Pac Pix
SCORE: 84
Pac Pix is one of those early Nintendo DS releases that I had on the shelf for quite a long time. I also had wanted to get to it, due to how innovative, and family friendly it is. Your patience is so greatly appreciated as we now review this fascinating game. The player draws Pac-Man, and uses lines to direct him around the screen. There are also special items like bombs (pictures on this page), and arrows to assist in Pac-Man’s quest. Speaking of the quest it relates to ghosts getting into books, and Pac-Man fixing the problem. The player has so many Pac-Men that can be drawn, a timer to beat, and so many ghosts to take out. There are also switches that need to be turned on in order to get to the upper screen (on some levels), and plenty of classic Pac-Man items to give more points or extra lives.
The graphics in Pac Pix are very interesting. There is a special blend of artistic styles. Pac-Man looks as good as the player can draw him, so the only one to blame in that department is the player. The graphics are very bright and colorful. The ghosts are cartoonish styled, and are not frightening in any manner. The explosions from the bombs stun the ghosts, or make barriers vanish. I did not find any offensive images in this game.
Pac Pix has many of the classic Pac-Man sounds along with some decent music. The special effects work well, especially the fuses on the bombs. The sounds in this Namco game really take a back seat to the drawing action. Pac Pix is way more visual than it is audio. In fact most players will ignore the sounds because of all the artistic action. All of the sounds are very crisp and clear. I did not find any offensive sounds in this game.
The real problem with Pac Pix is the replay, and length of the game. The game is really short, and can be beaten by most players in a few short hours (like 4 to 5). On the other side of the coin this is one of the most unique family friendly gaming experiences on the market. In addition this game can be found at a very reasonable price. There are some unlockables in this game, but not a lot. The most interesting one is the drawing to find hidden easter egg images that will do something once drawn. This can be worth the money as long as you understand exactly what you will be getting.
The game play in Pac Pix is a mixed bag. The developers do a good job of explaining the controls, but sometimes they do not seem to work well in the heat of the action. It was not all the time, but would get frustrating to have to go through the last five levels all over again, because an arrow would not work when drawn. I did have fun playing this game though, albeit for a short lived period.
Pac Pix teaches cleaning up messes,
and some excellent thinking skills. The drawing required really can
spark creativity. This is the kind of game that I would love to see a
sequel to, especially one that is fleshed out more. Kudos to Namco for
trying something new, different, and keeping it safe for the entire
family. Pac Pix is safe for the entire family, but a basic reading, and
drawing abilities is needed.
- Paul
Graphics: 89%
Sound: 87%
Replay/Extras: 79%
Gameplay: 77%
Family Friendly Factor: 88%
System: Nintendo DS
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Rating: 'E' for Everyone
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