Pac-Mania
Reviewed by Bill O'Toole III
Graphics: 9
Pac-Mania features nice, colorful graphics done in a nice but pseudo
3-D fashion. The blocks in Block Town are nice and look just like Legos.
Pac-Man actually has eyes and the ghosts are also nicely done. Anyway,
the graphics are just what you'd want them to be: great, but not overly flashy.
Sound: 9.5
I find that most of the music in Pac-Mania is very good. My personal
favorite track is the music in Pac-Man's Park, but all of the music
is quite catchy. After a while you'll find yourself humming some of
the tunes to yourself. Also, the famous Pac-Man "wok-wok-wok"
sound is in there, too.
Play Control: 9
Since Pac-Man moves by himself, all you have to do is change his
directions and jump, the play control is very easy to learn. This is
one of those "easy to learn, difficult to master" games. The play control
can get a little sticky when making some turns, but overall, the play
control is quite good.
Fun Factor: 10
This game is FUN. Probably one of the funniest games out there for
the NES. If you thought Pac-Man was fun, then you have to try Pac-Mania.
You'll be hooked after your first try. Trust me, its that fun.
Challenge: 8
Although the game seems like a breeze after the first few levels,
wait till you get to Sandbox Land. This is the third different world
in the game and the first where jumping ghosts appear. Things get
really hard when you hit Jungly Steps. After that, the game repeats
and Pac-Man moves twice as fast with more ghosts on each level.
There is enough here to challenge even the best of game players.
Replay Value: 8
Although it may not seem like there is much replay value here, this
game is so fun that you will keep coming back for more. The game is
made up of four different world (Block Town, Pac-Man's Park, Sandbox
Land, Jungly Steps) which vary in size, background, and challenge. The
two player mode isn't simultaneous but it is fun to keep coming back
and seeing who gets farther with that particular life.
Overall: 9.5
This is a truly awesome game. Almost any video-game fan will easily
slip into its grasp. Since it is extremely rare, don't hesitate to get it
if you find it. In the price guide its listed at $21, so don't expect to get
it cheap. Good luck finding it, since it took me quite a while!