Bandai Namco has opened pre-orders and shared launch details for Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs, a contender for the most unnecessarily long-winded game t??itle?? ever.

In case you haven't heard of it, Chomp Champs (I'm not writing out its full name every time) was announced this past October and is essentially a Pac-Man battle royale, kind of like the short-lived Pac-Man 99, which was de-listed that same October. Whereas Pac-Man 99 was a Nintendo Switch exclusive, Chomp Champs is a multi-platform title and sees up to 64 players battle ??it out to see who can be the last Pac standing. And yes, there is cross-play, so you aren't restricted to only playing against people on the same platform as you.

Chomp Champs may sound like a downgrade, since Pac-Man 99 saw 99 players duking it out at once, but each player was consigned to their own maze. In Chomp Champs, all players share the same set o?f interconnected mazes, and can use special items to either sabotage each other or make a??voiding/eating ghosts easier. You can even eat other players if they get in your way.

Chomp Champs will offer two ga??????????????????????????meplay modes: an arcade-style Elimination mode that anyone can participate in, and a dedicated Ranked mode that pits you against opponents of a similar skill level. You can also customize your Pac-Man with a variety of cosmetics, likes hats and sunglasses, which you unlock with Tokens you earn from the Exhibition mode. Bandai Namco hasn't mentioned anything about being able to purchase cosmetics or Tokens with microtransactions, although there are exclusive cosmetics for those who pre-order the game or buy the digital deluxe edition.

Despite the higher price-tag, long-time Namco fans may be tempted by the deluxe edition since some of the cosmetics are based on other Bandai Namco IPs, including Dig Dug, Katamari Damacy, and Klonoa. It also comes with seven-days early access if you really can't bear to wait? any longer to start playing.

Chomp Champs l??aunches on May 9 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The st?andard edition costs $19.99 / £15.99 while the digital deluxe edition costs $29.99 / £24.99.

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Bandai Namco has announced Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs, a 64-player Pac-Man battle royale. I’ll be copy-pasting that title from now on because there is no ch??ance I’m going to remember that word salad.

With Pac-Man 99 delisted for reasons that only make sense to Nintendo, there’s a gap in the market for a Pac-Man title involving too many people. Despite being a battle royale, Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs isn’t a complete translation of Pac-Man 99. Instead, you’re not only working to clear your own maze, but you can also travel to the mazes of opponents, eat their food, eat them then leave a mess on the way out. Mazes do get eliminated, but neither the press release nor the trailer really says why. However, they evaporate in a mess of text that is evocative of the classic Pac-Man kill screen.

Actually, none of this explains much about Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs. A bunch of people, some power-ups, and then a heavy emphasis on personalizing your Pac-Person. I su?pp??ose explaining the rules is a bit dry for a trailer, so maybe I’m just asking for too much.

Still, it looks like fun. The vibe I’m getting is similar to Bomberman, which I count as a good thing. I wonder if you ??????????????????????????get to take control of a gho??st if you get put out early.

Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is coming to?? Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in early 2024.

The post Pac-Man M?ega Tunnel Batt?le: Chomp Champs sure is a name for a battle royale game appeared first on Destructoid.

The Maze & Chase Master

If you're talking about some of the biggest arcade games of the '80s, names like Donkey Kong, Joust, Tempest, and even Mario Bros. may be brought up. But despite all of these classic titles, one arcade game has chomped more quarters than any of them: Pac-Man. Despite Pac-Man being most well-known for his original arcade cabinet, there are plenty of games in the Pac-Man series that go beyond the classic maze action gameplay of the original. From party games to racing titles to 3D platformers, he's done it all and then some. Here's our ranking for the Top 10 Pac-Man titles.

[caption id="attachment_386290" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

10. Pac-Land (1984)

Made only a few years after the original arcade title, Pac-Land traded the maze for a 2D side-scrolling adventure. Pac-Land sees players running from the left of the screen to the right. All the while, Pac-Man must avoid the ghosts attempting to keep him from reaching the magic door at the end of the level. Once Pac-Man makes it to the magic door at the end of each trip, he'll be given a pair of enchanted shoes to run home before time runs out. It's a simple platformer game with delightful sounds and fun gimmicks on each trip. Made as a response to the popularity of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Pac-Land is a charming game, just like it's a cartoon.

[caption id="attachment_386292" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

9. Pac-Man 99 (2021)

With the popularity of Tetris 99, and Mario 35, Namco teamed up with Akira Co. Ltd. to develop its own version of the retro battle royale. Much like Akria's previous endeavors, Pac-Man 99 pits 99 players against one another in a Pac-Man gauntlet. Players have to survive through the classic maze, avoiding ghosts and collecting dots. Any ghost a player eats is sent to another player's maze as a Pac-Man that will slow them down upon contact. Whoever is left at the end is crowned the victor. Pac-Man 99 is a nail-biting, high-adrenaline take on the classic title, putting even the most seasoned Pac-Man veterans to the test. It's too bad the game is getting delisted this October.

[caption id="attachment_386294" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by MobyGames[/caption]

8. Pac-Man Vs. (2003)

Wanting to find a way to showcase the power of the Game Boy Advance Link Cable, Shigeru Miyamoto himself teamed up with Nintendo EAD to create a multiplayer version of Pac-Man. Pac-Man Vs. lets four players take on the rol?es of both Pac-Man and the ghosts as they compete to see who can achieve the highest score. All ghosts may have the same goal of capturing Pac-Man. If any of them are able to do it before all the pellets are cleared from the stage, they take over as Pac-Man in the next round.

Both Pac-Man and the ghosts can pick up the?? fruits that appear in the maze. While awarding bonus points for Pac-Man, the ghosts will get a larger view of the maze, making it easier to track down their target. Charles Martinet also makes a cameo as Mario, taking the role of the announcer for the game. Hearing Mario call out, "Pac-Man Ate a Power Pellet!" or "Oooh, this-a looking not so good!" as the game reaches its conclusion is the cherry on top of the cake.

Pac-Man Vs. is a terrific party game, giving players the chance to play as ghosts, and allowing friends to compete with one another in a novel Pac-Man experience.

[caption id="attachment_386289" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

7. Pac-Man World Rally (2006)

Pac-Man has had his boxing gloves in just about every genre during the height of the GameCube, and racing games are no exception. Don't listen to contemporary reviews of this game, because Pac-Man World Rally is a delightfully fun arcade racer in the same vein as Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing. However, some  Pac-Man-centric gimmicks keep it from being a clone of other titles. World Rally brings back mechanics from Pac-Man World into its races. For example, some tracks incorporate fruit gates, allowing players a shortcut if they've snagged a fruit to pay. Pac-Dots also litter the map, but instead of souping up your car, they tra??????????????????????????nsform your car into a chomping machine, turning all enemy racers into ghosts.

Charging multiple drifts also fills a meter up, allowing you to store 3 shields, which can block you from many attacks. The game has two main factions for characters as well. The heroes include Pac, Ms. Pac, Jr. Pac, Pooka, and The Prince from Katamari Damacy. And, the villains, including all four ghosts, as well as Toc-Man, Spooky, and Erwin, the villains from all 3 games in the Pac-Man World series.

While the presentation isn't the game's strong suit, its tight controls, fun soundtrack, and unique Pac-Man-centric mechanics make it a must-play for both Pac-Man fans and arcade racing fans alike.

[caption id="attachment_384984" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

6. Pac-Attack (1993)

If it wasn't for the Pac-Man branding and characters, this wouldn't pass as a Pac-Man game. However, Pac-Attack is a delightfully fun and addicting puzzle title. This falling block puzzle game has the player putting down tiles to clear lines. Some tiles include ghosts, making it impossible to clear those lines. This is where Pac-Man comes in, as every so often, the ghost-chomping hero will appear instead of a ghost. Once placed, he'll head in a direction until he can't move anymore. If any ghosts are in the way, they'll be swiftly eaten, and the tiles they blocked will fall into place. It's an amazingly fun title, though it's a shame Pac-Man Museum+ only includes the Super Nintendo version, as the PlayStation 1 version of the game allows the player ??to rotate the blocks in either direction.

[caption id="attachment_386293" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

5. The World's Biggest Pac-Man (2011)

The World's Biggest Pac-Man is an interesting addition to this list. This is due to how downright massive the scope of the game is. Created by Namco, Microsoft, and Soap Creative, The World's Biggest Pac-Man is a browser game that connects multiple user-made mazes together via the exits on the top, bottom, and sides of the maze. The gameplay itself is functionally similar to the original Pac-Man, although, by exiting the map, you're connected to another maze made by someone else. With some mazes only having one or two exits in their creation, this builds a maze, inside, a maze. As players can leave one maze, and get lost in the near infinity The World's Biggest Pac-Man provides.

This makes The World's Biggest Pac-Man?? one of the most unique takes on the classic ?title.

[caption id="attachment_384976" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

4. Ms. Pac-Man (1982)

Whatever the original Pac-Man did right, Ms. Pac-Man did it better. Introducing new maps, more ways to be caught, and an overall more enhanced version of the original, what started out as a modification for Pac-Man usurped its predecessor. The only downside to this game is the feud between Namco and AtGames, all but era??sing Pac-Man's better half from any new releases.

[caption id="attachment_384978" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by MobyGames[/caption]

3. Pac-Man World 2 (2002)

The second entry into Pac-Man's foray into 3D platforming, this 2002 title took everything that made Pac-Man World so entertaining and cranked it up to 11. Introducing a silly Saturday morning cartoon plot, and having Pac-Man trek through forests filled with trampolines, skate down icy mountains, and battle mechs piloted by the four main ghosts. Pac-Man World 2 oozes charm from every place possible, and it would be in the top spot if it wasn't for the two mandatory submarine levels that kill the pace of the game. Here's to hoping it gets the Re-Pac treatment like its older brother.

[caption id="attachment_386291" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

2. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX (2013)

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is one of the most high-octane takes on the Maze & Chase style of gameplay and for good reason. Pac-Man CEDX puts the player on a set time limit with one goal...Eat Everything. Completing Pac-Dot Chains and starting a train of ghosts following Pac-Man will increase the speed of the game, making it easier to complete chains faster, and easier for players to make a mistake. Every so often, a power pellet will be placed on the chain, and Pac-Man can turn around and chomp the lengthy train of ghosts at his back, racking up some serious score??. Once time runs out, players can post their scores online or take on a new maze if they're up for the challenge.

Aside from the five or ten-minute time limit, there's also a time attack mode as well. Players can also customize their maze with different visuals, as well as change the bassy beats to chomp dots, too. The only thing Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is missing is an endless mode.

[caption id="attachment_384979" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

1. Pac-Man Arrangement (1996)

Not to be confused with the PSP title of the same name, Pac-Man Arrangement was introduced to the arcades within the Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 cabinet. This is the pinnacle of the "Maze & Chase" titles, keeping the classic top-down perspective with charming graphics, multiple powerups, several maze gimmicks, and a fifth ghost that can be a walking power pellet if Pac-Man catches it, or a serious threat if he merges with a ghost. Making it to the final level will see the ghosts pilot a massive robot with one goal, to take down Pac-Man once and for all. This final boss fight, while playing like an average Pac-Man level, is a joy to ?play through as each dot brings the fight closer to its conclusion.

Fini??shing the game lands the player a simple congratulations, but also leaves them with a message:

The game never really ends.
Someone, somewhere
Is being chased by monsters!

The post 10 best Pac-Man games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

It's working! Victory is assured. My retirement tomorrow will be all the sweeter.

LEGO certainly hit the gold mine when it realized there are tens of thousands, if not millions, of childless man-children like myself with disposable income who'd rather spend their money on toys than whatever adults our age spent their money on in the past. Drugs, probably. Over the past few years, we've seen several sets from the company aimed squarely at the young Gen-X/old Millenial crowd. Sets like the LEGO NES, the LEGO Atari 2600, the LEGO Optimus Prime, and that $500 Lord of the Rings Rivendell set. Even the classic LEGO Dea??th Star sets didn't reach that high in price. Now, we get about one or two a year that cost that or more. The new LEGO Pac-Man Arcade won't set you back as much as a trip to Rivendell, but it'll still cost you more than a few quarters.

Following the NES and the Atari 2600, LEGO has announced the classic Pac-Man? arcade will be the next '80s arcade gaming device to get the LEGO brick treatment. The set is a miniature v?ersion of the countertop cabinet, complete with a joystick, a quarter slot that lights up, and an even smaller version of the original cabinet for the included Minifigure. To add a level of interactivity, the set also features a hand crank that will move Pac-Man and the ghosts on the cabinet screen.

//twitter?.com/LEGO_Gro??up/status/1660559964748886016

I would have much preferred a Ms. Pac-Man set, but I think this one is cool enough for me to add to my collection of unop??ened LEGO sets that I don't have any room to display. If you've got a pocket full of quarters and are heading to the arcade, you can get the LEGO Pac-Man Arcade starting June 4, 2023, for $269.99.

The post The latest LEGO gaming set might give you a case of Pac?-Man Fever appeared first on Destructoid.

It's Ghost

Nintendo has announced that it will be delisting Bandai Namco's fun Paccle Royale, (no, it doesn't work, does it?), title Pac-Man 99 this fall. Currently available from the Nintendo eShop as a benefit ??to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, the game will be unable to download from October 8.

Players who own either paid edition of the game �em> Pac-Man 99 Deluxe Pack or Pac-Man 99 Mode Unlock �will still be able to access CPU Battle, Time Attack, and Blind Score Attack in an offline capacity. Additionally, all purchased themes and cosmetic items will still be available. All online services for the title are to be suspended, however, which is pretty frustrating given that this is the foundation of the Pac-Man 99 gimmick.

No reason was given for the decision because Nintendo gon' Nintendo, but the title hasn't seen quite the same level of success as its sibling, Tetris 99, which launched?? back in the fall of 2019. There could also be an expiring license issue, given the pill-popper's torrid legacy with red tape. Or, Nintendo could simply be d??oing it because why not? It be that way sometimes.

Pac-Man 99 is available now on Nintendo Switch, players wishing to enjoy the offline modes after delisting will need to pick up the Pac-Man 99 Deluxe Pack or Pac-Man 99 Mode Unlock.

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Flee from 8-bit Colin Farrell

The Oscars celebration may be over, but The Banshees of Inisherin live on in video game form. Over on this site, you can play Banshees: The Game,? a pixel-y game based on the Academy Award-nominated film.

Created by Cogs & Marvel, this little retro-style game does indeed take after The Banshees of Inisherin. It's got some lovely pixel w?ork, including great illustrations of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

How exactly does it play? Well, it's basically Pac-Man. And that leads me to my first big point: for full disclosure, I have not seen this film. I'm only vaguely aware of The Banshees of Inisherin, mostly in that it stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, is a bit of a dark comedy, and is set on a fictional Irish isle. It's also, as I've learned in the course of writing this article, from the same star pairing and director (Martin McDonagh) that created In Bruges, which has certainly piqued my interest.

That unfamiliarity did not help when I found that this video game is essentially Pac-Man, b??ut with Brendan Gleeson's character steadily picking up fingers before heading to the pub. Certainly a far cry from little dots and cherries.

[caption id="attachment_369326" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Yeah, I've got no clue. Now, at this juncture, I must assume that The Banshees of Inisherin is about Brenda??n Gleeson desperately trying to reclaim the fingers he needs to hold his pint at the pub, before Colin Farrell catches up to him.

As deeply relatable as that sentiment is, I'm sure folks who have actually seen and enjoyed this award-nominated film find some dark humor in this set-up. It's certainly made me curious what it's all about. And really, a Pac-Man clone where you pick up fingers isn't even close to scraping the depths of movie-to-game adaptations. You can play Banshees: The Game yourself here.

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If you haven't played it, it's new to you

One might assume that the dawning of a new gaming generat?ion would essentially bring an end to the flurry of remasters and remakes that we saw flood the market in the most recent decade. But of course not. Much like the film industry, the concept of taking a second pass at some beloved (and even not-so-beloved classics) is clearly here to stay �with no sign from the cash registers that it isn't still a hugely lucrative endeavor.

2022 contained two very extreme examples of the remaster/remake concept, namely in the form of Square Enix sliding-door RPG Live a Live and Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part I. On one hand, we had a long-lost RPG dating back to 1994 and Nintendo's Super Famicom, while on the other we had a remake of a game less than 10 years old �one that had already been remastered at that.

It will be interesting to see how blurry the lines become in regards to how long is "long enough"? And while I have zero problem with the concept of remakes and remasters per se, it's worth raising an eyebrow at the idea that each new generation of hardware immediately requires the re-establishment of the previous generation's best-selling ?games. Not franchises. Games. Time �and the creativity of the next wave of studios, developers, and? players �will tell.

Here are the nominees for Destructoid’s Best Remaster/Remake of 2022

• Live a Live
• Metal Max Xeno Reborn
• Pac-Man World Re-Pac
• Tactics Ogre: Reborn
• The Last of Us Part I
• The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
• World of Warcraft Classic: Wrath of the Lich King

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Pay close attention

Following on from last week's much-celebrated and long-awaited release of Tetris: The Grand Master, retro publisher Hamster returns to its bag big of Namco classics this week, with the arrival of 3D maze chaser Pac-Mania, now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Sw??itch.

Released to arcades in 1987, before finding itself ported to myriad home computers and consoles, Pac-Mania was something of a very big deal upon its launch, due to its fresh adaptation of Pac-Man's genre-defining gameplay from an all-new 3D perspective. Choosing an oblique 3/4 viewing angle, and sporting some delightfully cartoonish sprites, Pac-Mania o?ffered a new approach to?? the pill-munching action of its 1980 predecessor.

Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber MegaMan52.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctJFLJ5w88U

Once again, our boy is charged with dashing around a symmetrical maze, gobbling up power pellets, and staying one step ahead of the ghostly gang of Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde, and "Sue". As a major game-changer, Pac-Man now has the ability to leap over his enemies, offering him a handy escape when cornered. Later stages introduce new ghosts... erm... "Funky and Spunky" both of whom also have the ability to take to the air, intercepting Pac-Man's avian action. A popular release in arcades and on the home market, Pac-Mania remains one of the most recognizable of the Pac-Man sequels.

Pac-Mania is available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8. It should be noted that it is also included as part of Bandai Namco's compendium Pac-Man Museum +.

The post Pac-Mania takes the A??rcade Archives to a??nother dimension appeared first on Destructoid.

Check out these Halloween pumpkins with a nerdy twist

I'm not much of a pumpkin-carver myself, but one of the my favorite Halloween activities is seeing everyone post their cool jack-o'-lanterns online. It's all of the fun of a time-honored tr??adition with none of the work or mess, so that's a win-win in my book. While t?here are some pretty impressive carvings out there, obviously the best ones are the gaming-themed gourds, and there are plenty of them out there. This year, I scoured Reddit in search of the best pumpkins so you don't have to, and I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with the selection this year.

Cult of the Lamb

Starting off strong with one of my favorite games of the year, this pumpkin features the titular character of Cult of the Lamb, the adorably twisted roguelike/management sim. This carving is complete with bleeding? eyes and his little hat, ??but the best part is that the back of the pumpkin is carved with the symbols of all four heretic prophets. Major points for the attention to detail!

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming??/comments/yfezqe/worship_lamb/

Pac-Man

Pac-Man is one of the most well-loved games of all time, so it's only natural it would pop up on this list more than once. Thi??s jack-o'-lantern in particular features one of the game's four ghosts, and has the bottom of the pumpkin carved out to make the little guy look like ?he's floating. I have no idea how they managed to suspend the light inside, but it looks awesome.

//w??ww.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/y997bq/pacman_ghost_made_for_a_work_pumpkin_contest/

Resident Evil Village

It wouldn't be Halloween with a Resident Evil-themed pumpkin, and this one features the giantess that broke the internet: Lady Dimitrescu. I'm honestly surprised at how well her likeness transfer?red onto a seasonal fruit, but sure enough, it's unmistakably her. Couldn't miss her with that cleavage and that hat.

//www.reddit.com/r/gamin?g/comments/yfrezr/lady_dimitrescu_pumpkin_i_carved_this_year/

Fallout

This next one isn't so much a pumpkin carving as it is a pumpkin painting, but it's definitely in the spirit of things, so I'm including it. A Fallout fan? painted his pumpkin so that it depicted the Vault Boy in his classic thumbs up pose, and he even has the matching t-shirt to boot. A painted design looks like a great alternative for someone who doesn't want to spend half the night mopping up pumpkin guts, so I might have to follow suit next year.

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/y6j8wx??/vault_??boy_pumpkin_i_painted/

Portal

Okay, this Portal pumpkin has to be my favorite of the year. Not only is it from one of my favorite game series of all time, but this turret pumpkin carving has to be one of the most creative jack-o'-lantern designs I've ever seen. The creator actually 3D printed all of the plastic pieces featured (and provided the plans for anyone who wants to replicate it), and actually posted a video of the build. This is a triumph, huge success.

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/yfzh?l8/i_ma??????????????????????????de_my_pumpkin_into_a_portal_turret_for/

The Legend of Zelda

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/commen??????????????????????????ts/y5xoxe/i_carved_link_into_a_pumpkin/

It's great to see another classic game series represented, and this pumpkin was carved with all of the elegance the series deserves. It may be a bit simple compared to some of the other jack-o'-lanterns on this list, but it's got to be one of the cleanest. The simple, cartoony depiction of Breath of the Wild Link is so well carved, I can't imagine how much time it took to re??fine.

Half-Life, Pac-Man, and Chess

What's better than a jack-o'-lantern? Four jack-o'-lanterns! An entire family carved their pumpkins together to depict their favorite games, featuring the Half-Life logo, a depiction of Pac-Man chasing a ghost, and what was going to be a chess board, the poster clarified in the comments, but ended up being a cool-looking geometric desi?gn. There's also a little mini pumpkin in the mix, and while I don't think the owl is a nod to any game in particular, it is absolutely adorable.

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comment??s/yf9s3h/check_out_my_familys_pumpkins_mine_is_the/

Minecraft and Among Us

Pretty much all of the Halloween pumpkin carvings on this list look like they could have been done by a professional, but these pumpkins actually were -- the Minecraft and Among Us pumpkins are part of an event called Carved at the Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Fli??ntridge, California. The meticulously detailed jack-o'-lanterns are some of the best I've ever seen, and I understand why people would pay money to se??e gardens full of pumpkins like these.

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/yb8ny8/gaming_pumpk??ins_carv?ed_descanso_gardens/

Luigi's Mansion

Luigi's Mansion is a perfect game to represent on a Halloween pumpkin, because what could be more Halloween-y than a big spooky house full of ghosts. Not only does the front have a classically-terrified Luigi mid-scream, but also features a boo carved into the back, which illuminates? the wall behind with its spooky silhouette. Great idea, even bette??r execution!

//www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/yfmz??vn/my_jack_olantern_this_year/

Well, that's our list of the best gaming Halloween pumpk??ins of the year. Are there any we missed? Do you carve your own gaming jack-o'-lanterns? What's your favo?rite game you'd want to see carved into the side of a gourd? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Here are the best gaming-the??med pumpkin carvings this Halloween appeared first on Destructoid.

But where's Chomp Chomp?

It's another outing for a gaming icon in this week's Arcade Archives entry, as everybody's favorite pill-popper Pac-Man returns in one of his less-remembered releases, Pac & Pal, now a?vailable to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, courtesy of the fine folks at Hamster Corp.

Released to the arcade market in the summer of 1983, Pac & Pal is the third mainline entry in Bandai Namco's in-house Pac-Man series, and sees the puck-shaped protagonist return to his maze-chasing origins. In Pac & Pal, Pac-Man?? must once ag??ain gobble up power pellets and items of fruit strewn around a series of mazes, while staying one step ahead of returning ghosts Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde.

New mechanics include cameo appearances from sprites pulled from other classic Namco releases, such as Rally-X and Galaxian, while Pac-Man himself is now able to utilize a laser ??to zap and stun his ghostly op??position. The titular "Pal" comes in the form of an A.I.-controlled friend, Mil, who will attempt to aid our hero by gathering items and bringing them to the center square for collection.

Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Were1974.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uXEEGGnts8

Bandai Namco had big plans for Pac & Pal, and intended to localize the title for western markets as Pac-Man & Chomp Chomp, which would see Mil replaced by the dog character featured in Hanna Barbera's god-awful animated spin-off. Unfortunately, the market crash came a-callin' and very few Pac-Man & Chomp Chomp cabinets were ??actually produced �most of which ended up circul??ating arcade centers in Europe rather than in North America.

While Pac & Pal is certainly not the best of Pac-Man's adventures, it is a marvelous curiosity in regards to its weird "everything at the wall" design choices. Featuring characters from multiple games, an A.I. companion, and the aforementioned laser beam, Pac & Pal is a confusing entry in the legendary franchise, but no less an intriguing one for the very same reasons. It should also be noted that the title is included in the recent release Pac-Man Museum + on PS4, PC, Xbox, and Switch

Pac & Pal is now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8. It should also be noted that it is included in the recent release Pac-Man Museum + on PS4, PC, Xbox, and Switch.

The post The weird, oft-forgotten Pac & Pal joins the Arcade Archives appeared first on Destructoid.

The return of a debatable classic with caveats

Pac-Man World isn't what I'd call a polarizing game. If you've ever asked someone if they had any memories of the 1999 original, usually you're greeted with some form of "it's one of my favorite platformers!" or "what are you even talking about, get away from me." Pac-Man World Re-Pac is likely going to have the same impact.

But fo?r those of you who do dive in, there's a fun little mascot platformer here.

Pac-Man World Re-Pac (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)
Developer: Now Production
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Released: August 26, 2022
MSRP: $29.99

Pac-Man World Re-Pac's premise is as straightforward as its platforming. A villain has captured Pac-Man's family (his wife is Pac-Mom, because, you know), and it's up to you to travel through themed worlds to save them. One is modeled after pirates, another is a set of ruins, one is in space �you get the picture. It's a very 1999 game, including the Crash Bandicoot hub world ??roaming to go from level to level. The upgrade to 60 FPS (on ev?erything but Switch) and enhanced visuals don't really alter that foundation, though there are some quality of life enhancements.

Two of the bigger, yet subt??le ones, are the lack o??f a requirement to save all of Pac-Man's family individually to finish the game, as well as the addition of an easy mode. The latter can pop on as an optional toggle mid-level too, which will be useful for folks who can't beat a specific sequence. It's a very laid-back game and this optional addition suits it. The most obvious change is a new coat of paint, and smoothing over the vast majority of 1999 clunk.

As I mentioned earlier, the way you play Pac-Man World Re-Pac is straightforward. Each level generally has P-A-C-M-A-N letters to collect, fruits or icons that serve as keys to required or secret/bonus areas, and a statue at the end to smash that signifies the end. It's a collection of mascot platformer tropes, but none of it feels overwrought. There's just enough there to make level discovery and exploration interesting, without throwing too much pointless nonsense at the player. Unlocking extra classic-fee?ling "maze" levels is one of the best examples of this philosophy, as they're fun to do in their own right, but you won't feel like you're missing out if you skip some.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdMwxY8x9vc

To actually accomplish all that, Pac-Man has a few abilities: an amalgamation of several other mascots of that era. Pac-Man can do the classic "hover in mid-air" platforming move by kicking his feet, and he can Sonic spin dash by holding down a button. There's a butt bounce (which also does double duty as a way to jump higher), and power-ups like Metal Pac-Man (which makes you impervious to enemies and lets you s??ink underwater),?? reminiscent of that era of platforming. Minigames and a slot machine bonus (at the end of each level) are thrown in for good measure.

On paper it doesn't sound like Pac-Man's foray into 3D platforming is all that unique, but the way these abilities weave into each other from a gameplay perspective is interesting. Levels often take advantage of successive butt bounces?, and work the apex of those jumps into those designs.?? Dashing will make Pac-Man zoom across the screen after a wind-up �but it can also be used to power platforms and contraptions like a hamster in a wheel.

A lot of platforming sections use all of these abilities to their fullest, especially higher-octane levels that have the threat of damage accompanying all these maneuvers. Quickly deciding ?between a jump or a butt bounce while lasers fire at your head is fun, especially once ?you start to figure out the rhythm and cadence of everything Pac-Man has at his disposal.

It doesn't take that long for Pac-Man World to start throwing those things at you either. Most "first stages" in each zone are introductory, but after that, a lot of the tutorials are cut and you're left to your own devices. While there are a lot of univ?ersal truths that serve as an interconnected web throughout the game (like water and trap doors), zones generally have differentiating fresh concepts.

One of the biggest sins of Pac-Man World's design, which wasn't rectified with Re-Pac, is the high amount of low-impact enemies. While enemy identity is a huge part of many mascot platformers, I'd struggle to recall most of Pac-Man World's rogue's gallery by memory. Their attack formations and overall presence aren't anything special either, which takes you out of the moment if you were looking for a more action-oriented vibe. With a butt bounce, dash, and throwing pellets (as well as a charged super pelle??????????????????????????t throw), there's plenty of ways to take enemies down, but you won't need all of them; you can just sidestep most of their shenanigans.

With the lower-key stakes (coupled with a lower-key $30 price point), and a firm consistency with level design, Pac-Man World Re-Pac still kept me interested throughout. I'm not sure Pac-Man World Re-Pac is going to lure in many more fans,? but the ones it already had should be happy with this new packaging. It's a workhorse of a mascot platformer: one that was understandably passed by, but is still worth talking about.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Still due out this month

Thanks to a new clip from Bandai Namco, we have the new remastered Pac-Man World intro to give us a clue as to what we can expect f?rom the re-relea?se.

Dubbed Pac-Man World Re-Pac, the game will rem??aster the 1999 adventure, which tasks the titular Pac-Man with rescuing his family. Here's the original synopsis:

"In Pac-Man World, Pac-Man arrives home on his birthday to find the Ghosts have kidnapped Pac-Man's family & friends and ruined his party! Pac-Man must set out to adventure through the six areas of Ghost Island to rescue his family and friends, and face-off against ??the Ghosts�boss, Toc-Man!"

As you can see when comparing them directly, the original is a bit longer, showing off more of the Ghost Island locale after Pac-M??an actually sees the invite (it's a whole minute and a half of extra footage). Maybe that bit will be slotted into a later cutscene, but either way, it gets the point across with a completely new tone, and respects our time a bit more (if you're not into long PSX cutscenes).

Pac-Man World intro remastered:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSng9vAnXbs

Pac-Man World intro original:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwLnlWACzzs

Even better than an intro, Bandai Namco has also given us a graphical showdown of sorts with regular gameplay. The backgrounds especially look massively upgraded, and have me excited. We're flush with mascot platformers these days!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x9AqNlJhJs

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Because sure, why not

It looks like Pac-Man could be hitting the silver screen. A new report claims a film is in development, based on Pac-Man, and it's live-action.

The Hollywood Reporter says the project is in the works between Bandai Namco Entertainment and Wayfarer Studios. It's apparently based on an original idea from Chuck Williams of Lightbeam Entertainment, a producer on 2020's Sonic the Hedgehog.

Wayfarer was founded by Justin Baldoni and Steve Sarowitz, and was behind Disney+ feature Clouds. No further details?? have been reported on what direction this live-action adaptation of the arcade classic might take.

Bandai Namco, meanwhile, has seen a number of video game adaptations come and go. They've ranged from varying Tekken films to series and anime adaptations. Tekken itself is getting another iteration on Netflix later this month, with Tekken: Bloodline.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6-donCAnCc

Puck Man to the rescue

Considering there isn't too much narrative fodder to work with, I have to wonder where exactly a Pac-Man movie goes. Maybe a comedy that imagines the Pac-Man world and its everyday action as a standard 9-to-5 world, like Wreck-It Ralph.

Or maybe it goes a darker, grim route, imagining Pac-Man as some grizzled ghost hunter. What if the "games" are put on by a higher power, and Pac-Man is in some kind of Squid Games situation, fighting to s??urvive in a maze full of ghosts and dots?

Honestly, I have no clue. But since video game adaptations have shown absolutely no sign of slowing down in the near future, I'm down for whatever. Resident Evil has had multiple adaptations in the last few years, Castlevania keeps tearing it up on Netflix, and League of Legends struck gold with Arcane. If Mario and Sonic, are both returning to the silver screen, the?n Pac-Man should get a shot too??.

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Ms.Take

During yesterday's Nintendo Direct presentation, Bandai Namco revealed that it is developing a remake of the 1999 PlayStation adventure Pac-Man World, starring the com??pany's eponymous mascot and his memorable crew of friends and enemies. Unfortunately, however, it seems that one family member will be conspicuous by their absence.

Pac-Man World Re-Pac??, (neat name), will once again see the pill-popping hero on a quest to rescue his family from the villainous Toc-Man, who has not only kidnapped the spherical clan but also chosen to perform this nasty deed on Pac-Man's birthday! What a complete bastard. While the remake will feature a fully revitalized replication of the original 3D platform adventure in its entirety, tiresome red tape will call for alterations to be made pertaining to, you guessed it, the a?ppearance of Ms. Pac-Man.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=m88oPZTx7rI

In Pac-Man World Re-Pac, the bow-wearing babe will be replaced by everybody's favorite sun hat-wearing imposter "Pac-Mom," who is becoming the de rigueur stand-in for all Pac-Man-related remakes and rereleases. As we have previously reported, arduous and tiring licensing laws have seen the rights to Ms. Pac-Man fall into disarray, with a petty dispute between Bandai Namco and develope??r AtGames (of "Plug 'n' Play" console fa?me), are keeping the character locked up in licensing jail.

Ms. Pac-Man does not appear in Pac-Man Museum Plus, she was removed from the recent Arcade Archives release of Pac-Land, and, clearly, she will not be appearing in Pac-World Re-Pac. While this seems such a minor issue, it is a clear and ongoing irritant to the Pac-Man community, while also burying ??the legacy of a legitimate??ly important character in the history of female representation in video games. But, there's money to be made by someone, somewhere, so this issue is set to continue.

Pac-Man World Re-Pac launches August 2?5 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

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Or should that be 'something isn't a Ms.'?

This week's Arcade Archives entry features one of video gaming's most iconic and beloved characters, Pac-Man, as retro publisher Hamster brings Namco's somewhat odd platforming adventure Pac-Land to PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Released to arcades in 1984, Pac-Land sees our pill-popping pal leave the sanctity of his maze and �now sporting arms, legs, and a jaunty hat �stride out into the big wide world. The side-scrolling adventure was based upon Hanna Barbera's abominable Pac-Man animated show, which was busy boring kids on Saturday mornings. Pac-Land also features a strange, Track & Field-inspired control system, utilizing three buttons and n??o joystick.

Despite its rudimentary nature are oddly sparse visuals, Pac-Land was a huge success and is considered an important forerunner to the side-scrolling platform genre that would dominate throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Old Classic Retro Gaming.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CDVshu9a4U

One important note, however, is that Hamster's new re-release of Pac-Land actually has a major alteration. While most of the weekly Arcade Archive entries are borderline ROM dumps, Namco's Pac-Land has b??een forced to undergo a bit of visual tweaking, lest the bloodthirsty lawyers come a-callin'.

As spotted by graphic artist "Nick C", the change concerns Pac-Man's beloved partner, Ms. Pac-Man, who usually waits to greet our hero at the end of each stage. Ms. Pac-Man's sprite has been altered in the rerelease, replacing her trademark "red bow, red boots" look to a pink hat and heels, metamorphizing her into a more recently created character in the Pac-Man universe known as "Pac-Mom".

The reasons behind this c??hange are arduous and annoying.

//twitter.com/nic?kisonlinet/status/1511758757218463748?s=20&t=3eNcJGtTnsX_bDME654dyA

Manufacturer AtGames (the company behind the "Plug 'n' Play" retro consoles), were able to secure a percentage of royalty rights for the character o??f Ms. Pac-Man from her original creators, General Computer Corporation. Thus, while Bandai Namco still owns the Ms. Pac-Man property and can use her whenever they wish, her depiction triggers a royalty payout to AtGames each and every time she appears, even in something as minor as this Hamster rerelease.

Bandai Namco, smarting from the deal, chooses simply to ignore the character entirely as often as is available �she won't even be appearing in the upcoming collection Pac-Man Museum Plus (although "Pac-Mom" will). A miserably pointless tale of greed, pettiness, and lawyering up that is keeping one of the most important figures for femal??e representation in video ga?mes locked in licensing jail.

I fucking swear, the wrong people have all the money and power,?? in every fi?eld imaginable.

Pac-Land is available to download now on PS4 ??and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8.

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40 years of pill-poppin'

Bandai Namco has announced that its prestige retro compendium, Pac-Man Museum+, wi??ll be opening its doors this May on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. The compilation will celebrate four straight decades of one of video gaming's most recognizable and iconic superstars.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=69ivvq-T6H0&t

Pac-Man Museum+ will feature 14 select titles pulled from the yellow munchers' legacy of arcade adventures. The chosen games range from the original Pac-Man (1980) to the compelling online release Pac-Man 256 (2015), with a wide variety of hits (and a ?couple of misses) in between. In addition to the games themselves, a cute interface allows players to build and customize their own ?virtual arcade, spending coins earned in-game on cabinets, decorations, and other memorabilia from Pac's storied career.

Admittedly, it does feel like Bandai Namco has released 101 retro compilations over the past couple of decades, but Pac-Man Museum+ does contain a pretty rad range of titles, which will always be welcome �especially for those on the go. If there is any disappointment to be had, it's probably that the new collection does not include the strange SNES release Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures, a game which seems entirely built around the idea of completely terrifying the ghost-gobbling dude.

Pac-Man Museum+ launches May 27 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. It will also arrive on Xbox Game Pass on launch day. You can check out?? the ful?l list of included games below.

• Pac-Man (1980)
• Super Pac-Man (1982)
  
• Pac & Pal (1983)
  
• Pac-Land (1984)
  
• Pac-Mania (1987)
  
• Pac-Attack (1993)
  
• Pac-in-Time (1995)
  
• Pac-Man Arrangement Arcade Ver. (1996)
  
• Pac-Man Arrangement CS Ver. (1996)
  
• Pac-Man Championship Edition (2007)
  
• Pac Motos (2007)
  
• Pac ‘n Roll Remix (2007)
  
• Pac-Man Battle Royale (2011)
  
• Pac-Man 256 (2015)
  

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Video games' first lady is 40 years old

Just like her husband Pac-Man, born just two years earlier (young c??ouple!), Ms. Pac-Man is a round yellow circle, kind of like a jawbreaker or the Sun.

She debuted in arcades across America and raked in $1.2 billion quarters by 1987, all the while managing her marriage with Pac-Man and their baby Junior, who was unceremoniously unleashed from his blue blanket during Ms. Pac-Man gameplay. Today, she celebrates her 40th?? anniver??sary.

But in some ways, Ms. Pac-Man, one of the world’s most successful arcade games, has been overshadowed by the legal troubles that followed it from the moment it was introduced as a knockoff “enhancement kit�for the original Pac-Man.

[caption id="attachment_304089" align="aligncenter" width="520"] _{[Source: Honest Gamers/Atari]}[/caption]The decades-old saga finally ended in 2020, when Bandai Namco reached a settlement with AtGames, a company that bought the rights to Ms. Pac-Man from creators GCC in 2019. But royalties are the core of why, throughout the years, Ms. Pac-Man has been missing from Pac-Man games or rebranded into other characters like Pac-Marie or Pepper. At least much more often th?an her husband, who is pretty much always Pac-Man.

It’s disappointing �I wish we had more years of Ms. Pac-Man. Especially? since she was one of the first characters that drew women to gaming.

“Advertising flyers of the period depict only women playing the game, which reflected a broader acknowledgment of female participation in video gaming,�write history bloggers The History Bandits in a post describing how Ms. Pac-Man changed gaming for women. �i>Ms. Pac-Man today is viewed as the historical catalyst in attracting women to a traditionally male-dominated hobby.�/p>

[caption id="attachment_304090" align="aligncenter" width="640"] _{[Source: Imgur]}[/caption]Ms. Pac-Man’s critical role in women’s video game history is well documented, and although it’s largely because Ms. Pac-Man allowed women to identify themselves with a character at a time where there ?were n?o other options, she’s also just a good character in a good game.

At least, I think so. I know this is debated (“she’s literally named Ms. Pac-Man,â€?screams the Tumblr feminist in my head), but hear me out. Ms. Pac-Man is a nuclear family wife â€?a homemaker with the occasional task of eating fruit and avoiding ghosts â€?but the original advertisements declaring her to be “the woman of the yearâ€?and â€??œmore than Pac-Man with a bowâ€?n?ever made this her sole focus. They also never belittled it or minimized the importance of these traditionally “feminineâ€?roles.

In Ms. Pac-Man, womanhood wasn’t a joke or a gimmick. It was just there, just the way it is in me and other players, celebrated with sweet screens of Ms. Pac-Man sharing a kiss with her husband followed by Ms.?? Pac-Man eating enem?ies whole.

So even 40 years later, Ms. Pac-Man is a sparky reminder of where women in video games have gone and where they still might go �ideally, beyond wives and sexy murderers since it isn’t 1982, and women now get to be picky about representation. But the odd kiss and a pretzel won’t hurt us, either.

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Totally Awesome Video Gaaaaames!

It's a brand new year, and the retro lovers over at Hamster are set to deliver another 12 months of classic (and somewhat overpriced) classics, courtesy of the Arcade Archives. First on the agenda is the might yellow muncher himself, as Namco sequel Super Pac-Man makes itself available to pill-poppi?n' audiences everywhere on PS4 an??d Nintendo Switch.

Developed in 1982 as a direct sequel to the legendary 1980 maze-chaser, (Ms. Pac-Man having been developed by a different team),  Super Pac-Man, as the title suggests, features a souped-up take on the original release, maintaining the maze-chasing, pill-munching, ghost-dodging action of Pac-Man but featuring a gameplay loop that involves gathering keys, unlocking doors, and eating the sweet, sweet fruit within. Gathering power-pills will super-size our hero??, allowing him to travel faster, smash through doorways, and lay waste to messrs Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde.

Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Old Classic Retro Gaming.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYpuKc86gT8

Did Pac-Man need a sequel? Not really, but you can't blame Namco for not capitalizing on, quite literally, Pac-Man Fever. Despite falling off the map in the ensuing years, Super Pac-Man was a success upon release, and features heavily in terrible Animal-House-meets-Arcade-Craze "comedy" Joysticks (1983) where it is played in a climactic battle between the arcade's bed-hopping owner and the local troublemaker, "Vidiot." While we, as the viewer, are supposed to side with the arc??ade owner, Vidiot is, ironically, far less obnoxious. He's also accompanied by a quartet of goofy arcade lovin' punk babe sidekicks, so he's the movie's protagonist as far as I'?m concerned.

Oh, he's also played by John Gries, who would go on to portray Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite.

In case you haven't figured it out, I just wanted to talk about Joysticks. Check out the opening here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r86wgZ5tTPo

Oh, Super Pac-Man is available to downlo??ad now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8.

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14 pill-popping classics

Bandai Namco has announced that gaming's original superstar Pac-Man is getting set to return in a brand new retrospective compendium, Pac-Man Museum+, which will launch on PC and cons??ole platforms in the first half of 2022.

Pac-Man Museum+, as you might have guessed from the title, will be a retrospective on the hungry fella's storied career in video gaming, and will feature a total of 14 titles taken from his legendary 40-year run. The collection will feature a variety of hits from the still-fantastic 1980 arcade original, through his SNES and Xbox endeavors, all the way up to the compelling 2015 release Pac-Man 256. Unfortunately, there is no sign of the hilarious Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBftlAcWPKk

As a fun additional feature, players will be able to build their own Pac-Man museum, decorating a room with iconography and memorabilia, while also locating and relocating cabinets containing all of the included titles. Pac-Man Museum+ will, essentially, afford fans the opportunity to build their own virtual space entirely dedicated to the legacy of one of video gaming's most enduring and recognizable icons, while testing their maze-running skills against a long list of challenges and achievements. It looks like a lovely tribute, but I do hope that they'll be a gallery celebrating the artwork, flyers, music, and marketing materials used by Namco to promote the games, in order to really nail that "Mu??seum" vibe.

Pac-Man Museum+ launches early 20?22 on PS4, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. You can check out the full list of included titles below.

• Pac-Man (1980)
• Super Pac-Man (1982)
  
• Pac & Pal (1983)
  
• Pac-Land (1984)
  
• Pac-Mania (1987)
  
• Pac-Attack (1993)
  
• Pac-in-Time (1995)
  
• Pac-Man Arrangement Arcade Ver. (1996)
  
• Pac-Man Arrangement CS Ver. (1996)
  
• Pac-Man Championship Edition (2007)
  
• Pac Motos (2007)
  
• Pac ‘n Roll Remix (2007)
  
• Pac-Man Battle Royale (2011)
  
• Pac-Man 256 (2015)
  

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Don't Puck-Man with Pac-Man

Every week I show up to hand y'all the lowdown on the latest entry in Hamster's bursting-at-the-seams Arcade Archives range. Most of the time it's relatively easy �In my advancing years, I've played almost every arcade game under the sun. Other times it's notably harder, especially with games that never saw the light outside of Japan. This week, however, what even is there to say? It's Namco's Pac-Man. Just Pac-Man. As naked as you or I right now.

Hitting the arcades in 1980 �before being remixed, rehashed, tweaked, ported, adapted, and ripped-off for almost every platform going �Pac-Man is the tale of a yellow, hockey-puck shaped fella dashing through a maze, munching up power pellets, and avoiding the pursuit of a crafty gang of cute ghosts. You know all this, of course, because you like video games, and there is arguably none more iconic, more influential, and more enduring?? franchise of the medium's golden age.

Check out Pac-Man in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Old Classic Retro Gaming.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dScq4P5gn4A

Pac-Man would grow beyond arcade gaming to become a full-on pop culture sensation. Today, some 40 years on from his debut, Pac-Man remains perhaps the single most recognizable video game character of all time, adorning merchandise and paraphernalia across the globe. With a nigh-on endless list of sequels and spin-offs, some terrible cartoons, a pinball machine, and a tabletop edition, (not to mention one hell of a pop song), to his credit �Pac-Man will never, ever vanish from the public conscience. Not a bad legacy at all for a?? meager handful of yellow pixels.

Pac-Man is available to download now on Nintendo Switch, p??riced at $8. It may also be available on other platfor?ms.

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It also has Super Puzzle Fighter II: Turbo

There are two big shows each year you can depend on Arcade1Up bringing its A-game to. The first is CES, where earlier this year, the company announced its Killer Instinct cabinet. The second is E3. In the past, Arcade1Up has used the event to reveal some incredible units, like when it announced the Pole Position Atari Star Wars cabinet, complete with an X-Wing controller. This year's show is a bit more subdued. After announcing The Simpsons earlier this week, Arcade1Up is pulling back the curtain on a trio of new units, including its third Street Fighter II arcade cabinet.

Dubbed "Big Blue," this latest SFII cabinet will feature 12 games in total, including three versions of the classic one vs. one fighter. It'll also include three games from the Darkstalkers series, making it one of the better fighting game cabinet??s Arcade1UP has released.

Previously, the company released a Street Fighter II arcade cabinet with 12 games and a black livery. The line-up of games is different here, however, there are a few repeating titles. Speaking of repeating titles, Arcade1Up is also announcing new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Ms. Pac-Man cabinets. The full list of cabinets and includ?ed games are below.

• Street Fighter II "Big Blue"
  • Street Fighter II Champion Edition
  • Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
  • Super Street Fighter II: Turbo
  • Super Puzzle Fighter II: Turbo
  • Darkstalkers
  • Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge
  • Darkstalkers 3
  • Saturday Night Slam Masters
  • Knights of the Round
  • Eco Fighters
  • Capcom Sports Club
  • Muscle Bomber Duo
• Turtles in Time 4-Player Cabinet
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
• Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga "Class of '81"
  • Ms. Pac-Man
  • Galaga
  • Dig Dug
  • Mappy
  • Rally X
  • Galaxian
  • Rolling Thunder
  • Rompers
  • Tower of Druaga
  • King and Balloon
  • Dig Dug II
  • Galaga '88

All three units will feature wi-fi, which was missing from the first TMNT cabinet. Pre-orders for Big Blue and Turtles in Time being on July 1, while the Class ?of '81 cabinet will go on pre-order starting in August.

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The Mode Unlock pack with CPU Battle costs $15 and you can change the theme to look like other arcade classics with DLC

Pac-Man 99 is the next last-player-standing game for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers following Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35 (RIP), and you know what??? Sure. I'm down. There's going to be a point of diminishing returns for these nostalgia-mining pack-ins, but we aren't quite there yet. (Or are we?)

Bandai Namco Entertainment is launching Pac-Man 99 for Switch Online on April 7, 2021, and you'll be able to download it and compete against the pellet-munching masses starting at 6:00 p.m. Pacific. Beyond the basic recurring battle royale concept, the game is also throwing in fun elements like ghost trains, which I'm stoked to see after recently revisiting Pac-Man Championship Edition 2.

To outlast other players, you'll need to clog up their screens with jammers by waking up sleep??ing ghosts, powering up, and tearing through trains. It's going to get chaotic fast, but that's the appeal.

If you aren't into the idea of facing off against strangers or you're just looking to practice, there's single-player CPU Battle, as well as Score Attack and Blind Time Attack, so you can play offline. You can also switch up the look and sound of Pac-Man 99 with optional DLC themes based on other classics. You can ge??t everything (including themes) bundled together for $30, or spend $15 on?? a Mode Unlock pack.

Yep, I'm going to have to buy the Dig Dug theme for two bucks. There's no resisting it.

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It's live on Stadia today

Bandai Namco is always working on something when it comes to Pac-Man: it's just that much of a cash cow. Even if the little guy isn't getting his own starring games he makes appearances in everything from Smash Bros. to Minecraft, b??ut today he actually is getting a new game, with some caveats.

It's called Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle, and will be a "First on Stadia" title. It's out right now, accompanied by a free Stadia demo here, which you can use to try the game instantly in your browser. Bandai Namco says that it was created to "leverage Google's cloud gaming platform to create the largest multiplayer Pac-Man ??;game ever developed," with 64 players in total.

The gist is that you'll duke it out, battle royale style, across connected grids until you're the last Pac standing New power-ups are a go as is a spectator mode, likely to encourage streaming. It's a lot like Super Bomberman R Online, another Stadia title.

Enjoy it, or not! It's a pretty breezy lo??w stakes demo. It'll run through October 27: then the full game will be released ?on November 17 for $19.99.

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Mobile title available for pre-registration

A little over a month ago, we reported on Bandai Namco's Pac-Man Geo, a new mobile spin on the classic coin-op that will use world maps to create unique mazes for Pac-Man and his pals. Well, it seems the hungry fella is getting set to gobble, as Pac-Man Geo is now available for pre-registration on iOS and Android.

Utilising mobile geographical information, Pac-Man Geo allows players to create a pill-filled maze out of almost any location they can thin??k of, from New York's Times Square, to Paris' Arc de Triomphe, even the criss-cross streets of Tokyo's Shibuya district. Chased down by Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and?? Clyde, Pac-Man will munch his way through your local high street, picking up bonus items at famous landmarks while staying one bite ahead of his ghostly pursuers.

Limited-time Tour Mode events will see players challenge each other for the highest score within some of the world's most popular locations, while Map Mode will allow users to share their favourite locations with other globe-trotting players. Pac-Man Geo looks to be a neat new take on the franchise, yet another way that Pac-Man has managed to redesign its timeles?s gameplay for entirely new audiences and forma?ts.

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(Don't tell her about the crash)

Premium doll company American Girl has revealed a new arcade game-lovin' gal as part of its "Historical Characters" range. Courtney Moore is described as a "total '80s girl" who grew up in the sun-soaked streets of California's beautiful San Fernando Valley. Not only that, but she's like, totally the best at Pac-Man... Fer sure!

Standing 18 inches in height, Courtney is rockin' a slew of '80s fashion staples such as a side-ponytail, a stone-washed denim skirt, a rainbow Walkman, and neon-coloured bangles, bum-bag and hair scrunchie. American Girl is also taking pre-orders on a fully-working, doll-sized Pac-Man cabinet, so Courtney can take on that Mitchell kid everyone's talking about down at the mall. Gag me with ?a spoon.

As with all of the dolls in the Historical Characters range, Courtney comes with a storybook detailing her adventures growing up in the carefree days of Cali '86. While a big fan of video games, Courtney is disappointed at the lack of girl characters on offer, so takes the opportunity to develop her own video game as part of a school project, creating the kinds of characters she'd like to see?? reflected on the CRTs of her local arcade scen??e.

American Girl has also announced that it will be matching all of its customer donations (to a maximum of $50,000 USD) to Girls Who Code. This non-profit outfit helps young women from diverse backgrounds study computer sciences through an expansive range of online resources, scholarly sessions, and summer events. In addition, American Girl will be offering $5,000 scholarships to four of the programme's students. You can learn more about Girls Who Code via the official website.

The Courtney Moore doll, the pint-sized Pac-Man cabinet, and a range of alternate, '80s-themed outfits, (including some Care Bears gear), can all be purchased from the official American Girl website. Courtney will be available to purchase from American Girl high-street outl?ets from September 25.

Newest American Girl doll is a Pac-Man ??champion a??nd game developer [Polygon / Twitter]

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All the world's a stage...

Despite - or perhaps because of - its simplistic design, Namco has always found new ways to reinvent video gaming's golden hero, Pac-Man. With Pac-Mania, Pac-Land, DX Championship Edition, Pac-Man 256 and many other ??spin-offs, our favourite ghost-gobbler keeps on returning to the forefr??ont of gaming in intriguing new ways.

Case in point: Pac-Man Geo, newly announced by Bandai Namco and heading to mobile platforms in the very near future. In Pac-Man Geo, Pac-Man and his ghostly pals will esca?pe the confi??nes of their neon mazes and break out into the real world, as the streets of world famous locations become new and unique stages for classic coin-op action.

Pac-Man Geo will use information from Google Maps to turn the city streets into new mazes, dotting the avenues and alleyways with pellets and power pellets before allowing the player to enjoy a typical game of Pac-Man set within New York, Tokyo, Paris, or perhaps even their own neighbourhood. Some early screenshots in the gallery below offer an impression of how this new and inventive take on Pac-Man will work.

Pac-Man Geo is expected to launch sometime this fall on iOS and Android devices.

Pac-Man Geo announced for iOS and Android [Gematsu]

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No quarters required

One of the most exciting announcements to come out of this wretched summer was Arcade1Up's reveal of its Marvel Vs. Capcom and X-Men Vs. Street Fighter arcade cabinets. I've been salivating? over the latter one for weeks now, and today I can finally put my money where my mouth?? is because both cabinets are now available for preorder. As a reminder, here are the games that come with each unit:

Marvel Vs. Capcom Cabinet (Best Buy Exclusive)

• Marvel Super Heroes
• X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (Original Arcade ROM)
• Marve Super Heroes: War of the Gems
• Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter
• Marvel Vs. Capcom (Original Arcade ROM)

X-Men Vs. Street Fighter Cabinet

• X-Men: Children of the Atom
• X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse
• X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (Original Arcade ROM)
• Marvel Vs. Capcom (Original Arcade ROM)

A tough pick between the two, but no matter which cabinet you choose, Arcade1Up has confirmed they will support online play through WiFi. Both cabinets are available for pre-order today, as well as the Ms. Pac-Man arcade announced earlier this year and two new Counter-Cade units and two new head-to-head table cabinets for Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.

X-Men Vs. Street Fighter Arcade Cabinet [Arcade1Up]

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Just a great bunch of games

As great as the current era of fighting games is, my heart will always belong to the '90s. The decade produced some of the fighters I consider to be my all-time favorites because they featured characters from X-Men: The Animated Series, my favorite cartoon at the time. Games like X-Men: Children of the Atom and Marvel Super Heroes sucked the quarters directly out of my wallet. Last year, when Arcade1Up revealed its Capcom Marvel Super Heroes Home Arcade Game, I didn't think it could get better than that.

I was wrong.

As part of its upcoming lineup, Arcade1Up announced it is creating an X-Men vs. Street Fighter cabinet that will include X-Men: Children of the Atom, X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse, and the original arcade ROMs for Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Heroes and X-Men vs. Street Fighter. A second cabinet is also being produced for as-of-yet unnamed exclusive retail partners. It will feature Marvel vs. Capcom decals and will come loaded with MvC, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes, and Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems. That's a lot of Marvel!

If that cabinet wasn't great enough, Arcade1Up will also be releasing a 3/4-scale recreation of the original Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine. Ms. Pac-Man is coming back nearly 40 years after she struck a blow for women's rights and she's bringing Pac-Mania, Pac-Man Plus, and Galaxian with her. The company is also creating its first light-gun cabinet with Big Buck Hunter Pro, which also features Big Buck Safari, Big Buck Safari: Outback, and Big Buck Hunter Pro: Open Season.

Finally, for the pinball fans out there, Arcade1Up is releasing a Marvel Digital Pinball&?nbsp;unit. The machine will feature a 24" HD LCD screen, haptic feedback, and a built-in accelerometer. The unit is the result of a collaboration between Arcade1Up, Marvel Studios, and Zen Studios, a developer that's cornered the market on kick-ass ??pinball games.

Pre-orders are expected to open soon. Th???e cabinets are expected to launch in time for Holiday 2020 and will retail for between $399 and $599.

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In the form of DLC

A few years back Microsoft introduced a marketplace into Minecraft: a place where content creators could share their creations and also share a cut with ?the game's publisher.

Although plenty of free Minecraft creations still exist in the free circuit, many have taken to said marketplace, delivering some great levels in the process. One of those includes the new Pac-Man DLC that arrived for the character's 40th birthday, from the studio Gamemode One. Live now on the marketplace here for 1340 Minecoin?s (roughly $8), the DLC ??is multi-faceted.

True to Minecraft form it adds a creation tool into the mix (make your own mazes), as well as two side modes: an exploration-based adventure in Pac-Town and a classic arcade rendition of Pac-Man in Minecraft form. Having dabbled in the DLC, it's not going to blow your mind, but ??it's great fun with the family.

The maze bit not only puts a new perspective on chomping pellets and skating by ghosts, but also adds a few unique things to the mix like power-ups (which have only been in select versions of Pac-Man) and progres??sion (character unlocks). The best part is that everything is meshed together in a giant hub. If you want to create something you can head over to that room. If you're hankering for an arcade run it's a couple of feet away. Or if you want to head outside and quest in Pac-Town, you can do that too.

Just make sure a??ll three of those activities sound fun before you plunk down your coins on ??it!

Pac-Man [Minecraft.net]

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I see an impulse buy in my future

There's a lot going on with this six-inch Pac-Man arcade cabi??net, and I won't lie: I kinda want it.

Known officially as the Pac-Man 40th Anniversary Edition Micro Player, the mini cabinet is launching this summer from manufacturer My Arcade, which has been making desktop units – including a non-golden standard-edition Pac-Man machine that you can buy right now if you wanted – for years.

I don't know the last time I sat down and really focused on the original Pac-Man cabinet art, but it's a wild sight. I somehow forgot that the character grew legs and got sand in his eyes during his trip to America. This anniversary uni??t has lenticular side??-art, a glowing coin trap, and a removable joystick.

I respect that the $40 price-point lines up with? Pac-Man's age. Did anyone else have a tradition in their extend??ed family where aunts and uncles sent birthday cash that correlated with the recipient's age?

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