Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 Hands-On
Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 is a game which completely slipped under my radar, it was announced earlier this year with little fanfare and quietly released on Friday, October 3rd. Usually, games which release so quietly tend to be of low quality, but this new Pac-Man platformer was actually a pleasant surprise.
As I mentioned, Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 is a 3D platformer starring the classic gaming icon of Pac-Man. The goal of the game is not unlike other 3D platformers of this generation: you jump on platforms, chomp on ghosts, and solve pretty basic puzzles in order to reach the end of a level. There are lots of collectibles and hidden items to uncover throughout each level, which gives the game some replayability for the completionist inside you but the only benefit of doing so is really just a higher score at the end of the level and bragging rights. For a game aimed at kids, this is perfectly fine, as it keeps the basics of the game simple and accessible for all.
The mechanics of the game don’t try to fix a formula which isn’t broken and instead focus more on getting it to feel right. As a result, the controls for Pac-Man feel responsive and accurate the majority of the time, with only a few odd camera angles getting in the way. It keeps things simple and intuitive which is a big plus for a kids game.
The levels of Pac-Man are the strongest areas of the game; they are bright and colourful and have this fun and upbeat feel to them. The puzzles themselves, despite not being too difficult in the levels I payed, do a good job of asking the player mix and match Pac’s abilities in order to complete them. In fact, there is more to Pac-Man than his standard yellow-ball form; by collecting different power-ups, Pac-Man can transform into different forms. An example of this is a chameleon form which allows him to shoot his tongue out to eat ghosts and swing from certain platforms. As you progress, you unlock more and more forms to help you complete objectives and eat ghosts in more creative ways.
Overall, there isn’t much to say about Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures other than it’s a 3D platformer aimed at kids, but at least it’s a good one at that. The game controls well, the levels are varied and interesting to look at and it the difficulty is in that sweet spot where you’ll never feel lost but you will never feel like the game is playing itself for you. If you want a game for your kid, keep an eye out for Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2, I think you’ll find your inner child having fun as well!