Amazon.co.uk Review
If you're still suffering the lingering effects of
Pac-Man fever, you'll be excited to hear that Namco's
Pac-Man Collection repackages the infectious original with three other
Pac-Man-themed games in a new anthology for the Game Boy Advance.
Pac-Man Collection contains the original
Pac-Man, plus
Pac-Attack,
PacMania 3D, and the never-before-seen-out-of-the-arcade
Pac-Man Arrangement game.
Pac-Man plays just like you remember, and like Namco Museum's picture-perfect re-creation of Ms Pac-Man, it features spot-on control, graphics, cartoon cut-scenes, sound effects and, best of all, music from the coin-op (who can forget that opening theme?). As such, it's easily the best of this collection. PacMania 3D is basically a 3-D version of the original, and is just about as uninspired now as when it came out. Pac-Attack is a cool variation on such puzzlers as Tetris and Columns, and as such it's perfect for handheld gaming. Pac-Man Arrangement is an odd little game that plays much like the original but adds weird power-ups that, for example, make you gigantic.
Because Pac-Man Collection contains perfect replicas, there isn't much to gripe about, save that Ms Pac-Man is a far better game than the original, and you'll have to shell out for Namco Museum if you want that one. But if you're a retro gamer on the go who also want to track down ghosts and eat power pills, this package is sure to satisfy your appetite. --Andrew S Bub