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- Bandai Namco Games
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- Bandai Namco Games
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- Bandai Namco Games
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- Bandai Namco Games
Pac-Man 99
Released On: Apr 7, 2021
76
7.7
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
76
57% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
36% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 28 Critic Reviews
76
57% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
36% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
PAC-MAN 99 is another hit for Arika, this time with one of the most iconic arcade games of all time. It’s a bit surprising just how well Pac-Man fits into the 99-player battle royale format, but that’s just a testament to the work done by the developers. PAC-MAN 99 has me excited for whatever the developer’s put out next.
Pac-Man 99 is not only an excellent battle royale game; it's also a lovely homage to all things Namco with tons of charming themes to play with. Throw in some clever single player challenge modes and you're left with one impressive package.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 38 User Ratings
7.7
68% Positive
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
24% Mixed
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
8% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 38 User Ratings
7.7
68% Positive
26 Ratings
26 Ratings
24% Mixed
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
8% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Yes, it may be a classic and it's a battle royale game, but PAC-MAN 99 is basically awesome.
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Nintendo Switch
This game is honestly a timeless classic is really fun, then add some Nintendo magic and a battle royale to it and it is a perfect experience in my opinion, if you have switch online is an absolute must play.
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Nintendo Switch
With a slew of new mechanics and strategic forks in the road thrown into the mix, Pac-Man 99 is another resounding success at converting a timeless classic into a stressful-but-exciting multiplayer outing.
Until now there was only one sensible way to play Pac-Man – the Championship Edition. Pac-Man 99 is a new viable option. Even though the presence of other players is barely noticeable and the whole trick gets old quite fast, the game is simply more interesting than the basic version of the classic. [06/2021, p.39]
Pac-Man 99’s paid-DLC takes the shine off a decent battle royale. That said, fans looking for an action- packed version will enjoy this immensely. [Issue #4, p.68]
The “free” experience for Nintendo Switch Online members is really quite good, and we recommend giving it a shot. The paid deluxe content, though, feels thin and doesn’t offer a lot for the price.
While Pac-Man 99 brings that fun, fast-paced nature of Tetris 99 to yet another beloved franchise, it doesn’t translate as well here. Many of the rules never get explained and poor visual choices make for an occasionally scream-summoning experience, even for a veteran Pac-Man player like myself.
Pac-Man Championship Edition + Dig Dug skin + 99 other people = amazing, apparently.
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Nintendo Switch
Pac-Man 99 is surprisingly one of the best Pac-Man games. It combines design elements of the arcade original, the modern Championship Edition series, and the "battle royale" format of Tetris 99 and Super Mario 35. The result is a game that is relentlessly engaging, intensely challenging, and deceptively deep.
The game has no tutorial or manual, which is a huge oversight because it is harder to learn from gameplay alone than any other Pac-Man game. With that said, the extra rules layered on top of classic Pac-Man successfully facilitate interesting choices during gameplay.
Here are some examples to consider:
1. You only need to eat half the dots in a round to spawn the fruit that refreshes the maze (and crucially, the Power Pellets). But if you eat all the dots, you'll get a permanent speed boost.
2. Eating a Power Pellet clears all jammers but not killers. Eating a fruit clears all killers, but not jammers. Killers are more dangerous, but fruits provide no protection from ghosts.
3. Powerup modes come with drawbacks. "Speed" doubles your speed, but dramatically weakens your attacks. "Train" doubles the sleeping ghosts you wake, but spawns an extra jammer for each. "Stronger" doubles your attacks, but has a short duration and permanently lowers your speed.
4. Sometimes you must avoid a vulnerable ghost train if you wish to build a stronger attack. But this may slow your dot-eating progress.
5. When not powered up, you'll have to deal with the four ghosts that each have a unique movement style. Together they form a complex threat.
Each gameplay element has a push and pull. As Pac-man and the ghosts get faster, the powerups last shorter, and jammers spawn erratically, you'll have to make and execute increasingly difficult decisions at breakneck speed. And if you think you can camp near Power Pellets and delay the later rounds as long as possible, you will find yourself moving slower than everyone else while they swarm you with jammers that bring your motion to a standstill as the ghosts close in.
Perhaps the best part of Pac-Man 99 is that virtually all your arcade Pac-Man skills (if any) will carry over. Solid game design is timeless, and Pac-Man 99 is a great twist on a beloved classic.
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Nintendo Switch
Entertaining enough. However it needs more players to play against instead of computer based
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Nintendo Switch
The Pac Is Back! But This Time There Are 99 Pac-Men. Its Basically The Same Pac-Man But Way More Chaotic. In My Opinion A Little Too Chaotic. A Bunch Of The game's Side Content Is Locked Behind A DLC Paywall Plus You Must Have a Switch Online Membership. Its Pac-Man At Its Core But Ehh. I Don't Know. Its Eh. Pac-Man 99 On The Nintendo Switch Gets A 7/10
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Nintendo Switch
Pacman-99 is super fun classic Pac-Man against 98 other people! Although, I think it's a shame that Nintendo put the ability to customize your Pac-Man game & the ability to make private lobbies behind a paywall.
Yes, Nintendo did that. I shouldn't be surprised, but it is still unfortunate to see.
There's actually even more things in Pac-Man 99 behind paywalls that I'm not a fan of. Like the CPU battle for instance.
There are unlockable icons players can get if they do Time Attack, but really? Just the icons? That blows.
All in all, a good game, but has flaws.
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Nintendo Switch
Summary 40 years after the classic Pac-phenomenon rocked the gaming world, PAC-MAN is back in a new 99-man battle royale. Get back in the maze and chase down the iconic ghosts. Who will be the last PAC-MAN standing?
Rated E
for Everyone
Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date: Apr 7, 2021
Developer:
- Bandai Namco Games
Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
Genres:
