Page 16 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #2

there are rev- have a matching fruit in hanced by the fact that it wasn’t
plates which his supply (scattered always as easy as it looked and
work in much throughout the level) in became quite addicting to try and
the same man- order to open the door. beat. It is wonderful to see that
ner as heliva- On the other side of the Namco understood that when cre-
tors, except door is generally a P-A- ating Pac-Man World.
Pac-Man does C-M-A-N letter or a By hard core gamers’ stan-
not move; by switch. Pac-Man must, dards, Pac-Man World could be
activating the in order to achieve the considered too easy; it doesn’t
rev-plate, full score, collect all the have a lot of the characteristics of
something else Professor Pac Prepares letters to spell out PAC- today’s popular games. Howev er,
moves. for Beam Up MAN. the overall enjoyment that one
Pac-Man has In addition to the fruit found in the original game is cer-
th
also learned a bit about water doors, Pac-Man can also enter tainly present in the 20 Anniver-
safety and can now swim. In fact, Galaxian doors (provided he has sary Pac-Man. He is still an ador-
not only does he swim, but he can the appropriate able char-
dive deep underwater and perform “galaxian” icon) acter, with
elegant dolphin jumps to eject him- which will trans- great fa-
self back onto dry land. port him to a cial ex-
Some levels offer Pac-Man the maze game. pressions,
ability to “turn metallic.” If he Each maze that advanced
comes across a chrome power-up, you encounter in mobility,
it will turn him into a metal ball. the Quest mode and
This makes him invincible for a adds to the maze plenty of
short period of time and also collection in the chal-
causes him to become very heavy. Maze mode. The lenges to
He will then sink to the bottom of mazes are similar keep him
the water and will be able to break to those in the busy.
open those treasure chests located Classic Pac-Man The
in the water. game: you run game’s
In the beginning of the Quest, around collecting dots while Pac vs. The Galaxians graphics are very
Pac-Man is only able to visit a few avoiding, and sometimes eating, attractive, with bright colors and
levels; additional ones open once ghosts. The big difference, of creative characters.
he has completed others. There course, is that they are now 3D, The only real downfall is that
are a couple of different methods in feature themed designs, and have sometimes Pac-Man is a little
completing levels: find and ac- obstacles and twists along the way. tough to control with the Play-
complish Let’s not forget Pac- Station controller. In one level,
every- Man’s overall goal precision control is required in or-
thing and here: to rescue his der to dodge arrows shooting up
gain a poor friends, who are from the floor while running away
100% now locked in cages. from a monster; this proves diffi-
score Each game stage con- cult.
(which is tains a captive friend, The learning curve isn’t too
very but you’ll need a key steep, but some of the levels are
helpful in (which may not be lo- tough enough to make me curse
the even- cated in the same level the yellow-man! It does, however,
tual res- as the caged friend) to score very high points with me, and
cuing of unlock the cage. I’d I am glad that Pac-Man still elicits
friends love to tell you what such an endearing reaction. As in
and ex- happens once you res- the original game, it is “cute”
panding overall Pac Takes Inventory cue all your friends, but I’m enough to pull in casual gamers,
gaming possibilities), or run still stuck on the damn Galaxian yet challenging and entertaining
through as quickly as possible in level!! enough to keep the more die-hard
order to get to the end, save the Pac-Man World offers a clever gamers interested. And as a spe-
game, and thus open up further new twist on one of classic gam- cial “classic gaming” note, there is
levels to tackle. If you want to try ing’s most beloved character. a level called King Galaxian which
and complete the levels in their en- What made the original Pac-Man tests Pac-Man’s ability against his
tirety, there are a few things you so much fun was its relative simple old peers!
should know along the way. concept of guiding the yellow dot
First, you will encounter fruit through a maze, trying to eat all the
doors with a picture of a certain pac-dots, and avoiding/eating the
fruit on the front. Pac-Man must ghosts. This concept was en- CGM
CGM

Classic Gamer Magazine Winter 2000 16