Pac-Man

"For a game this old, not bad..."

Now this game is quite old. Around 20 years I think. It's considerably simple yet challenging. And it gives you a tense feeling of pursuit that makes you want to hurry the hell up and into the next hell of a round. And the ghosts. Man, are they evil, always trying to eat you up, when all you do is run around looking for something good to eat. We all eat. So does Pac-Man. But ghost don't. So why do they waste their time trying to eat Pac-Man? I don't know, but it sure gives Pac-Man a good exercise. This game is great, although lacking in story and simple, and would be a great collection to any classic arcade lover that has a game boy.
Gameplay: 10
This part is very exciting. Has a good feel to it. Easy controls, in fact, so easy that a 2 year old can play. The gameplay is smooth and simple and gives no hard times, except for the ghosts. What is impressive in this game is that it's one of the first games to have such an advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence). They form separate groups, chase you a bit, corner you, even surround you from both ends of a tunnel. They have dirty tricks up their ghastly sleeves and want to outwit you so they can make your little dot-eating life miserable. And then when you get a power-dot, they're cowards, running away like little girlish sissies. They are filled with panic, lose their strategic minds, and their bodies become edible excluding their eyes, which are soon to regenerate a new body and be burning with the hunger for revenge. And Pac-Man has to escape this disorderly madness. It makes you think and react quickly, especially when the game speed is high. And the fruits. Mmmm... good. Give you nice points that make it ever closer to gaining an extra life. And there are hilarious cut-scenes to watch after every couple of rounds. And the multiplayer game, it's nuts. You competing against some equally hungry weirdo, both of you trying to eat all the dots first, while delivering a batch of ghosts to the other to slow him down. And you can even set the levels you are going to be in, trying to make yourself look like the ''better'' Pac-Man by displaying your extreme ghost-avoiding and dot-chomping skills. This all gives you a great challenge, both against living and dead.
Graphics: 8
For a game this early, it has smooth, clean pictures and a steady frame rate. The screen moves well, and the characters are equally balanced with the maze.
Sound: 6 (See below categories.)
Music: 5
Simple, clean, music. You don't need much music in a game like this. And all the songs are very appropriate.
Sound Effects: 7
Very funny yet useful sounds. Many available, as well as useful to use. You can tell how much the ghosts are on your trail by listening the the wavy sound that constantly plays. Not bad.

Replay Value: 9
Want to break your old score, challenge someone to a rematch, or just give the ghosts a wild goose chase? This game gives all of that. Its challenge and intensity gives you a strong need to go back and finish what you didn't do.

Overall score: 8.25 (round off to 8)
A great game, also a game of history, it will be recognized for years to come as quality that doesn't have to compare to present standards.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/18/03, Updated 06/18/03