Pac-Man vs.

"It's free. Need I continue?"

The Game Boy Advance to Gamecube connectivity is a great feature, but it really hasn't been exploited that much, making the whole affair seem somewhat pointless and -- you guessed it -- gimmicky. Crystal Chronicles and Four Swords look like worthy investments; Pac Man Versus is more just a novelty for those who already have the required hardware. Luckily, only one Game Boy is needed this time around. The game is practically free, too, being given away with Pac Man World 2, which is a decent platformer. Okay, enough drivel, onto the specs:

Graphics:
Plain. Simple. Maybe even a bit ugly, but I'll let it pass because this is clearly not the focus of Pac Man Versus. Everything holds up and gets the job done, but doesn't go beyond that. Heh. I don't see how you can with a game like this. It retains the retro look of Pac Man. What did you expect?

Sound:
First, be aware that the game has an announcer who will constantly say things like, "That was close!" or "Ten more dots to go!" The game didn't need an announcer. It's just annoying. But what makes it really bad is the fact that it's Mario's voice. I love Mario as much as any other gamer, but he doesn't make a good announcer and doesn't belong in this game at all. Because this is Nintendo, there's no option to turn him off, either. As far as music is concerned, the main theme is cool, but the in-game music is a nod to older days and sounds like an 8-bit soundtrack. It's not bad, but it can be kind of bothersome at the same time.

Gameplay:
One player uses the Game Boy to control Pac Man in his usual, confined, dot-ridden mazes. The other player(s) act as the ghosts on the TV screen. The ghosts can only see a small portion of the playfield (while Pac Man sees all) and must wander around somewhat aimlessly in hopes of coming across the Pac. The player who nabs Pac Man gets to be him next. The objective of the game is to score anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 points, where the majority of your points comes from playing as the yellow guy and eating lots of dots and ghosts (thanks to the super pellets). Sometimes, fruit appears, giving Pac Man extra points if he picks it up and giving the ghosts a wider view of the playfield if they get to it. Pac Man Versus is a simple design, but really comes to life since you have real opponents behind the ghosts. As much as AI has progressed these days, nothing beats the sharp (and sometimes stupid) thinking of humans.

Controls:
All this switching controllers and going from looking at a Game Boy to looking at the TV screen can be a bit cumbersome. Expect lots of twisted cables and easy misses because you were looking at the wrong thing (I kept looking at the TV screen when I was Pac Man). Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. Other than this, the controls are very easy. All you have to worry about is moving. It's so simple, even my mother can play it. The ghosts control smoothly, but because Pac Man is controlled with a Game Boy D-pad, sometimes you'll slip and not be able to turn around quick enough.

Frustration:
No. You might get frustrated because you're not very good and your friends are, but this is not the fault of the game. It's just you. Okay, granted, the AI-controlled ghosts are a bit stupid, but not so much that you'll ever lose hair over the matter.

Lasting Appeal:
There really isn't much to the game. It's Pac Man. That's it. There are a few different maze setups to choose from, but the crux of the experience can be had in the first half hour of play. The rest of the time is simply how much you and your friends get into it. Because of the awkwardness that comes from constantly swapping Game Boy and Gamecube controllers, you might prefer to just stick with a game that requires nothing but a CD. Pac Man Versus is fun, though, and if you can get two or three friends to play with you, it can be a blast. A very creative idea that gives way for a lot of hot competition.

Overall:
Pac Man Versus was Nintendo's crowning achievement at 2003's E3. While it may not have looked that exciting to see, when you actually get to play it, you'll understand that this is truly a great concept. It's classic Pac Man with a competitive, multiplayer edge, unlike the previous two-player Pac Man outings found in the arcade and the likes. While the game feels like it's lacking quite a bit, Pac Man Versus can still be a lot of fun, so if you already own a Game Boy Advance, go pick up a copy of Pac Man World 2 and a link cable.

Points:
+ Practically free
+ Competitively fun
+ Good use of connectivity
-- Not much depth
-- Cords are a hassle

Score: 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/24/04, Updated 11/07/04