast, and relied on speed and combo strings rather than raw power.

Alternate Costumes (Brawl): Several color variants of the classic yellow circle, including different shades of yellow, orange, and a few alternate palettes reflecting the original arcade's color scheme.

Unique Mechanics: In Brawl, his ghost-based side special could be used for zoning and approach. His low weight made him highly floaty in the air but also very vulnerable to being launched. As an Assist Trophy in 3DS/Wii U, he has no recovery mechanic to speak of—he simply flies in, acts, and flies out. No combos, no follow-ups. Pure, simple arcade charm.

Did You Know?

• Pac-Man was one of the earliest non-Nintendo characters to appear as a fully playable fighter in the Smash Bros. series, debuting in Brawl in 2008.
• In Brawl, his side special attack launched a ghost that visually echoed the classic maze-chasing enemies from the original 1980 arcade game.
• As an Assist Trophy in the 3DS and Wii U entry, Pac-Man's entire on-stage presence lasts only a few seconds, making him one of the shortest-lived assist actions in the game.
• Pac-Man's original arcade debut in 1980 made him one of the most recognizable video game characters in history, predating the entire Smash Bros. franchise by nearly three decades.