Perhaps, we have all tried a version of the original Pac Man, its ease of integration in all consoles, in addition to its adaptability to the times, have kept it current as a cornerstone of video games. The number of sequels, spin-offs and the like, created from the base game, have gone viral, but none have left a mark like their original presentation, yes, many are so iconic it hurts to not being able to play them in this collection.
Pac Man Museum Plus gives us the opportunity to remember the classic games of Pac Man, collecting 14 titles in an arcade that we can customize. It is interesting to realize how games have evolved over the years and generations, adapting to changes and reinventing the formula so as not to fall into oblivion.
Pac Man is a milestone in history, but obviously its gameplay isn’t as polished as Tetris, so each new installment is a desperate attempt to fit in with the current fashion, and this collection clearly shows us that. , having several very bad games that they tried to be part of the boom of the moment.
In the beginning, you should not expect much from this game, because Pac Man Museum More It does not have great graphic or technical requirements that demand too much from our console. The collected games are all over 15 years old, so loading times and optimization are perfect. Of course, some menus do not respond in the best possible way, especially when you are in game.
At the graphical level we can say that there is no apparent complaint, it would be unfair to ask Pac-Land not to expose its badly arranged polygons, since it is a compilation and conservation of games very old. Even so, we can talk about the main menu and the arcade, as this is exclusive to Pac Man Museum Plus; and is that it is a mediocre scenario with some simple graphics that could be much better. Flat textures and detailless models sum up this part of the game.
Talking more about arcade, each game has its own arcade interface, although it is simple, it works like a simulation of those old machines. Already inside the game, the art style and decorated backgrounds implemented are the best in the game; each arcade has its own graphical style, and none disappoint.
We get into what’s really important, which is that there are a lot of things to say about this Pac Man Museum Plus that leave us pleasantly surprised. First, there are 14 classic installments of Pac Man that are spread across multiple arcade machines in a room that we can customize and reform to our liking.
The way to play is like in real life, you have a number of coins that we will use to start a game, if we lose all lives, our game and currency ends. We start with an absurd number of pieces, so this mechanic is wasted before we even start a game. To start a game in any arcade we need a coin, we start with 500. The way to get coins is very simple, what you have to do is play and complete missions, there so is almost impossible to run out of parts in a long time.
This brings us to the second point, which is that each arcade has missions that we can complete to receive rewards and coins; these missions are to play as many games or get a certain score. It’s a good mechanic to keep playing, because playing 30 games of the original Pac Man just for fun doesn’t sound very appealing these days. Missions end, but the difficulty increases to create a real challenge.
After playing in each arcade and completing the missions, we will unlock rewards other than coins; these can be trophies, statues, and other things to customize the room that serves as the main menu. A priori, this is not a very developed feature, you can only put trophies and have one or the other ghost hanging around the room. The truth is that it is a useless and irrelevant concept.
Well, what about games? Well, truth be told, most of the chosen titles will only give you a playthrough or two while you test them out and do missions to unlock something specific. The catalog introduced is very small, nothing more than 14 Pac Man games, it is an insignificant amount, considering the quantity and quality of titles that exist. Games like Super Pac Man tried to innovate on the same formula, but were forgotten due to their simplistic and boring gameplay.
When Pac Man Museum Plus presents itself as a compilation, one would expect great titles appreciated by all, but it is impossible to understand why they chose such inconsistent games in this great repertoire. That said, it’s impossible not to look at Pac-Land, a completely empty platform game that only exists under the name of Pac Man without any logical connection with what its gameplay can bring.
On the other hand, and more satisfyingly, there are games like Pac ‘n Roll Remix that have reinvented themselves on the same formula and tried to innovate in their quest to achieve 3D. This title is undoubtedly the one that I liked the most of the whole catalog, with a different concept that contrasts with the dark 2D screens of the others. There is no doubt that great 3D works such as Pac man World were missing, a childhood classic of many that is simply nowhere to be found.
The duration is not a problem, the scoreboard invites you to beat yourself or your friends, so that the fun and the challenge never end. Just thinking about the original Pac Man, the very fact that it is still in effect today is an indicator that this Pac Man Museum Plus will give you a few hours of fun.
Not only is there the scoreboard, but games like Pac Man Battle Royale are a great option for playing local co-op and hanging out with friends. The variety offered by this delivery leaves no doubt about the endless possibilities. Completing all games and their missions is a daunting task for any player.
Pac Man Museum Plus is not a very innovative title in what it does, since its previous version from 2014 is not far from what this new title gives us today. He is not exceptional in his technical section and does not seek to be so the weight of his value tilts him towards the games and the challenge he prints in the missions, but even so he continues to be very low due to lack of quantity.
So we have a tribute game to the classic Pac Man games that fulfills its function as a reminder of those arcade times in which we wanted to beat our friends’ scores in any way. We are left with a decent and smooth experience, with a significant lack of content and love from the developers.
