Pac-Man 256: Endless Arcade Maze

 iOS
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 56
  3. Negative: 11 out of 56
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  1. TheRavingTimes
    Aug 20, 2015
    8
    Pac-Man 256 is pretty much everything you love about the 1980 classic, but with a unique twist that forces gamers to adapt to a completely brand new game. Include some brand new features and you've got an amazing classic revived, but with the free-to-play restrictions associated with it.
  2. Action_Critic
    Aug 22, 2015
    8
    PAC-MAN 256 is an endless PAC-MAN game made by Hipster Whale, the creators of the insanely addicting and award-winning game, Crossy Road, based on the glitchy 256th level of the classic arcade hit. Hipster Whale was hired by Bandai-Namco games to make this game, so the burning question is, is it any good? I'm happy to report that PAC-MAN 256 is an fantastic free-to-play game that isPAC-MAN 256 is an endless PAC-MAN game made by Hipster Whale, the creators of the insanely addicting and award-winning game, Crossy Road, based on the glitchy 256th level of the classic arcade hit. Hipster Whale was hired by Bandai-Namco games to make this game, so the burning question is, is it any good? I'm happy to report that PAC-MAN 256 is an fantastic free-to-play game that is thankfully not a cash grab.

    In this game you obviously play as PAC-MAN and collect as many points is possible while outrunning the infamous level 256 glitch. The game is paced steadily as it is easy for newcomers to the PAC-MAN franchise to play, but it is hard to master as you will have navigate around many ghosts and trails of glitchy sprites.

    The presentation is beautiful as the presentation style of Crossy Road and the gameplay of PAC-MAN combine to make a fantastic 2.5D game. They have detailed this game very well as the style of it emulates an old 1980s arcade machine, yet it feels so new. If there are only a couple of small complaints I have with the presentation, it would probably be where the edges of the maze are edged off and not rounded like the original PAC-MAN, and the irritating sound of the level 256 glitch.

    This game also contains power-ups you can use to your advantage as you unlock them by eating PAC-DOTS. Power-ups can vary from slowing down ghosts to absolutely squashing them. They are a lot of fun to use, but you can't always use them. You see, there is a credits system in the game in which you use one of your six credits to either play with power-ups or continue when you die. When you're out of credits, you have to wait before you can play with power-ups again or continue after you die. Luckily, if you run out of credits, there is a free play option which uses no credits at all at the cost of no power-ups, which is a very good feature to have. This separates PAC-MAN 256 from other free-to-play games as it is not a money-making scheme.

    Overall, PAC-MAN 256 is an excellent spin on the arcade classic. It's gameplay is both simple and challenging, and it's presentation is excellent on most parts. It does miss a perfect score though as there are a couple of minor annoyances with how the maze was made, the awful ear-grating level 256 glitch sound, and limited use of power-ups. Don't let these negatives mess with your thoughts of getting the game though, as the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. This is still a fun game to play, and it is a must-have for fans of PAC-MAN and classic arcade game enthusiasts alike. Hipster Whale, well done. My final score is an 8 out of 10.    … Expand
  3. XDavidX
    Nov 23, 2015
    10
    The game is just amazing. I love play this game. For me this game is amazing ! Nothing more to comment because this game is amazing ! I rate this 10/10
  4. BoomBoy64
    Sep 10, 2022
    8
    If you want Pac-Man, than here you go. Not much more I can say, it’s just an endless version of Pac-Man. However, the whole “running from the glitch” thing is a super cool idea, simply due to it being the glitched killscreen from the original game. It gives this game, oddly enough, a much better feeling. If it was just a line of ghosts or something, then it’d suck. The glitch just makesIf you want Pac-Man, than here you go. Not much more I can say, it’s just an endless version of Pac-Man. However, the whole “running from the glitch” thing is a super cool idea, simply due to it being the glitched killscreen from the original game. It gives this game, oddly enough, a much better feeling. If it was just a line of ghosts or something, then it’d suck. The glitch just makes sense. I’m not at all nostalgic for the first Pac-Man, I’m way to young, and find the original game to be pretty boring, but this game just feels a lot less soulless then you would think.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

38
#38 Best iOS Game of 2015
32
#32 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. CD-Action
    Dec 16, 2015
    80
    Only intrusive microtransactions could have ruined this great game, but fortunately it’s not the case. [12/2015, p.74]
  2. Multiplayer.it
    Sep 30, 2015
    88
    Pac-Man 256 is a great and at the same time respectful way to celebrate the 35th birthday of the iconic yellow hero.
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  3. IGN Italia
    Sep 4, 2015
    90
    Not just a tribute to one of the most beautiful games ever made, but a real, addicting game able to hook the players. Pac-Man 256 is the proof that revisiting old classic for a new, extraordinary life on mobile platform is possible.
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