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Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures is a 3D platform game, based on the kid's TV show of the same name. Having grown a pair of arms and legs, and burst out of the 2D mazes most will remember, Pac now has an (annoying) voice, a variety of powers, and a calling to save the world from the evil Betrayus and his army of ghosts.
Answering the call to action, Pac leaps into a variety of 3D levels, where it's up to you to explore each stage, gobbling up ghosts as you go, in an attempt to reach a piece of fruit at the other end of the level. Of course, getting there won't be easy - with dozens of ghosts to defeat, tricky platforms to navigate, and more than a few times you'll be scratching your head trying to figure out how to reach a certain ledge, this is a platformer with an old-school feel.
Adding a bit of variety to the levels, there are also a variety of special items hidden around each stage, that let Pac transform into a "special" form - whether it's becoming Fire Pac, who can chuck fireballs; Chameleon Pac, who can swing from poles or become invisible; or Rubber Pac, who can bounce to reach higher places - and making use of these powers will be essential if you want to reach the exit.
In terms of difficulty, though, Pac-Man feels like an old school game - and that means it can be pretty unforgiving. While the LEGO games mix a similar blend of adventure and baddie bashing, they have unlimited lives, whereas Pac-Man only gives you three, leading to a few too many Game Overs. Some at times tricky controls, and fiendish traps in some of the levels mean younger players may find themselves losing more lives than they'd like. While concessions have been made to younger players, with a decent camera that manages to stay looking in the right direction, letting players focus on just the one analogue stick rather than having to keep tweaking the view, this is one that's probably best suited to the slightly more experienced platform players - although it's certainly not an insurmountable challenge for novices.
Based on the kid's TV show, there's little to worry about in Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures. With no blood or gore, no swearing, and no sex, this is as family friendly as you'd expect. While Pac-Man does eat ghosts, it's all handled in a light-hearted manner.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Playstation 3
