Pac-Man

"My favorite video game character isn't Mario, it's Pac-Man."

- Shigeru Miyamoto

Pac-Man (originally Puck-Man) is a famous video game character created by Namco, who debuted in the arcade classic Pac-Man to great acclaim. He has since spun-off into other games and media, making crossover appearances with the Mario series in the Mario Kart Arcade games. Other icons from his debut title have appeared in the games such as his wife, Ms. Pac-Man and his arch-enemy, Blinky.

Mario Kart Arcade GP
Pac-Man makes his first crossover appearance in a Mario game as a playable character in the Namco-developed game, Mario Kart Arcade GP in 2005. In this title, Pac-Man is an all-around type character who shares a rivalry with Mario in terms of stats. His special items are Pooka, Rally X, and Boss Galaga, which are all based on characters from Namco's early arcade titles. Other Pac-Man characters such as Blinky and Ms. Pac-Man also appear as playable. Race courses inspired by the Pac-Man series featured in the game include Pac-Labyrinth and Pac-Mountain.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
A year later in 2007, Namco developed Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 where Pac-Man returns as a playable character. Ms. Pac-Man and Blinky return, as well as the race tracks Pac-Labyrinth and Pac-Mountain. He has his own kart based off of the spaceship in Galaga, another game made by Namco Bandai.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Pac-Man returns a playable character in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. His appearance has changed to his modern redesign, which first appeared in Pac-Man Party. The Soul Varoon, from Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, returns as his personal kart. In the game, he is classified as a middleweight character, meaning all of his stats are average, and has no notable advantages or disadvantages.

Trivia

 * In the GameCube title designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, Pac-Man Vs., Charles Martinet (voice of various characters such as Mario and Luigi) provides the voice for the narrator.
 * In small leaflets celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Mario series, there are pictures of Box Art from several recent Mario games decorating the edge. Oddly, artwork of the NES Classics version of Pac-Man was also on there (this was the only Non-Mario game featured).
 * Shigeru Miyamoto has often stated that Pac-Man is his favorite game character of all time.
 * Pac-Man made a cameo appearance in the Disney film Wreck-It Ralph as an attendee of the 30th Anniversary Party of Fix-It Felix, Jr.
 * If one looks closely during Greninja's introduction trailer, a cloud closely resembling Pac-Man can be seen in the background. Some fans have speculated that this was intentional and a hint that Pac-Man will be playable in the game.