 I
love the arcade games of the early 1980s. If there's one thing
that I don't like about today's videogames is the seemingly endless
increases in complexity and difficulty. Maybe I'm just getting
old, but when a game with the ease, simplicity and nostalgia of Ms.
Pac-Man Maze Madness comes along, I can't help but like it.
This 21st century
update on the original game now includes the pre-requisite storyline
which provides the main character with the necessary motivation to
carry out her quest. This time out, Ms. Pac-Man needs to save
the world by retrieving the four Gems of Virtue and keeping them safe
from harm.
The original Ms.
Pac-Man was a 2D, overhead view game that featured static mazes filled
with dots and power-ups. This new version is viewed from a
pseudo-3D perspective and includes most of the elements of the
original. The power-ups that allow you to turn the tables on the
ghosts (Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Sue) are still here, as are newer
items that allow you to blow stuff up, open doors or jump over parts
of the maze. These new items (and the old ones too) are
explained in the first level by Professor Pac, who appears to give Ms.
Pac-Man tips on completing her missions.
 In
all honesty, this is a very simple game. The control consists of
the analog stick (or the d-pad, if you prefer) and requires absolutely
no button-pressing at all. The puzzles aren't very hard, but
still remain fun. This is a game that's playable by anyone and
still manages to remain enjoyable and challenging.
The graphics are
crisp and clean, but are not really an indication of the Dreamcast's
power. Since this game is also available on the PlayStation and
Nintendo 64, I'm sure that little effort was made to make the game
Dreamcast version much different from the other versions. The
music and sound effects recall the original's, but with a little
punchier results. The music is a weird combination of styles
that is instantly forgettable, but never becomes annoying.
In addition to the
single player game, there are several multiplayer games
included. These are simple party games like Da Bomb, Ghost Tag,
and Pac Mania, that provide simple goals to entertain you and up to
three friends. None of these multiplayer games is likely to keep
the game in your Dreamcast on their own merit, but they're worth
mentioning as being interesting diversions from the single player
game.
For nostalgia hounds,
the full version of the original Ms. Pac-Man is included as a
"classic" mode. Being able to play the old arcade game
from the comfort of your couch is reason enough for me to recommend Ms.
Pac-Man Maze Madness, but the "new" version of the game
is certainly enjoyable as well.
 Overall,
Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness is a worthy addition to your Dreamcast
collection based on its relatively low price and addictive and
easy-to-digest gameplay. If you have been looking for a
game that's suitable for the whole family, Ms. Pac-Man Maze
Madness certainly deserves your attention.
|
