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Pac-Man Championship Edition

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8.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 34 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 14 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

Developer: Namco Bandai Games

Genre(s): Action, Arcade

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: June 6, 2007

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] Pac-Man returns in this enhanced version of the all time classic videogame. Pac-Man Championship Edition has many new and unique gameplay features, but still spotlights the big yellow PAC-MAN we all know and love. The enhanced version now features constantly evolving mazes, a time limit, and six different game modes. Graphics and sound have been fully enhanced in this new version of the classic game. You'll have to practice hard and play well to conquer the increased gameplay speed! Remember, this is the Championship Edition so you know it will provide a good challenge. [Microsoft]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameFAQs

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

The Onion (A.V. Club)

In one Star Wars scene, Han Solo, outnumbered and outgunned, lays chase with his blaster, then changes his mind, comically fleeing a horde of armed stormtroopers. Pac-Man Championship Edition and its table-turning power-pills create an endless chain of these hunter-becomes-the-hunted moments.

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100

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

It's an all-new game with dozens of new mazes, and a timed score-run that's all about managing risk and reward. [Sept 2007, p.68]

100

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Behold - the finest score attack arcade game on Live Arcade since "Geometry Wars." [Sept 2007, p.96]

100

G4 TV

It takes everything that made the original game so compelling and makes it feel fresh and relevant all over again. It’s simple. It’s elegant. It is Pac-Man reborn.

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GamePro

Combining the old-school feel with new-gen intensity, Pac-Man World Championship is the best Xbox Live Arcade game since Geometry Wars.

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Gaming Target

Pac-Man CE is not just one of the great XBLA games, it is one of the great games period.

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netjak

Don’t let the Championship Edition name fool you; this is very much the first true sequel to the series and features fresh and exciting gameplay to reset your retro Pac-Man fatigue.

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Extreme Gamer

For the price tag of 800 MS Points, Pac-Man Championship Edition is priced right. The action is fun and simple to enjoy while keeping a traditional approach with a few presentation and gameplay upgrades.

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Thunderbolt

Unless you value multiplayer competition, Pac-Man’s latest effort is one that is worthy of attempting, and may just allow you to become infected with ‘Pac-Man Fever’ once more.

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1UP

It's more than a repackaged oldie, and is about as accessible as it gets. Put this game on in a room full of people, and everyone is drawn to it, especially the people who don't think of themselves as "gamers." That makes it legitimately something for everyone.

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Console Monster

New challenges keep you coming back for more.

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Team Xbox

It’s nice to see a classic remade instead of simply repackaged, especially when a great deal of respect has been paid to the original game in the reconstruction.

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Game Over Online

That’s what makes Pac-Man Championship Edition such a fun, challenging and ultimately addictive game. It compels you to keep coming back to best your previous high score and perhaps make an appearance on the Xbox Live leaderboards. That’s the sign of a great arcade experience and if you’re a fan of Pac-Man, you won’t want to miss it.

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Gamers' Temple

Pac-Man purists may balk at this new edition of the game, but CE can be a lot of fun for anyone who enjoys fast-paced arcade action now and again.

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IGN

Championship Edition feels fresh and exciting. The classic feel of Pac-Man is still there, but the new features are well designed and fit in perfectly with the overall purpose of the Live Arcade. It's fast, exhilarating and fun.

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Game Almighty

Pac-Man Championship edition is a welcome change for the Pac-universe. There’s enough variety, newness, and challenge to keep old fans and new players entertained for a long time. This is definitely a great example of the way that retro games should come to the Live Arcade.

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Digital Entertainment News

Pac-Man: Championship Edition is a surprisingly fun retooling of the classic that may even find fans in those that didn’t care for the original. It’s just a shame it’s a tad feature-poor and a little pricey.

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AtomicGamer

If you are looking for a more traditional Pac-Man game, you will not find it with Pac-Man Championship Edition. However, if you are looking for an upgrade to the classic game with some twists, Pac-Man Championship Edition is for you.

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Planet Xbox 360

If all retro games received remixes this compelling, you would hear gamers begging for them rather than bemoaning them.

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Gaming Illustrated

It's a lot of fun to play, is fairly inexpensive, and you'll get a ton of hours of great gameplay out of it, not just for you but for the entire family.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

Great to look at and the new mazes rock. [Aug 2007, p.103]

X360 Magazine UK

Filing stuff. [Issue#23, p.98]

IC-Games

Undoubtedly this is the definitive version of Pac-Man available on Xbox 360 Arcade.

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VideoGamer

Minor modifications to Pac-Man's basic gameplay mechanics have resulted in a new pace and intensity that the original lacked.

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GameDaily

The stylish graphics look fabulous and gamers will enjoy posting scores to the online leader boards.

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Talk Xbox

Pac-Man CE is a solid arcade title. It doesn’t revolutionize the game but it does add some new elements to keep it fresh. 800 points is a tad pricey for a game with slight variations on game modes, but at least you know what you’re getting into with Pac-Man.

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GameSpot

This new take on an old favorite adds new, exciting elements to the formula without getting rid of what made Pac-Man so good in the first place.

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GamerNode

When it's all said and done, this is the best Pac-Man game on XBLA. The flashy, neon graphics and increased speed make it unlike any Pac experience yet. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first Pac-Man game released on XBLA, meaning a lot of people just won't be willing to pay another 10 bucks to get the same game again.

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VGPub

The Xbox Live Arcade game’s only true weakness is the 800 point ($10.00) price tag. If there were a couple more modes, the original game was included or perhaps a multiplayer mode was added I’d recommend it for everyone. But at it’s current price, it’s just too much compared to other excellent games like UNO that are only 400 points ($5.00). Still, if you don’t mind the cost, it’s definitely worth a look.

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Computer and Video Games

As it stands, if only because this is a fantastic reimagining of a game everyone has played, Championship Edition is amongst the top tier downloadable games on Xbox 360.

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WHAM! Gaming

'Championship' mode though is an ingenious spin on presenting level-based gameplay in a whole new way as there is virtually no pause in the action. For all intents and purposes, Pac-Man has turned into a gruelling video game marathon. 'Championship' mode alone makes this download worth it for any serious Pac-Man fan.

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Eurogamer

What you're buying into is a fantastic celebration of a timeless classic, and one that does something genuinely interesting with the gameplay to make it relevant now. The problem is, basically, is that it's been put in totally the wrong price bracket for what is an impulse buy. A curiosity.

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Official Xbox Magazine

If you still have Pac-Man Fever, this game is a must-own. Otherwise, just sample the remix with the free demo. [Sept 2007, p.76]

Games Radar (in-house)

Pac-Man Championship Edition is awesome, but just doesn't feel like a full game. It feels like a bonus mode to a more full-featured title.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Anth B. gave it a10:
Best game I've played on XBLA so far. Unlocked all the achievements but I love coming back to try and beat my Championship score.

Joey K. gave it a9:
This is the first Pac-Man game to ever expand on the original while keeping the core of what makes it's great. The retro graphics combined with slick presentation is awesome, and the gameplay is spot on. Number one complaint: Analog stick just not responsive enough. It's really a testament to the power of Pac-Man that it took 20 years for someone to figure out how to improve the game.

Joseph K. gave it a9:
An awesome update to a classic game. I love the idea of time limits, it really changes the flow of the game. The ghosts are very smart and you need to stay on your toes in order to not get eaten. The only thing that would have improved this game would have been the addition of some type of multiplayer- 2 coop pacmen? Player controlled ghosts? Maybe next time.

Nick G. gave it a9:
I was never a fan of the original Pacman, but this updated version is actually fun. It has far more depth than people realize.

Lee H. gave it a9:
Excellent update of a classic that adds just enough to keep it fresh and exciting.

Bryan K. gave it a9:
Pac-man is a game synonymous with gaming. It was the grandfather or arcade games, but it has never been met with a true sequel. Yes, there was Ms. Pac-man, but in reality the only difference between Pac-man and Ms. Pacman is a bow. Enter Pac-man : CE, and we've got the first true sequel the franchise has seen. The way it works is the screen is split into two halves that you can more through freely. On each half there are some dots, and once you clear the dots from one half a piece of fruit will appear on the other side of the map. When you eat the fruit a wave will go across the screen and replenish it with dots and it will also modify the map. This eliminates any break in the action that the original Pac-man had. The game modes are divided into 5 minute and 10 minute modes. The timer adds a sense of urgency to the game. You get the feeling like you have to accomplish as much as possible before the timer runs out. The ghosts are almost the same with one big change. You can now chain together your power pellets to get a higher multiplier. So if you eat a pellet, then eat all the ghosts, if you eat another pellet it will continue the multiplier until it tops out at 3200, but you can continue to chain the pellets together to keep increasing how many 3200 points you get. These new gameplay mechanics definitely change the way the game is played. There is more strategy, and it also makes everything in the game a valid part of the game. Before fruit were only for bonuses, but now they have an active role in the game. All in all this is a frentic, fun and addictive addition to anyone's collection. Remember, this isn't your grandmother's Pac-man.

Aaace5 gave it a9:
I never thought Pac-man would be fun again, but somehow they managed to pull it off! I don't know if it's the neon light levels, the bass thumpin music, or the gradual increase in speed for each level, or maybe some kind of hidden pac-man magic. I still think all arcade games on live should cost 400 points($5), but this is still a good game at 800 points($10).

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Pac-Man Championship Edition

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