Pac-Man 99
Release Date: April 7, 2021
Arcade, 2D, online, battle royale, Nintendo exclusive, multiplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Arcade game with battle royale elements, being a variation on the cult Pac-Man. In Pac-Man 99 99 players compete simultaneously, trying to stay alive as long as possible while making life miserable for the others.
Pac-Man 99 is a variation on Pac-Man, which enriches the classic rules of this cult arcade game with elements taken from the battle royale genre. Bandai Namco company is behind the development and release. The game is available for free for subscribers of the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Mechanics
At first glance, Pac-Man 99 does not differ much from what we are used to from its original. During the game we take control of the game' hero, who moves through the maze and eats balls scattered in it. At the same time, the protagonist must avoid colourful ghosts wandering around, because an encounter with one of them ends the game. However, the protagonist is not completely defenceless, because after he eats one of the special power balls (clearly bigger than the others) all the ghosts turn blue and can be eaten by him for a short time.
What makes the described game different from other productions in the series is the fact that 99 players can play at the same time; in accordance with the battle royale rules, the victory goes to the person who is the last to stay on the battlefield. What's interesting, during the game we not only have an insight into the number of other players, but we can also check how the situation looks on their boards.
We can annoy our competitors in various ways. First of all, the ghosts eaten by us end up on their boards in the form of Jammer Pac-Men, which slow down the movements of Pac-Men. If we want to send more of them in one go, we have to eat the sleeping ghosts in the maze, because after meeting us they start to follow one of the active ghosts, creating a kind of "train" and becoming an easy target for us. In addition, there are four buffs that give us an advantage over the ghosts (by increasing our resistance or speed) and four strategic options, allowing us to "kill" the opponents closest to defeat.
Game modes
Pac-Man 99 only allows you to play in multiplayer mode.
Technical aspects
Pac-Man 99 graphic design is kept in the retro style of the first game in the series, released in 1980. It can be expanded with paid add-ons that change the look of the boards and the sound palette, which are based on other cult games from Bandai Namco's portfolio, such as Xevious, Galaga or Dig Dug.
Videos and Screens
[2:23] Pac-Man 99 trailer #1
COGconnected: 82 / 100 by James Reid
Overall I’m really enjoying Pac-Man 99. It’s a great pick-up and play title for when you have just a couple of minutes and are looking for something to do. The gameplay is fast-paced, competitive, and surprisingly addicting. If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, there’s no reason not to give the game a shot.
Video Chums: 8.1 / 10 by A.J. Maciejewski
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.
Twinfinite: 4 / 5 by Jake Su
Despite the steep learning curve and the hubbub about single-player paywalls, the pure enjoyment of every new Pac-Man 99 game stands tall above all. Whether you are itching for one short session or a marathon of close calls and satisfactory victory, this battle royale cannot come recommended enough.
Pac-Man 99 Summary
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch
Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Age restrictions: none
