PAC-MAN Championship Edition 2 Reviews
Where PAC-MAN 256 pushed PAC-MAN forward, PAC-MAN Championship Edition 2 takes a single step backwards over iteration and innovation. PAC-MAN Championship Edition 2 just isn’t the second coming of the “PAC-MAN Jesus” we’ve come to praise with its first installment onto XBLA all those years ago.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 may have a few additions for the sake of it, but it’s still one of the best score-attack games you could hope to play.
Pac-Man never really changes his ways, but Championship Edition 2 proves that a three-and-a-half decade old videogame star can still pull a crowd. This is a smart set of takes on what may genuinely be a timeless mechanical formula.
It might be a case of sky-high expectations, but this sequel doesn't live up to its sublime predecessor Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+. Still, I'm not so sure it ever could -- that game was damn near perfect, putting Bandai Namco in a tough spot when creating a follow-up. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is worth playing for its frenetic new style and ruleset, but it's no replacement.
Championship Edition 2's drastic changes to the classic Pac-Man feels like a misstep. You can touch the ghosts without dying and the speed and danger of the original are missing because of this.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is simply an incredibly fun and addictive arcade experience that once again reinvents the arcade classic in a compelling way. The visual style feels timeless, looking as great as it did back in 2007. I sincerely hope that Bandai Namco has more tricks up its sleeve with their back catalogue, perhaps even a Dig Dug Championship Edition? I can only dream!
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is everything you may want out of a puzzle game and more. It looks simple at first glance, but there’s a surprising amount of depth. It can be annoying have to jump through so many hoops to unlock that content, but the jumping is very entertaining. If you don’t come into this expecting to just beat levels, and instead want something you can spend days or weeks trying to master, you’re in for a great time.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 represents another strong, well-produced arcade title for this classic character, cementing his continued relevance multiple decades later in a way only a few non-Nintendo franchises have been able to.
Some nice gameplay additions and a great look mean that you shouldn’t underestimate the refreshed addictive powers of Pac-Man.
Maybe that’s what peeves me most about Pac-Man Championship Edition 2. There’s a solid idea at the core of the game, one that’s endearing and compelling despite some major changes to the formula. But nothing backs up that idea. It’s just that—an idea, and not much else, though the familiar Pac-Man gameplay still holds up. While I’ll probably attempt to best some of my own scores in the coming weeks, though, there’s not enough engaging content to keep me hooked in the long run.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is an amalgam of excellent new augments, though for the most part it stays the same and implements new looks and skins. I'm not sure there's enough that it actually changes from the other game, but there's still plenty here to enjoy and hungrily devour, like Pac-Man and ghosts, if you're a diehard fan or even have a passing interest in the game. Ghost trains are where it's at, and you'll most likely agree.
The Adventure mode might be too laborious for some, but the score-based and practice modes give you everything you need to enjoy the new changes to Pac-Man
An unexpectedly brave attempt to once again rewrite the rules on Pac-Man, resulting in another near-classic arcade experience.
Despite messy design decisions, Pac-Man's latest still manages to come together.
Familiar Pac-Man gameplay with an added twist, offering near endless fun.
Pac-Man Championship Edition II is a really fun game. It changes up the formula enough to keep things feeling fresh, its look and feel is fantastic, and the overall package will keep fans playing for hours on end. It really is a sequel worth the Pac-Man name, and I for one absolutely love it. I think many of you will as well, and I highly suggest giving it a shot.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the cleverer of the two titles, boasting an inventive central mechanic that informs some thoroughly brilliant level design. Regardless of which may be the superior Pac-Man, this second round of Championship remains a bloody terrific time.
Championship Edition 2 has followed confidently in the footsteps of the first game and is one of the most addictive and enjoyable games I’ve played in quite some time.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is a fun little arcade game that channels the inner spirit of old school Pac-Man, but manages to create its own little niche. It’s overpriced for the amount of content, but those with the patience of a saint and a compulsion to top leaderboards will certainly get their money’s worth. For anyone else, the fun factor may be exhausted before the euphoric beats of the soundtrack subside. And it’s all a bit of a shame really, because it’s an interesting and fresh take on an age-old game. There just isn’t enough of it.
Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 builds on the success of its predecessor, reinvigorating classic Pac-Man gameplay with new mechanics and eye-catching visuals.