Pac-Man Virtual Console Review

Originally released for NES, 1990 Wii Points: 500 ($5)

As the legend goes, Namco designer Toru Iwatani once had an epiphany while staring at a slice-less pizza pie. Nearly three decades later, Pac-Man remains one of gaming's most iconic characters. Generally used as a Namco vehicle in everything from rally racers to pinball titles, the original arcade Pac-Man was recently revived in the form of a port on Xbox Live Arcade. Now the NES version cruises onto the Wii, allowing Nintendo gamers back into the illogical world of power-pill filled mazes, caged ghosts, and fruit. Navigating the traditional blue-bordered maze, the player must help Pac-Man to devour Pac-Dots, whilst dodging the four ghosts that chase him in turn. Much like the cast of Teletubbies, the colorful ghosts--Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde--each possess simple personalities, which explain their movement patterns. Blinky is labeled as "aggressive" and will mercilessly hunt you down, while the bashful Inky is branded as "whimsical," and seems more concerned with his (or her?) appearance. While the NES port of Pac-Man is a faithful rendition in most respects, the colors are decidedly faded in comparison to most versions. Pac-Man himself is more of a muddy orange than the bright yellow character of Iwatani's creation. He is also a bit out of proportion, appearing slightly larger than usual. None of these minor qualms impact the core gameplay, which is solidly intact. Many gamers may still be endeared to Pac-Man, though I was decidedly bored with the idea of playing it yet again. Rarely can I bring myself to soldier through more than a few rounds of waca-wacas before being brought down by the simplistic yet sadistic AI. The only strategy I have ever managed to devise in response to my failure is about as complex as mowing a lawn. Settling down for an extended play session, I gave myself low odds of clearing the third level.

Sure enough, after about ten minutes of futile maneuvering and demoralizing evaporation, I was ready to give up. Opening up the digital manual, hoping for some kind of encouragement, I was met with a sharp warning. "Some people (about 1 in 4000) may have seizures or blackouts, and this may occur while they are watching TV or playing video games." At this point, I silently wished that Pac-Man would give me a seizure. Foaming at the mouth would be less painful than facing another humiliating round. Convulsions would be a release. Yet, the more I played, the more I realized that the frantic spirit of Pac-Man is still intact. There is something basically compelling at the core of the game, the tension and release of the relentless chase punctuated by a turn of the tables on the hunter. The sinking feeling of being caught in the middle of two ghosts, like a runner between first and second base. Even the rudimentary cutscenes after each round become charming after a while. Yes, I suppose it's true: Pac-Man won my heart, all over again. Perhaps it is fitting that Pac-Man now resides on the Wii. At the time of its release, Pac-Man was revolutionary in attracting a broad demographic of gamers with its straightforward gameplay and effective cartoony presentation. Nintendo has been hailed of late for attempting a similar revolution, although it is difficult to compare a game centered entirely on eating to the fitness-minded Wii Sports. Despite its underlying appeal, it is difficult to imagine many finding Pac-Man an attractive buy for 500 Wii Points ($5). Pac-Man has been repackaged into compilations countless times, and freeware Pac-Man clones litter the internet. However, for those who still have a soft spot for the yellow voracious circle, this version is as good as any. Go back for David Craddock's review of Ninja Gaiden.