Occasionally here at Player2.net.au, we will play something that deserves your attention but probably doesn’t need a full review written for it. Be it DLC for the latest AAA title, a little indie game or even an Android/iOS title. We play these titles for a blockbusting amount of time (2 – 5 hours) and report back to you the reader on what we found. So grab your popcorn and settle in for the latest episode of Blockbuster Gaming.
Blockbuster Gaming – Pac-Man Championship Edition 2+
Nintendo Switch
Oh Pacman, You are such a fixture in our lives. I honestly cannot think of a single console that hasn’t been graced by your pill-popping, ghost-munching form. Throughout my life, I have zipped through mazes, eaten spectres and completed some really dodgy platforming (in your easily forgotten 3D phase) all in your name. Now it is time for me to take control of you once again, this time on the Nintendo Switch, a system that seems wholly suited for your type of fast-paced chaos.
Pac-man Championship Edition 2+ is a rather long-winded title for a game that is played in short bursts. It is a re-release of Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 for the Switch and one that is more than welcome. All of the original game’s mazes, challenges and puzzles return and are perfectly at home on Nintendo’s latest system. The speed limited nature of Pac-Man Championship Edition is wonderfully appropriate for a portable system and it really shines, without ever overstaying its welcome.
For those that don’t know the Pac-Man formula has been jazzed up a little, with each maze being more of a puzzle. The goal is to complete as many mazes in the allotted time frame as possible. To complete a maze, players must eat enough pellets to bring up a piece of fruit. Eat the fruit and the next level zooms in ready to be conquered. Every few levels players will get the chance to eat a power pellet and can then go to town on the massive line of following ghosts. This style of Pac-Man play is really focused on high scores and getting the perfect run. I really enjoy it and it is the perfect time filler for those work commutes or lunchtime breaks.
The added bonus of the Switch version is a brand new co-op mode. This can be played with an AI controlled Pac-Man or a second player and it works in a similar way to the single-player mode. The two players race to earn the next level fruit, but in this case, both players must push their own piece of fruit into each other. This meeting will then allow the players to go to the next level. The mode brings a whole new set of mazes and puzzles and is a very welcome addition to an already fun title.
The game looks and runs wonderfully on the Switch. This is a game about speed so any slowdown would be a big problem. Thankfully I didn’t notice any such slowdowns or framerate drops in my time with the game. In fact, I have a feeling it runs perhaps a little better than the other console versions, probably due to some tweaking under the hood since they released two-ish years ago. I really love the neon aesthetic and the different graphical styles that can be unlocked and selected, it is a nice touch.
In all, if you have ever loved Pac-Man, know that this version on the Switch is well worth owning. It brings some great twists to the formula and does in a way that feels natural and welcoming to all players. Chasing a high score is addictive and playing with friends is also a lot of fun. This is a title that is well worth the entry price, especially if you haven’t played it on another console. Pac-Man and the Switch is a perfect fit and this game is the proof.
Matt Hewson
