PAC-MAN has always been an interesting series. The series itself technically should have died out together with the arcade and other Namco games like Dig Dug and Galaga. The original game was a great arcade experience that seemed to only have room for minor variations but nothing more. As time went on Namco tried to keep PAC-MAN relevant by making all kinds of games in different genres. While most were fun or even interesting none of these games truly felt like a PAC-MAN sequel. It’s only really been since the previous generation that it seems like Namco actually found new and unique ways to make a PAC-MAN game that seems to be an actual sequel rather than a game with the yellow muncher in it. After PAC-MAN Championship Edition we got another true sequel that uses the classic PAC-MAN formula.
Devoid of story.
PAC-MAN 256 has no story whatsoever. As soon as the game boots up you get thrown into the game. A narrative has never been the main focus of arcade based PAC-MAN games and this time is no different. There is nothing to distract the player from the game.
The closest to a narrative process is Pac-Man gaining powers and improving them.
A waka fun.
256 is simple. As soon as you press start you are off. You control PAC-MAN in a vertical never-ending maze. The goal is to get as high of a score as possible. You only have one life and you have to keep moving since the lower half of the maze keeps being destroyed by a glitch screen much like the original game’s kill-screen. Ghosts, fruit and Power Pellets are all back again and do the same as they did in the original game. Every ghost has a different pattern you need to respect. Eating Power Pellets allows PAC-MAN to temporarily eat the ghosts for points. Fruit also acts the same, to up your point count. What’s new however is the weapons. Before starting you can choose three weapons which will appear on the map. These weapons are all fun to use and there is a very wide variety of them. Players can also pick up coins on the map to buy upgrades for the weapons. These can range from longer active times to a bigger radius of effect. Challenges are given to the player after dying such as collect X amount of food or kill X amount of enemies. Once these criteria are achieved players will get a box with coins to use on the weapons to upgrade. The unlocks of weapons are linear and require a certain amount of pellets to be eaten. It will take some time before everything is unlocked and even after that there is a high score to beat.
The game is incredibly fun and just about nails what it set out to do. Local multiplayer is another feature players will be able to keep themselves busy with. Both players work together and play against each other at the same time. Trying to get the highest score of the two will probably be the main focus but if one player goes down it’s harder to do better for the other player. Players can’t hurt each other but they can revive the fallen comrade. PAC-MAN 256 is an addicting game that’s easy to quickly pick up and play but is hard to put down.
The actual next logical step in the Pac-Man series.
Pac-ing with style.
The game looks absolutely stylish. The seemingly empty blue void in the background contrasts the black grid and characters almost perfectly. You can also choose to change to one of several different art styles like in PAC-MAN Championship Edition. Most of them look good with some exceptions looking amazing. The kill-screen glitch that comes from the bottom of the screen and occasionally appears on the field is a great visual element. The sound design is amazing. Aside from the classic sound effects being a delight to listen to, there also are some new tunes in the games that fit perfectly with the older sound effects. PAC-MAN 256 is a sharp and stylish looking game with some amazing sound designs.
A wide variety of styles to choose from, and all of them are great.
Closing note:
PAC-MAN 256 is a great game. It feels like the next step after PAC-MAN Championship Edition. The console versions are dirt cheap and remove the micro transactions of the mobile version. Unlocking weapon and upgrading them has a nice pace. It will take quite some time to unlock all weapon and upgrade them; but the pacing at which these are unlocked will ensure players will play at least until everything is unlocked. It looks very stylish and sounds great. 256 is an addicting game that will be hard to put down and will see players return time and time again. Even if it’s just to waste some time while a game is downloading or a patch is being installed.
