In the original Pac-Man (released in October 1980 as an arcade game in Japan), the ghosts, also known as the "Ghost Gang," each had unique AI traits that contributed to the game's enduring appeal. These four ghosts - Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde - were programmed with distinct behaviors to challenge players in different ways. Their varied strategies ensured that no two games felt exactly the same, making Pac-Man both engaging and unpredictable.
Also see: 50 Years of Video Games
The ghosts were described in Japanese as having the following character personalities:
These AI traits were groundbreaking for the time, as they allowed each ghost to feel like a distinct character rather than a simple enemy. Among these, Inky's behavior stands out as the most complex and least predictable. His use of both Pac-Man's and Blinky's positions to calculate his target introduces an element of chaos to the game.
For players, this often made Inky the most challenging ghost to avoid, as his erratic behavior could disrupt even the most carefully planned strategies.