Welcome to a brand new episode of Defunct Games Decides, the show that isn't afraid to get to the bottom of classic video game arguments. Today we're looking at two of the biggest arcade games of all time -- Pac-Man vs. Ms. Pac-Man. While these two lovebirds may get along in the game's fiction, that doesn't mean we can't pit them against each other to see which game is better. Is it the original ghost runner or his hungry girlfriend? Find out in this episode of Defunct Games Decides.

Pac-Man vs. Ms. Pac-Man

PAC-MAN: It's one thing to say that a video game character came first, but in the case of Pac-Man it's true. This is the industry's very first superstar, paving the way for not just countless maze-games, but also a new generation of character-driven titles. What's more, Pac-Man was a Time Magazine cover boy, the star of his own cartoon series and the subject of an incredibly cheesy rock song. Pac-Man was everywhere, and one cannot overstate his importance to video game history.

MS. PAC-MAN: Sure, Pac-Man came first, but nobody puts Ms. Pac-Man in the corner. While Ms. Pac-Man started her life as a completely different game called called Crazy Otto, it would eventually get turned into the most memorable Pac-Man sequel of all time. Not only was Ms. Pac-Man faster, but she competed in mazes that changed from level to level. Other changes include fruit that bounces around the stage and better artificial intelligence.

VERDICT: With its simple gameplay and iconic presentation, Pac-Man is a genuine classic. It spawned countless sequels, spin-offs, remakes and reboots. But as great as it is, Pac-Man is not without faults. The single level is a bummer, and the lack of variety gets tiring after a few plays. All these problems were fixed in this "sequel," making Ms. Pac-Man the better game. I prefer the different stages, tweaks to the gameplay and even the effective (albeit simple) story.

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