Pac-Man 256
"Pac-Man 256"
By: Carless Yen
Pac-Man 256 has all the feel of the original Arcade/Atari classic mixed in with a whole lot of things that make it feel current as well. Pac-Man 256 is Pac-Man without the boundaries. The maze goes on and on forever and endless array of Pac dots, power pellets, ghosts, and fruit. You get on life, and you go and go as long as you can, trying to pass your high score. The thing that makes it even sweeter is the fact you can do with with three of your friends. It is only couch coop though, so you'd have to have four controllers and friends or family at your house which would be rare for some, so I would have loved to seen online added. With this though you all four make your way through the endless maze until one person is the last standing. It is a ton of fun and a real selling point for the title, and another thing that makes it feel more current.
Other things that make it feel more current is the power-ups. 16 of them in total from bomb that makes everything around you explode when touched by ghost, to tornados that sweep through the maze taking out Clyde and his buddies, to even a lazer that shoots from Pac-Man's mouth melting enemies. That is just a few all of them come in handy as you try to beat your current high score. My favorite is probably the Ice cube that freezes everything as you speed by for different amounts of time depending on your upgrade level. Yes I said upgrades you get coins throughout the game by picking them up, completion of missions for coin boxes you have to open, or just getting them as free gifts to open as well. This takes a lot of time so the last Achievement I see people getting on this game is probably the one for upgrading every power-up to its level 8 max.
Another thing that adds to the different additions to this game is multiple new ghosts. You have a Pink ghost that moves quickly towards you in straight lines, you can't out run him with out making a turn or two, two lines of ghosts tied together blocking certain routes, to ghosts that lay there sleeping waiting for you to come by to pounce on you. It sounds easy i know considering the maze is endless, what keeps me from just running around until I find a clear path people are probably thinking? Well you are chased by the glitch from the original Pac-Man ending. It makes you stay moving up, as it devours everything as it makes its way up after you. So much new fun and challenge is to be had with this game, so if you loved the original but it has grown stale over the 100's and 100's of releases this will without a doubt feel fresh and fun to you.
Your probably thinking I've played so many Pac-Man games I don't think i can stare at those Blue walls another time. Well with this addition to the series you have a ton of different themes. The regular classic look is there, but you can also pick through themes like, go cart track, blocks, an office setting, even one with robots and chickens believe it or not. So with all of this it is a totally new experience all Pac-Man fans are sure to enjoy.
Other things that make it feel more current is the power-ups. 16 of them in total from bomb that makes everything around you explode when touched by ghost, to tornados that sweep through the maze taking out Clyde and his buddies, to even a lazer that shoots from Pac-Man's mouth melting enemies. That is just a few all of them come in handy as you try to beat your current high score. My favorite is probably the Ice cube that freezes everything as you speed by for different amounts of time depending on your upgrade level. Yes I said upgrades you get coins throughout the game by picking them up, completion of missions for coin boxes you have to open, or just getting them as free gifts to open as well. This takes a lot of time so the last Achievement I see people getting on this game is probably the one for upgrading every power-up to its level 8 max.
Another thing that adds to the different additions to this game is multiple new ghosts. You have a Pink ghost that moves quickly towards you in straight lines, you can't out run him with out making a turn or two, two lines of ghosts tied together blocking certain routes, to ghosts that lay there sleeping waiting for you to come by to pounce on you. It sounds easy i know considering the maze is endless, what keeps me from just running around until I find a clear path people are probably thinking? Well you are chased by the glitch from the original Pac-Man ending. It makes you stay moving up, as it devours everything as it makes its way up after you. So much new fun and challenge is to be had with this game, so if you loved the original but it has grown stale over the 100's and 100's of releases this will without a doubt feel fresh and fun to you.
Your probably thinking I've played so many Pac-Man games I don't think i can stare at those Blue walls another time. Well with this addition to the series you have a ton of different themes. The regular classic look is there, but you can also pick through themes like, go cart track, blocks, an office setting, even one with robots and chickens believe it or not. So with all of this it is a totally new experience all Pac-Man fans are sure to enjoy.
Pros: Tons of unlocks
Tons of content
same great sounds, mixed with a fresh beat
Challenging obstacles
Same great retro feel, with lot fresh ideas.
Multiplayer
Tons of content
same great sounds, mixed with a fresh beat
Challenging obstacles
Same great retro feel, with lot fresh ideas.
Multiplayer
Cons: Only Couch Coop on console.
Overall 9.6 This is the Pac-Man you love, but with a fresh take that makes it oh so addictive.
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