Rapid Review: Pac-Mania - Jumping Pac-Man To A Third Dimension
PAC-MANIA ($1.99) by Namco Networks America Inc. Pac-Man is back in a blast from the past getting new life on iOS devices with Pac-Mania, the classic arcade game originally released in 1987. Pac-Mania is the 3D version of Pac-man which was such a change of pace from the previous 2D versions. The biggest change is that you can jump over ghosts plus the camera follows you around levels which are too big to fit on the screen.
The iPhone version offers the same classic arcade game with four unique worlds with 23 stages, and two brand new ghosts. Exclusive to the iPhone version is the new scramble mode which gives you 120 seconds to score as much as possible in a board set up similar to Pac-Man Championship Edition. One quadrant is full with dots, and once you eat all those, another quadrant is filled with dots, and the more dots you eat the faster you go.
There are three control types with virtual d-pad, flick, and touch. Game Center is also included for online high scores for scramble mode and achievements. Pac-Mania is one of the best versions as it reinvents the classic Pac-Man opening up a whole new dimension to help you get out of sticky situations as well as making the boards more expansive and challenging.
It's great dodging ghosts by jumping over them with a tap as well as dealing with six ghosts at once. The iPhone version offers the same enjoyment just on a touch screen as well as offering social connectivity and a whole new mode. Scramble mode is great with the time constraints, and the great speed increase and board shifting of Pac-Man CE.
As you’re playing the classic mode you get to pick up on any level that you make it through so you don't have to start back at the beginning which is a nice addition. The controls aren't perfect, and can be quite a hassle to use. They don't offer the most precision like a physical joystick on an arcade machine, and really aren't even close.
The flick controls in Pac-Man CE are the best so far, but the flick controls in Pac-Mania don't work as well, and you can miss turns. The touch controls work the best, as you can tap the direction you want to change or hold your finger on screen, and shift direction. Still though you will miss a few turns and lose a few lives because of the controls.
Also the port leaves the game at a smaller aspect ratio than the full iPhone screen so there is a picture border surrounding the play area which takes away part of the experience. Pac-Mania for iPhone offers fun game modes whether it's classic or scramble. The controls and visuals aren't that good though, and hamper the game.
Overall Pac-Mania is worth considering for $1.99 depending on how much you like the classic, or how intriguing 3D Pac-man is to you.
