Monday, November 4, 2013

Video Game Review: Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

Scene from Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

Disney



Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is based on the Disney XD show of the same name.




LOVED IT: Clean mechanics and proficient platforming, interesting multiplayer idea


HATED IT: Feels dated, throwaway story


GRAB IT IF: You enjoy the Ratchet and Clank and Jak and Daxter series


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It's a brand new Pac-Man game, based on a new cartoon on Disney XD that goes by the same new name, "Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures."


But boy, does this Pac-Man video game feel dated.


No, that's not because it reminds you of those Pac-Man arcade games of old. It's because Namco Bandai builds its latest title, Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, around your stereotypical 3-D platformer. A decade ago, that would have made for an easy hit, but here in 2013? With Grand Theft Auto V redefining open world, Beyond: Two Souls redefining visuals and LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes redefining kids games, Ghostly Adventures, for all it does well, defines dated.


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This isn't exactly a jab at Ghostly Adventures, because what this Pac-Man game does it does well. The game looks good, even if the visuals will never blow you away. There's a paper-thin story that's pretty standard, but just interesting enough to keep kids in the game. The dialogue is perfectly Disney XD, uninteresting to adults but catching for children.


The gameplay, meanwhile, starts out as standard stuff. That means you'll collect Pac-Man's traditional pellets in a 3-D world, you'll jump and platform around areas, and you'll "chomp" on evil ghosts. Namco re-imagines bits of the usual Pac-Man world to make things work. Bits of food replenish health, and extra lives can be acquired by eating ghosts and collecting their eyes. And yes, there are lives in this game, making it feel that much more throwback in this universe of eternal gaming chances.


It's all basic gaming stuff, but it's well-executed. Pac-Man controls with decent precision, and Namco gets the camera completely right, a subtle bit of perfection that's destined to be forgotten. It's a joy to move our hero around and while the platforming rarely presents any stunning creativity, the easy movement controls yield little frustration.


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Eventually, the game will offer a few wrinkles and Pac-Man, apparently, will gain powers via special pellets. These do enliven gameplay a bit, but these new powers never feel fully fleshed out and the action here winds up being shaky.


That's much like the multiplayer mode. It's a unique take on Pac-Man here, as you play as the ghosts, running from an A.I. Pac-Man, and it's fun enough. But this isn't the brand of multiplayer that captivates; at best, it's fun for a bit.


That's much like this Pac-Man game, which is good, but doesn't quite captivate.


If only this were 2004.


Reviewed on Xbox 360



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