Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

Pac-Man as a series is unlike any other in the realm of video games. It has a storied history being one of the first, best, and most prominent title in the history of the industry that has not been matched despite the best efforts of other developers and titles. Even today, it persists and is a household name known around the world, albeit appearing in a slightly different form than the original arcade game did. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is an entirely different take on the series that, despite playing it safe in its player-friendly design, still captures the essence of fun with a unique spirit. Though it is somewhat reminiscent of its predecessor Pac-Man World 2, it also effectively embodies titles like the Rayman series and has some platforming elements akin to Ori and the Blind Forest (although nowhere near as inspired nor difficult).

The Ghosts Have Escaped

There’s not a whole lot to say in terms of the story for this title in my opinion. It’s a classic Pac-Man 3D title that breaks the bounds of the original Pac-Man formula without completing ignoring it. Pac-Man, in this game based on the show of the same name, is tasked with battling the menacing ghosts which have escaped the nefarious Netherworld, having their sights set on overtaking PacWorld. It’s a simplistic, easy to predict storyline that is honestly enjoyable, especially given the whacky humor and scenes that are interspersed throughout.

This is by no means my favorite Pac-Man game – that title belongs to the aforementioned Pac-Man World 2 – but it has enough of its own charm to make it a consistently enjoyable experience throughout. I would have to say that, like its predecessors, it is catered to younger audiences and, keeping this in mind, it hits all the marks that create a fun, carefree adventure that realistically anyone could find appealing. Additionally, it seems to follow the show pretty closely, but it does take a few liberties here and there to keep it a bit more interesting along the way.

Protect PacWorld

Like nearly every recent release in the Pac-Man series, this game is a 3D platforming game that features a variety of bright characters, environments, and powerups. These all follow a uniquely crafted storyline that keeps the gameplay fresh for the most part. Despite the collect-a-thon feel not becoming overwhelming, it would be a stretch to say that certain parts of the game did not quickly become boring since it was more of the same. The design of the graphics and sound of this game are partially the reason that this aspect does not heavily hamper gameplay – both pop in just the right places and make the boring sections easily bearable.

Plus, there’s a number of vehicles scattered throughout the game along with the classic maze mode gameplay and coop/competitive multiplayer game modes to mess around in. As stated before, this is a tile that is great for casual play and younger audiences.

Pros:

• Fun gameplay, if a bit stale in spots
• Casual experience
• Graphics and overall design pop out to the player

Cons:

• Can quickly grow boring, even for young players
• Not a lot of challenge
• Overall lacks a unique polish