XESS - The New Revolution (arcade - SemiCom - 1997)

XESS is a Korean game – actually it’s 3 games in one.  This particular game is called New Hyper Man.  At first it appears to be a Pac-Man clone…until you realize you’re supposed to shoot at the ghosts!  Also, even though you have an enormous mouth, there’s no required eating (just the occasional bonus foods show up).  And there’s boss monsters, like this giant duck(?) that follows you around.  And you level-up like in an RPG.  It’s all feels very original, and it’s surprisingly a lot of fun.