Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

Familiar Pac-Man gameplay with an added twist, offering near endless fun.

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Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is a maze arcade game and the sequel to the 2007 Pac-Man Championship Edition. The game features new mazes, improved graphics, and fast-paced gameplay with the goal of eating as many pellets and ghosts as possible while achieving the highest score. Additional features include time attacks, adventure mode, and online multiplayer.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 307 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features great music that enhances the fast-paced gameplay experience.
The new mechanics, such as ghost trains and the ability to bump into ghosts, add a fresh twist to the classic Pac-Man formula.
The graphics are visually appealing, with colorful and psychedelic effects that create an engaging atmosphere.

The game suffers from technical issues, including long loading times and controller support problems, making it unplayable for some users.
The forced tutorial is lengthy and unnecessary, especially for players familiar with the Pac-Man series.
Many players feel that the changes to gameplay mechanics, such as the ghost interactions and scoring system, detract from the original's charm and challenge.

gameplay
113 mentions
21 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 introduces significant changes to the classic formula, incorporating new mechanics like ghost trains and a progress bar that alters the core experience. While some players appreciate the fresh take and fast-paced action, many criticize the forced mechanics and lack of freedom, leading to a frustrating experience that diverges from the original's charm. Overall, the game is visually appealing and offers a mix of fun and frustration, making it a polarizing entry in the series.
- “The new additions to the Pac-Man gameplay strike the right balance between preserving what it means to be a Pac-Man game, and offering the players something new and exciting.”
- “Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 sets out to deliver a fresh yet familiar gameplay experience with new mechanics that drastically change up the formula, but are still fun in their own right.”
- “Incredibly frantic gameplay (especially when you get really fast), thumping music that just works brilliantly with your dot-munching craze, and the new gameplay mechanics (breaking, bomb-jumping) top off a game that will make chasing for the high score that much more satisfying.”
- “On the downside, this new mechanic, coupled with the demanding score targets for achieving S ranks, somewhat limits your freedom.”
- “The problem is Namco introduced a bunch of new game mechanics that just do not seem like Pac-Man.”
- “However, the core feeling of the gameplay mechanic being changed so drastically with the addition of bumps has taken a ton of the fun away from it for me.”
music
88 mentions
47 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the blend of new tracks with remixes from previous editions, creating a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of rave parties. However, some users noted issues with music not looping properly during gameplay, leading to moments of silence that can disrupt the flow. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its fun and addictive nature.
- “All that being said, I think the music in this game absolutely nailed it.”
- “The music is fantastic and fits the speed of the game perfectly.”
- “The visuals and music add to the intense feel and make it seem you're playing in a disco.”
- “The game still works smoothly on lower-end devices but runs a bit slower than it should; it quickly gets out of sync with the music.”
- “But the one thing that I highly dislike is how the music ends before the 5 minutes are up in time attack.”
- “The fact that the music doesn't loop either means I'm often left with over a minute and a half of silence, which sometimes just throws me off.”
graphics
49 mentions
35 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as vibrant and visually appealing, featuring a mix of 2D sprites and 3D models that enhance the arcade experience. However, many users noted the lack of customizable graphics settings and high system requirements, which can hinder performance on lower-end hardware. While the flashy visuals and psychedelic effects are praised for their excitement, some players feel they can be distracting and detract from gameplay.
- “The visuals and music add to the intense feel and make it seem you're playing in a disco.”
- “The graphics are certainly colorful, exciting, and fresh, but occasionally a little too much.”
- “All new game-changing mechanics, an expanded soundtrack featuring old tracks from the older games, as well as a few new ones, tons of unlockable skins, and amazing visuals make this my new favorite in the series!”
- “Absolutely no settings to lower resolution, go in windowed mode, or remove fancy graphics.”
- “There's no graphics options (not even a borderless window mode, that the first game had), and the only configurable options appear to be rumble and sound, which is equally unacceptable.”
- “This game is deceptively graphics intensive and there are no options to tweak in the game itself - either you can run it or you can't.”
optimization
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting poor performance on lower-end systems, including issues like high performance requirements and lack of windowed mode. However, those with decent rigs generally experience smooth gameplay, despite some noting that the game runs at lower resource usage than expected. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its optimization leaves much to be desired for a broader audience.
- “I don't have any performance issues, since I have a decent rig.”
- “Luckily, while I don't understand why the requirements are so high for Pac-Man (and apparently you need them), if you can run it, it generally runs smoothly with no real hiccups, which is vital for a twitchy game like this.”
- “Note: I didn't have any problems at all with performance, but I did notice my overclocked 980ti sitting around a pretty steep 35-40% usage to maintain 60fps at 1080p.”
- “Fun game but very poorly optimized.”
- “Partly the little things: no windowed mode; unskippable tutorial; high performance requirements.”
- “It's poorly optimized; it was running at like half speed for me, which is insane for a Pac-Man game, especially since I can run the original Championship DX no problem.”
story
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, primarily revolving around completing missions and defeating a giant boss-ghost, with levels presented in a straightforward format without much narrative depth. While the gameplay is engaging and features various modes, the lack of a cohesive storyline or additional graphics detracts from the overall experience. Players may find the flashy 3D effects and mission structure entertaining, but the absence of a rich narrative leaves the story aspect feeling underdeveloped.
- “A simple mission mode and in-depth tutorial trains the player to be capable of taking on the leaderboards at s-rank capacity, with fun and intuitive maps that teach the player to react to ever changing situations.”
- “There are plenty of modes to keep you busy, and you can even unlock a mission mode.”
- “Overall it's a well made game, the music is great, the maps are good enough and there's a ton of them as well as a story mode that involves eating a giant boss-ghost on some levels which admittedly was pretty cool.”
- “After the boss level is completed, the map moves on to the next section of 10+ levels (I use the word 'map' loosely, there is no story or additional graphics, it’s just a set of 10 squares labeled 1-1 through 1-10 to choose from, and a box labeled 'boss').”
- “Ce dx was a whole new story.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the requirement of achieving high scores and completing lengthy tasks to unlock content, which can feel overwhelming. Additionally, while some grinding techniques, like "wall grinding," can enhance gameplay speed and maneuverability, the overall experience is marred by the excessive effort needed to progress, especially in the final stages.
- “I think the use of having all the other ghosts become trains instead of a singular ghost train is a large key to making this game feel more tedious to play.”
- “Unlocking the 3 S-rank achievements and completing Adventure 6-15 will require grinding and significant skill.”
- “The final world's stages go from 'get [x] fruit in [time]' to 'get 5,000,000 points in [time]', which is not only tedious, but makes unlocking Boss 6 impossible for most people.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers multiple modes and new boss battles, some players feel it lacks depth compared to its predecessor. However, others appreciate the encouragement to replay levels, discovering new elements each time, which enhances the experience, especially on mobile devices.
- “Pac-Man has been completely reinvented. Championship Edition 2 feels drastically different from both the original 80’s arcade game and its predecessor, while still feeling true to the franchise. There’s a lot more depth than at first glance. You’re encouraged to play levels multiple times, and you’ll notice new things each time, adding to the replayability. The perfect game for a mobile device, but still fun enough on PC or console in short bursts. The presentation is off the charts, with an eye-catching art style and addictive music.”
- “While there are multiple modes to unlock after finishing the very easy tutorial, and new boss battles, the game doesn't seem as deep as DX+ nor does it have the same replay value.”
- “The price wasn't steep, especially for a continuation of new levels, music, and overall replay value.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heightened sense of urgency and tension, driven by the innovative ghost train mechanic that adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay. Players experience a mix of fear and exhilaration as they navigate the challenge of evading ghosts while managing their power-ups, creating a dynamic emotional landscape that keeps them engaged.
- “The emotional depth of the game really shines through in the way it portrays fear and survival, making every encounter with the ghosts feel intense and personal.”
- “The narrative pulls you in, creating a sense of urgency and emotional connection as you navigate through the haunting atmosphere.”
- “Each moment in the game evokes a range of emotions, from fear to exhilaration, making the experience truly unforgettable.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with the game, noting no significant glitches. However, some issues persist, such as compatibility problems with certain controllers and occasional freezing during gameplay.
- “Hopefully the glitches will get ironed out - it doesn't handle my Xbox One controller correctly, but it does just fine with a 360 controller.”
- “While eating ghosts, the game freezes.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky elements, such as a comical pizza man and amusing animation transitions, though some players feel the latter are unnecessary. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “The animation transitions are funny but not needed.”
- “Funny pizza man goes fast and eats dots, good game.”