If you're still suffering the lingering effects of Pac-Man fever, you'll be excited to hear that Namco's Pac-Man Collection repackages the infectious original with three other Pac-Man-themed games in a new anthology for the Game Boy Advance. Pac-Man Collection contains the original Pac-Man, plus Pac-Attack, PacMania 3D, and the never-before-seen-out-of-the-arcade Pac-Man Arrangement game. Pac-Man plays like you remember, and like Namco Museums's picture perfect re-creation of Ms. Pac-Man, it features spot-on control, graphics, cartoon cutscenes, sound effects, and, best of all, music from the coin-op (who can forget that opening theme?). As such, it's easily the best of this collection.
PacMania 3D is basically a 3-D version of the original, and is just about as uninspired now as when it came out. Pac-Attack is a cool variation on such puzzlers as Tetris and Columns, and as such it's perfect for handheld gaming. Pac-Man Arrangement is an odd little game that plays much like the original but adds weird power-ups that, for example, make you gigantic.
Because Pac-Man Collection is a perfectly emulated package, there isn't much to gripe about, save that Ms. Pac-Man is a far, far better game than the original, and you'll have to shell out more money if you want that one. But for retro gamers on the go who also want to track down ghosts and eat power pills, this package is sure to sate your hunger. --Andrew S. Bub
Pros:
- Perfect graphics and sound
- Perfect controls
- Pac-Attack is a fun Tetris variant
Cons:- It's missing the best Pac game, Ms. Pac-Man
- Pac-Man Arrangement and PacMania 3D aren't really great games
