Pac to the future

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:55 pm

Many years has it been since I last broke a sweat playing a Pac-man game, but Pac-man Championship Edition has stirred me in a way the yellow puck hasn't managed to do since about 1985. I was initially under the impression that it was nothing more than a graphically enhanced version of the original game, but I downloaded the demo figuring it might be a novel way to kill 3 minutes. 3 minutes later I purchased the full version.

The maze is totally different, which has been attempted before, but not since Ms. Pac-man has a new layout been this successful. The general openness is balanced by the segmented nature of the maze: eating fruit opens up new swaths of pellets, and since only 2 swaths can be on-screen at any given time, the game manages to give you clear direction without restricting movement. This back and forth "wave" structure gives the whole game a very smooth flow - it's not the staccato "clear board, repeat" schtick of Pac-man past. Even more interestingly, the board layout itself morphs from wave to wave in certain game modes, and since the speed increases as you rack up points, the pace never drags even during 10 minute endurance sessions. The vector-style graphics pulsate and change color in tune with the techno BGM, making for a wholly mesmerizing experience. (Kudos to Namco for resisting the urge to schlock together yet another tired remix of the old Pac-man theme.)

It's taken Namco twenty years to figure out what to do with the old Pac formula, but they did finally manage to teach that old dog some new tricks. There's a sense of rhythm here the series has never had before, and while it's too shallow to carry its own divergence (no "Ms. Pac-man Championship Edition, please), it's easily the most interesting and fun variation in the entire squalid assemblage. I hope I get hit by a car tomorrow for saying this, but, well, this ain't your daddy's Pac-man.

THEbigLANDMAN · Post by **THEbigLANDMAN** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:59 am

I like the game too, the mode were you eat a super coconut (or whatever it is called) after another don't giving the ghosts a chance is very frenetic, because after you eat all of them you have to survive a few rounds without them and escape from the ghosts, all of this at an insane speed

BlazeHedgehog · Post by **BlazeHedgehog** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:36 am

As well, I was fairly surprised at how this new take on Pac-man is actually really, really fun.

I especially like how there comes a moment where you realize you can chain together everything. When you go from one section of pellets to the next, constantly in "Power Up" mode, eating ghosts, getting higher and higher score bonuses...

It's a beautiful thing. This is XBLA's next Geometry Wars.

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:52 am

Green Gibbon! wrote:(...)There's a sense of rhythm here the series has never had before(..)

That and the techno soundtrack sounds like Mizuguchi's Pac-Man. If I ever get a 360 I'd like to go for this and GW. Maybe even Lumines Live! too, since I'm having a problem too many to find the PS2 version down here.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:02 am

Is Geometry Wars that good?

Ritz · Post by **Ritz** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:48 am

And how does it compare to GridWars (Which is good, by the way)?

Post by **Segaholic2** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:01 pm

I don't like GridWars but Geometry Wars is fun.

Majestic Joey · Post by **Majestic Joey** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:35 pm

Geometry wars is super fun if you play it with the jet set radio soundtrack or Offspring

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:23 am

Geometry Wars kicks ass, try out the demo. It's basically the full game with a 3 minute timer on it. I bought the full version before I was even able to survive for 3 minutes. Oh and I wasn't a huge fan of Grid Wars.

Everyone keeps telling me to try out Pac Man CE so I guess I'll download the trial tomorrrow.

Isuka · Post by **Isuka** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:58 am

I was searching a little about GW: RE and I found out that it has no bosses. That's a pity, they could've done some interesting ones with the gameplay mechanics. Maybe when we get a Treasure GW-clone there'll be some...

Oh, and about that, are there any news on the new shooter or anything?

SuperKnux · Post by **SuperKnux** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:35 pm

I am too awesome at Pac-Man Championship Edition. I'm currently ranked 51, beat that you pigs. Though I'm sure to get way better than that since I've only had this game for a day.

What is everyone's gametertags so I can laugh at your horrible scores?

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:17 pm

Green Gibbon, of course. My scores suck but it's only because I'd feel bad by discouraging everyone else with my true skill.

SuperKnux · Post by **SuperKnux** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:59 pm

Good deal. My gamertag is Sonickers, and now I'm ranked at 27 with 325,000ish.

Shadow Hog · Post by **Shadow Hog** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:12 pm

<img src="http://my.livecard.net/blue/ShadHog.png">

I don't have the full version of <i>Pac-Man C.E.</i>, though. My Dad does, but that's a different 360...

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:14 am

My tag is Jebus7, but I have yet to download it. I'll probably get on that in the near future. I could have sworn I had you on my friends list though SuperKnux, of course back then your tag was SuperKnux, maybe that's what I have on my list.

SuperKnux · Post by **SuperKnux** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:33 am

Yeah....I kicked that gamertag out the window.

Also, I beleive I'm ranked 25 now, I was 20 yesterday, but I'm getting bumped down. I'm beginning to wonder if its even worth it to try and keep up becuase I'm ignoring pretty much every 360 game I have now.

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Pac to the future

Pac to the future

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