8 Iconic Moments From Each Era Of Games

8. Pac-Man Turns The Tables - Pac-Man

Let's kick things off way back in 1980 with one of the most enduring and recongisable video games of all time - Pac-Man.

The game's mere release is one hell of an iconic moment, but in terms of gameplay mechanics, it's the introduction of the power pellet which elevated Pac-Man from brilliant to an all-timer.

The legendary maze game flipped the script with the inclusion of power pellets, which if munched on by the player, allowed them to turn the tables, giving them the ability to devour the pursuing ghosts instead and send them back to the center of the level.

It's a tremendously satisfying wrinkle, to see the ghosts turn on their heel and start fleeing from you, as you inch ever closer to their hides and gobble them up. 

But of course, there's a degree of strategy to knowing when to use the limited number of pellets for maximum effectiveness.

Amusingly, the very idea of power pellets was reportedly inspired by Popeye the Sailor and the superhuman transformation he undergoes after chugging a can of spinach. Go figure.