Pac PC Review

PacPC is an excellent recreation of the original and iconic Pac-Man arcade game from the 1980s. You must guide Pac-Man through a maze, dodge a handful of ghosts, and eat all of the dots to advance to the next level. You can also compete against a friend to see who can rack up the highest score. Pac Man is a great classic that's also completely free.

Classic Pac Munching

In PacPC, you guide Pac-Man around a maze full of dots and ghosts. Your goal is to eat all of the dots and advance to the next level.  As you try to eat all of the dots, you'll have to dodge four ghosts that make their way around the maze and chase you.  If they manage to catch you, you'll lose a life. The other option besides dodging the ghosts is to make use of dots spread around the map that are larger than the others.  These dots will make the ghosts harmless to you for a short time, and allow you to eat them for bonus points.  Fruit pickups will also randomly appear in the maze and can be eaten for bonus points.

Not Much Variety

While there are a number of levels in PacPc, they all use the same maze, ghosts, and dots. The only difference is the level of difficulty. For example, in later levels, the ghosts move quicker and are no longer rendered harmless by eating the large dots. This difficulty level cannot be adjusted, but you can selected how many lives you want to start with (from 1-5) and the level you will start on.

2 Player Competition

The other option in PacPC is a two player mode. In this mode, you and a friend take turns on the same computer playing PacPC. It plays exactly like it does for a single player, except that you change turns when you lose a life. Your goal is to get the highest score you can manage and beat your buddy before you run out of lives. This competition with a friend can add a good deal of fun and excitement into the classic Pac-Man gameplay.

Easy to Learn But Turns Sometimes Are Tough

Controlling Pac-Man is a simple task. You can move him with the arrow keys, or even make use of a joystick. Despite the simple controls, it may sometimes be difficult to change directions. You may have to hit the arrow key several times to get Pac-Man to turn, which can easily lead to an otherwise avoidable death.

Old School Graphics

The graphics and sounds are just like the were in the original Pac-Man game. Unfortunately, that means that compared to many modern games today they are quite simple and out of date. However, doesn't detract or take away from the gameplay. If you care more about the looks than the fun or play of a game, PacPC won't be a great choice.

Conclusion - Good Basic Copy of the Original Pac Man

Overall, PacPC is still a great arcade game even decades after the original first came out. This recreation stays true to the original in almost every way. Navigate a maze filled with dangerous ghosts as you work to eat all the dots. Play alone or compete against a friend for the most points. The minor control issues and simple graphics may bother you, but don't outweigh the fun or enjoyment of the game. With a game like this available for completely free, there's no reason not to play it.