Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

A worthy sequel in Bandai Namco's hyper-frenzied Pac-Man series, with a highly competitive gameplay and some important new mechanics. It might have used some more variety, but it's undoubtedly a must buy for all lovers of this genre.

Inventive and original, this is retro done right. Another success for Pac-man. [Dec 2016, p.87]

Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 creates an exciting dynamic where ghosts are still dangerous, but the overall game is more forgiving than the original--and it’s more entertaining as a result. Arcade ports tend to be games we play in short bursts--mostly for the nostalgia factor. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 certainly relies on that nostalgia to a point, but it handles the classic game in a way that plays with expectations to surprise you. It’s the same game enhanced in the right directions to be make an old concept fun, innovative, and challenging all over again.

Some nice gameplay additions and a great look mean that you shouldn’t underestimate the refreshed addictive powers of Pac-Man.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 tries to be bigger and bolder then the first, but it just doesn't seem to provide the same type of quality execution. That's disappointing because I love how different companies interpret Pac-Man and I know this could have been done a whole lot better, especially since I enjoyed the first one so much.

It’s a step up from the original Pac-Man Championship Edition versions and offers hours of fun and tons of replayability if you want to aim for the high score. Unfortunately, the levels feel uninspired even though they add various features like jump pads. That’s mostly due to the fact that they’re all mostly the same with different visuals.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 still has the fast, smooth and responsive gameplay of the first title in this offshoot series, but it takes a lot of work to get to the meat and potatoes of the game.

This is not your father's Pac-Man. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 is faster and busier, and the purity of the original has been sacrificed for variety and a more forgiving difficulty level. That being said, it's still a great score attack game, one that I will be enjoying whenever I'm in need of an hour or so of sparkly, candied arcade goodness.