Is Pac-Man our first Summon Character?

[Swamp Sensei]

As one can see, Pac-Man can summon old retro Namco characters and objects to attack.

It seems he has quite a lot of these. Almost seems like it's his main "gimmick" if you will.

The Summon Character archetype is an archetype that's rarely expanded upon in fighting games and hasn't really been touched on in Smash.

Do you think Pac-Man is our first "Summon Character?"

 

[Deleted member]

As one can see, Pac-Man can summon old retro Namco characters and objects to attack.

It seems he has quite a lot of these. Almost seems like it's his main "gimmick" if you will.

The Summon Character archetype is an archetype that's rarely expanded upon in fighting games and hasn't really been touched on in Smash.

Do you think Pac-Man is our first "Summon Character?"

Yes, in fact his ability to summon other Namco characters is mostly what has made me go from indifferent to his inclusion to actually interested in playing/maining him due to the possibilities that each of the Namco Summons could add to his moveset. A good example is the Galaga Ship they show in the trailer that he throws at Fox that hits him twice and then Pac-Man follows up with an aerial for a successful combo.

I think having these summons can really expand on Pac-Man's combo possibilities and is again, the major reason I've become very interested in him thus far.

 

[BridgesWithTurtles]

I don't think he's actually a summoner. The Galaga aliens, free-roaming ghosts, and Special Flag don't have the black outlines around them like his other sprite-based props. I think the "Namco summoning" move is just a taunt. The only summon he really has, if this is the case, is the Galaxian ship, which is part of his fruit-based move.

 

[The Real Gamer]

A good example is that one thing they show in the trailer (I have no idea what it's called) that he throws at Fox that hits him, Pac-Man does an aerial in between, and then the Summon comes back and hits Fox again for a successful combo.

I think that's the ship from Galaga... I'd have to re-watch the trailer to confirm.

Spoiler

To the topic at hand yes I'd consider Pac-Man our first summon character.

I really like how he incorporates moves from various games... Very creative and based on what we've seen the execution was great.

The only summon he really has, if this is the case, is the Galaxian ship, which is part of his fruit-based move.

Can you elaborate on this? How exactly would the ship be part of his fruit attack?

 

[Hong]

Not Olimar? Pac-Man's summons AFAIK are just items with different trajectory when thrown, and his smash attacks are no more disjointed hitboxes like Ness's bat. Comparatively, Pikmin have a persistent and variable AI, which has become even more complex now that they will pick up items they are thrown to and carry them to Olimar.

Unless you meant thematically.

 

[Swamp Sensei]

Not Olimar? Pac-Man's summons AFAIK are just items with different trajectory when thrown, and his smash attacks are no more disjointed hitboxes like Ness's bat. Comparatively, Pikmin have a persistent and variable AI, which has become even more complex now that they will pick up items they are thrown to and carry them to Olimar.

Unless you meant thematically.

Olimar is more of an "Ammo character."

He can fire and "reload" his weapons.

 

[Hong]

Olimar is more of an "Ammo character."

He can fire and "reload" his weapons.

This much is true, though I felt Pikmin were the closest thing to actual summons that we'll have.

Suppose we'll have to see if the projectiles have an actual AI to any of them.

 

[Deleted member]

This much is true, though I felt Pikmin were the closest thing to actual summons that we'll have.

Suppose we'll have to see if the projectiles have an actual AI to any of them.

The Galaga ship in the trailer seems to actively hunt down Fox, although I'm not sure if this counts or not.

EDIT: It doesn't, I'm just really stupid and inobservant.

 

[The Real Gamer]

I feel like Pikmin act more as ammunition than true summons.

In my mind a summon appears, does their thing, and then disappears immediately afterwards... Think Zelda's Phantom Knight.

 

[Hong]

The Galaga ship in the trailer seems to actively hunt down Fox, although I'm not sure if this counts or not.

I think it has paper-plane AI, and does a loop de loop.

 

[TeenGirlSquad]

That ship is from Galaxian.

Not Galaga.

 

[Hokori]

As one can see, Pac-Man can summon old retro Namco characters and objects to attack.

It seems he has quite a lot of these. Almost seems like it's his main "gimmick" if you will.

The Summon Character archetype is an archetype that's rarely expanded upon in fighting games and hasn't really been touched on in Smash.

Do you think Pac-Man is our first "Summon Character?"

If Pac-Man turns out to be a Summon Character, then he's easily going to be the most fun and interesting character to use IMO. I do feel like that's going to be the case though. Maybe not in the way I'm imagining right now, but I do believe he'll be as close to a true Summon Character as we 'll get.

 

[Collective of Bears]

I don't think he's actually a summoner. The Galaga aliens, free-roaming ghosts, and Special Flag don't have the black outlines around them like his other sprite-based props. I think the "Namco summoning" move is just a taunt. The only summon he really has, if this is the case, is the Galaxian ship, which is part of his fruit-based move.

My current theory is that the Namco summons are a custom variant of the fruit throw.

 

[ToothiestAura]

Well, he's the first with so many summons. Zelda has one now, mind you.

 

[Bauske]

Can you elaborate on this? How exactly would the ship be part of his fruit attack?

It looks like his standard B is a move that cycles through fruit. The longer you hold the button, the better the fruit you'll get.

In the classic Pac-Man game, the fruit went in this order: Cherry, Strawberry, Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Galaga Alien, Bell, and Key. My theory is that after you let go of the B button, Pac-Man will hold onto whatever item you stopped on, much like he would hold onto an item. You can then throw it.

Each type of fruit will probably have different properties, similar to the different Pikmin Olimar plucks from the ground. The Cherry and Strawberry will probably be pretty weak, as will the Orange, as we saw it bounce off of Mega Man's shot in the trailer. After that, I'm theorizing the fruit will get stronger and stronger. The Apple will probably do moderate damage, the Pineapple will probably roll across the ground, the Galaga Alien homes in on someone and attacks them, the Bell will probably do some sort of sound wave attack, and the Key will probably be something very heavy and damaging.

Just theories, of course. I have no idea. But this is what I'm expecting from him. Otherwise, no, I don't think he's too much of a summoning character, because as others have stated, the random Namco characters he's holding seem to be part of a taunt. It's really hard to say right now.

 

[Ryan.]

We'll have to see. By the little footage we have so far of him, he is turning out to be a unique character. :D

I am just now seeing a bunch of new usernames in red btw, congrats to all the new mods.

 

[Ragna22]

I think the closest we have to a summon character in Smash besides Pac-Man is King Dedede who summons Waddle-Dees, Waddle-Doos and Gordos, well it's only Gordos now but you get the point.

 

[Speculator]

He's not a summon character in the traditional way. It's more like he uses the ghosts and other Namco stuff as weapons. Olimar is more of a summon character in the sense that he can summon actual minions to swarm and fight for him, but he's still very involved himself with what the Pikmin do and where they go. A true summon character would have the ability to spawn Smash Run-esque enemies onto the battlefield, that could act somewhat independently and attack opponents.

 

[Rocket Raccoon]

Sakurai thinks that is the god of Namco.

In which he is.

 

[True Blue Warrior]

As one can see, Pac-Man can summon old retro Namco characters and objects to attack.

It seems he has quite a lot of these. Almost seems like it's his main "gimmick" if you will.

The Summon Character archetype is an archetype that's rarely expanded upon in fighting games and hasn't really been touched on in Smash.

Do you think Pac-Man is our first "Summon Character?"

I believe so, which is just as well as it makes sense for Pac-Man in a fresh and interesting way.

 

[ChikoLad]

Peach summons Toad.

Zelda summons a Darknut (hope that's the right name, blegh).

Olimar summons Pikmin.

Rosalina summons Lumas.

Dedede could summon Waddle Dees, Waddle Doos, and Gordos in Brawl, limited to just Gordos in Smash 4.

I'm probably missing some but you get the point.

 

[OddCrow]

Pacman is truly the first "Summon" Character, if we're going with the assumed/obvious definition of Summoner. This gives me GREAT hopes for Andy from AW.

Peach summons Toad.

Zelda summons a Darknut (hope that's the right name, blegh).

Olimar summons Pikmin.

Rosalina summons Lumas.

Dedede could summon Waddle Dees, Waddle Doos, and Gordos in Brawl, limited to just Gordos in Smash 4.

I'm probably missing some but you get the point.

I'd classify Phantom Knight, Gordos and Toad as attack animations and Pikmin and Lumas as puppets/companions.

 

[ChikoLad]

Pacman is truly the first "Summon" Character, if we're going with the assumed/obvious definition of Summoner. This gives me GREAT hopes for Andy from AW.



I'd classify Phantom Knight, Gordos and Toad as attack animations and Pikmin and Lumas as puppets/companions.

And I could say the same about Pac-Man's attack animations...

 

[Canuckduck]

What about Pokemon Trainer?

 

[Con0rrrr]

If he's a summon character... then what is that flagpole item? I was under the impression that the "summon" moves pac was doing in the trailer was just him using the item

 

[Zzuxon]

If he's a summon character... then what is that flagpole item? I was under the impression that the "summon" moves pac was doing in the trailer was just him using the item

If you look carefully, the free roaming ghosts on Wily's Castle and Galaga Ship sucking up villager lack the bold outlines that everything created by Pac-Man has.
That is the distinction between the S-Flag and Pac-Man's moves.

 

[BridgesWithTurtles]

I'll be the one to answer the thread title definitively: No.

/thread

 

[Phaazoid]

I'll be the one to answer the thread title definitively: No.

/thread

Then where are the fruits coming from

@.@

 

[Hong]

Then where are the fruits coming from

@.@

They are scarcely more a summon that bombs or turnips.

 

[Morbi]

I don't think he's actually a summoner. The Galaga aliens, free-roaming ghosts, and Special Flag don't have the black outlines around them like his other sprite-based props. I think the "Namco summoning" move is just a taunt. The only summon he really has, if this is the case, is the Galaxian ship, which is part of his fruit-based move.

I do not agree with this sentiment in the slightest, taunts are inherently stagnant by nature, they have the same animation. I definitively believe that Pac-Man is a summoning character.

 

[Phaazoid]

I do not agree with this sentiment in the slightest, taunts are inherently stagnant by nature, they have the same animation. I definitively believe that Pac-Man is a summoning character.

you did see todays PotD, right?

or is sarcasm going way over my head

They are scarcely more a summon that bombs or turnips.

idk. The turnips are pulled out of the ground. Pac Man just holds out his hand and concentrates his will-power.

 

[Bauske]

I do not agree with this sentiment in the slightest, taunts are inherently stagnant by nature, they have the same animation. I definitively believe that Pac-Man is a summoning character.

lol Morbid don't be a troll.

 

[immortalmertyl]

I feel like dedede is more of a summoner. waddle dees and doos would actually wander around and attack, but it seems like most of pacman's summons from his b move have set trajectories. i wish there was more footage to see for sure...

 

[Shuckle89]

It looks like his standard B is a move that cycles through fruit. The longer you hold the button, the better the fruit you'll get.

In the classic Pac-Man game, the fruit went in this order: Cherry, Strawberry, Orange, Apple, Pineapple, Galaga Alien, Bell, and Key. My theory is that after you let go of the B button, Pac-Man will hold onto whatever item you stopped on, much like he would hold onto an item. You can then throw it.

Each type of fruit will probably have different properties, similar to the different Pikmin Olimar plucks from the ground. The Cherry and Strawberry will probably be pretty weak, as will the Orange, as we saw it bounce off of Mega Man's shot in the trailer. After that, I'm theorizing the fruit will get stronger and stronger. The Apple will probably do moderate damage, the Pineapple will probably roll across the ground, the Galaga Alien homes in on someone and attacks them, the Bell will probably do some sort of sound wave attack, and the Key will probably be something very heavy and damaging.

Just theories, of course. I have no idea. But this is what I'm expecting from him. Otherwise, no, I don't think he's too much of a summoning character, because as others have stated, the random Namco characters he's holding seem to be part of a taunt. It's really hard to say right now.

Not just theories, really. Here, watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD7M7iGoZU8

This confirms your theories. Well, some of it.