The infamous "Level 256" glitch in the original Pac-Man arcade game, also referred to as the "kill screen," occurs due to an integer overflow in the game's code. In essence, the game's level counter, which is stored in a single byte of data, is only capable of holding values up to 255. When the player reaches Level 256, the counter overflows, causing a glitch that corrupts the right half of the maze with a jumble of text and symbols. This glitch isn't just a visual problem; it also interferes with gameplay because it overwrites critical game data, making it impossible to eat enough dots to complete the level. This effectively ends the game, as the player cannot progress further. In the standard, unmodified version of Pac-Man, there is no legitimate way to "bypass" or "get past" the Level 256 glitch. It serves as the game's unintentional 'final level,' and reaching it is considered by many to be an accomplishment in itself, representing a sort of 'win' condition for what is otherwise an endless loop of increasing difficulty. Hackers and fans have created modified versions of the game that fix the Level 256 bug, allowing players to continue playing beyond this point. The solutions typically involve correcting the code responsible for drawing the screen, allowing the game to handle levels beyond 255 correctly. However, these hacked versions are unofficial and would not be found in the original arcade machines. For those looking to experience a "fixed" Pac-Man game, one popular and official option is to play "Pac-Man Championship Edition," which, among other updates, allows for continuous play without the Level 256 glitch. In conclusion, while the original Pac-Man's Level 256 glitch serves as an unintended endpoint to the game, it stands as a classic moment in gaming history, illustrating the technical limitations and quirks of early game design.