PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs

For years, PAC-MAN was the face of video gaming – the original protagonist of the genre. It has felt like a long time since we had a fully-fledged new PAC-MAN game, though, which is why PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is catching so many people’s attention. This release, set for May 2024, looks to be the exciting new PAC-MAN game that we have all been waiting for across the years.

This exciting new game brings the usual classic style to the table while inverting things slightly. You see, unlike normal PAC-MAN games, this one will put you into a Battle Royale-style game. With 64 players to one match-up, can you be the last PAC standing?

An Intriguing Concept With Some Kinks

There are some interesting things to note about PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs, namely that it changes the tempo of the traditional PAC-MAN experience. You will be using various power-ups via Power Pellets and Power Items to get strong enough to eat ghosts. But, unlike other PAC-MAN games, the aim of PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is to also eat other PAC-MEN!

That in itself is quite a unique concept and not one that has been tried out in the series too much. Bandai Namco has reached the point where they need to start innovating to keep PAC-MAN fresh, though, and this appears to be the result of that decision. From what we have seen, this is a very interesting concept that might have some legs in terms of creating a fun and engaging take on the PAC-MAN series.

What we will say, though, is that what we have seen also appears to be pretty chaotic. At the moment, we are unsure how easy it will be for players to follow themselves on-screen, with so many players moving around at once. The maps are comparatively huge, too, which could also make it tough to stay truly focused on where you are on the screen.

This is PAC-MAN meets PUBG – it’s a Battle Royale-inspired game in the PAC-MAN universe. That is as exciting as it is outrageous.

An Interesting New Direction For A Classic Series (7.5/10)

While we think that PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs could become a little too hectic for its good, we like what we have seen so far from this title. It might be a little on the bizarre side, but it is clear that lots of work have gone into iterating on a very classic (and at times outdated) game structure. The result is an enjoyable-looking PAC-MAN experience that is aimed at the multiplayer crowd.

Pros

• An interesting change to a formula that was growing a little tired
• Maps are really large, creating space for all of the players involved

Cons

• Concerns about how playable the game will be when the action gets started
• Could become confusing for PAC players used to a more placid experience