This is "old meets new" with nine classics and five new entries. Casual gamers may not realize how many variations
Pac-Man has actually had, and be surprised to find that
Super Pac-Man, Pac&Pal, and
Pac-Mania don't actually fall into the "remix" category. Being yesterday's remix earns them retro status. The best of the bunch in my book is either
Super Pac-Man or
Pac-Mania.
Pac&Pal is just too out-there.
Pac-Mania featured 3D mazes and a neat feature where Ole 'Pac was able to jump over ghosts. In a skillful hand, this trick makes it much easier to get around the maze without being chomped. At the same time, the 3D can make navigation more difficult since you can't see as much going on in the maze. Purists will lean toward
Super Pac-Man even though it had some upgrades to the classic-classic version of the game.
Other retro titles include Galaxian or as I like to call it, "Galaga's misbegotten clone." Adding insult to injury is Gaplus instead of actually featuring Galaga. I actually learned to love Gaplus for some weird features like a reverse tractor beam. Remember the Galaga dynamic where you initially get your ship snatched and have a chance to retrieve it for double firepower? Gaplus has the same kind of enemies but when you dust them, you get a tractor beam that you can use to suck up as many enemies as you can catch. Then these enemies slide down and become part of your line-up. It sounds great until you have to try moving five or six ships instead of just one. Titles we've seen in other Namco Museum include Xevious, Mappy, and Dig Dug. Nothing incredible happens in this version except for the option to control with any one of three different controller types. Using the analog stick on the Nunchuk is excellent once you get used to it! The Classic Controller is the safest route and gives that retro feeling. The only other classic title is Cutie-Q, a cross between Breakout and retro arcade pinball. The neat thing on this one is the ability to control the sliding "flippers" by pointing and moving the Wii-mote.
The actual remix titles are all about using the Wii-mote and Nunchuk, but only a few feel like more than gimmicks. Pac'N Roll isn't quite as absorbing on the big screen as the small screen, but it has some neat physics and play dynamics. Thinking back on early titles of this sort (Marble Madness for the Amiga was the first I can remember) it should surprise nobody that the Pacster eventually went from a dot-chewing ghost-chaser to a rolling yellow ball. Gator Panic Remix makes for a fun variant on the Whack A Mole formula and is especially fun in multiplayer. All the multiplayer options on these games elevate Namco Museum Remix almost to party-game status. The real remix-prize must go to Galaga Remix. Doing a Galaga-themed shooter on rails featuring Pac-Man is pretty inspired...like a videogame mash-up or something.
