Pang Adventures
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Top Critic
When played with a friend, some of its issues become easier to overlook, but the fact still remains that those hoping for a triumphant return will be left disappointed by this rather one-dimensional arcade rehash.
Top Critic
In keeping with the spirit of the nearly three decade old original, Pang Adventures entertains with its easy to grasp, difficult to master shooter sensibilities. While the broad repetition of mechanics and lack of online play and truly new content will surely grate, Pang Adventure remains decent fodder for a quick session whenever you have the odd few minutes to spare for its classic arcade beats.
Top Critic
Pang Adventures is a thoroughly retro arcade game that offers addictive bubble-bursting fun in a modestly sized package. The gameplay is compelling enough to keep you playing for a few hours, but whether its trio of modes provide much replay value is another matter. It's certainly worth a look if you have an old-school itch that needs scratching, and fans of the original game will be pleased with just how faithful Pastagames has been to that decades-old formula.
Top Critic
Pang Adventures offers a tense and instantly enjoyable ode to a timeless arcade romp, and one that's bound to engage and reward players who enjoyed it 30 years ago as well as those discovering it for the first time on the eShop. The support for online play is a real bonus, as many puzzle games of this ilk are want to simply plump for couch-play only, but for all its colourful chaos you are left hoping for something a little less predictable. Fans of the original will love it, but they may also lament the fact that more hasn't been done to update this classic series.
Top Critic
Pang Adventures has some interesting ideas and an cool co-op mode, but the overall difficulty is too low and the game becomes boring after a few matches.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
I haven't much cared for Pang Adventures when playing alone, so I can only recommend it for co-op play. Even then, I'd wait for a sale to bring the game in line closer to what you'd pay on PC or mobile. The game is okay, subpar looks and all, but as a Switch port, it is vanilla.
Top Critic
Pang Adventures takes the fun bubble popping gameplay of the classic arcade game and takes into a whole new realm.
Top Critic
A fun little throwback to a simpler time, and a fun bash in local co-op, but ultimately a little disappointing considering the lack of lifespan. The core Tour Mode is too short and too easy, and then the extra modes are far too limiting to give this sufficient replayability. For fans of the series that didn't already play this in its first release, it's worth picking up to relieve the original, but it's not worth a double dip.
Top Critic
I had a good couple of hours of Pang Adventures, mostly because I find the concept enjoyable. It's a quick romp that only has legs if you get really into the co-op or leaderboards. If you miss Buster Bros. or just want a quick hit of arcade action, this Switch release is worth popping through. Just don't expect anything more than a good old-fashioned Pang time.
Top Critic
It’s a shame there wasn’t more variation gone into [boss] design; as a new addition to Pang Adventures, differentiating from its predecessors, it would have been great to see some new creative flair but instead it feels rather lazy
Top Critic
Game developers who want to know how to remake a classic need to play Pang Adventures.
Dramatic 80's music hits my ears as the two brothers jump up in the air with such a pose of coolness, it could only be seen on TV. The red Pang Brother, black hair and a Band-Aid slap dead on the bridge of his nose, orange grappling shot in one hand with blue jeans and a red shirt and hat. The second Pang Brother, brown hair, blue shirt and blue jean shorts as well. Teal grappling shot in one hand and they are both ready to shine! Pang Brothers to the rescue!!!
All in all Pang Adventures is a great remake of a classic. If I had one concern, it would be that the game can feel quite samey after a while, but for pick up and play fun-times it’s damn good fun and did leave me with hunger Pangs to play more….see what I did there?
I enjoyed Pang Adventures as much as I did the original when I was younger, with the arcade-like gameplay still as addictive and fun as it was back in the old days. Sure, it could be a little simple and repetitive at times, but I still had a good time playing – especially with a friend in local co-op. Add to that a fairly low price-point and some jolly old-school gameplay, and it’s easy to recommend giving Pang Adventures a try.
Pang Adventures is just good – solo or co-op – old-fashioned retro arcade fun that is perfectly suited to handheld play. There’s nothing different from the Switch version compared to the rest, but it's a fair argument to say that this is the definitive edition.
Complementing already solid shooting gameplay with a terrific graphical overhaul, some smart new elements, and a provision for local co-op Pang Adventures is a joy for a vintage gamer like me to play. Familiar and yet modern, challenging and yet fair, it starts out a bit slowly but doesn’t take too long before it starts making you work to complete those levels. Remaking classics is undoubtedly a challenge, forcing you to balance a sense of nostalgia with a need to keep things fresh. For the most part the folks at DotEmu have knocked this one out of the park, and with it’s pocketbook-friendly price it’s easy to recommend to any retro gaming or shooting fan.
Pang Adventures is a fun game that stays true to the original whilst adding enough new elements to make the experience feel fresh. The graphical style is cute and the gameplay is addictive enough to keep you coming back for more, especially if you’re a fan of old school games. Some gamers may be put off by the limited controls, but for those that are willing to get invested in the way it plays, you’ll be in for a treat that will provide you with several hours of fun.
At the end of the day, whether you have any sort of nostalgia for this series, or a series that ripped it off, Pang Adventures is another downloadable title that is well worth your time. It’s very likely not going to be your game of the year, but I dare you to not have fun while playing.
