Arcade1Up has released plenty of Pac-Man arcade cabinets over the years, but the newest full-size addition to its catalog might be the coolest yet. Launched on October 8, the Arcade1Up Limited-Edition Pac-Man Plus Deluxe Cabinetis now available for purchase at Amazon. Due to Arcade1Up labeling this particular Pac-Man cabinet a "limited edition," it would appear that once Amazon sells out, Pac-Man Plus will be gone for good.
If you don't have room for the Pac-Man Plus Deluxe Cabinet or want a more affordable way to play Pac-Man, Arcade1Up just released a new Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga Countercade. Though both of the new machines are listed as available now, Amazon currently estimates orders won't arrive until November 19.
This cabinet features a striking wood panel-inspired design, giving it an extremely retro flair. It's a more minimalistic style than the usual Arcade1Up cabinet, but it does have a wrap-around scene with ghosts chasing the ever-hungry Pac-Man and an RGB light strip beneath the cabinet that produces an under-glow effect.
Adding to its authentic look is the faux molded coin door and light-up marque dubbing Pac-Man Plus an "Exciting New" iteration of the classic game. It also has a faux-molded coin door.
The control panel has a real-feel joystick, six buttons, and switches for power and volume. Like other Arcade1Up Deluxe cabinets, Pac-Man Plus has a 17-inch screen, dual speaker system, and stands in at 61 inches (just over five feet) without needing a separate riser.
Here’s a look at the games available on the Pac-Man Plus Deluxe Cabinet:
- Pac-Man
- Dig Dug
- Dig Dug 2
- Pac-Mania
- Pac & Pal
- Super Pac-Man
- Pac-Man Plus
- Pac-Land
- Galaga
- Galaxian
- Galaga ‘88
- Mappy
- Rompers
- Rolling Thunder
You can even sync your scores online to a global leaderboard to see how you stack up to other players. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with Ms. Pac-Man, but Ms. Pac-Man fans should check out the countercade below.
Arcade1Up Class of '81 Ms. Pac-Man & Galaga Countercade
$150
The Arcade1Up Class of '81 Countercade features a 7-inch LCD screen, full-size arcade controls, and a cool design that’s wrapped in retro Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga graphics. The officially licensed tabletop machine can be powered by AA batteries or Micro USB. The Class of '81 Countercade comes with three games:
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Galaga
- Dig Dug
More Arcade1Up Pac-Man Cabinets
- Arcade1Up Pac-Mania Cabinet (14 games) -- $362 ($500)
- Arcade1Up Class of '81 Ms. Pac-Man & Galaga Deluxe Cabinet (12 games) -- $499
- Arcade1Up Pac-Man Deluxe Cabinet (14 games) -- $499
Some Arcade1Up Pac-Man cabinets are no longer manufactured, but a few other standing cabinets are still available, including the full-size version of Class of '81, a traditional Pac-Man Deluxe Cabinet with a bright yellow color scheme, and a machine themed around Pac-Mania. The Pac-Mania and yellow Pac-Man machines come with the same 14 games you get with with Pac-Man Limited Edition. Meanwhile, Class of '81 is the cabinet for Ms. Pac-Man fans.
If you like all of the designs, the most affordable option is the Pac-Mania-themed model. Amazon is selling Arcade1Up's Pac-Mania machine for $362 (was $500). It also comes with 100 bonus stickers.
Evercade Alpha: A more versatile countercade
If you like the idea of a countercade but don't want to be restricted to a small number of games, Blaze Entertainment's Evercade Alpha releases November 28 in two styles: Street Fighter and Mega Man. Each countercade comes with six games made by Capcom, but the big draw here is support for the 60-plus Evercade cartridge compilations. Evercade cartridges are themed around classic arcade, console, and handheld games for $20-$25 each. Our Evercade Alpha review will be published soon; it's a very impressive and versatile machine.
If you preorder the Evercade Alpha, you'll save $20 off its $250 list price.