Ms. Pac-Man: Special Color Edition
Game by Namco
Reviewed by David Dayton
DavidDayton@bigfoot.com
Size: 1 MB (i.e. 8 megabits)
No Save
Released: 1999
Works with: All Game Boy systems
****************************************************************************

Opening Remarks: Super Pac-Man is finally on a game system. Super Pac-Man is
here. I must buy it. No time to write complex sentences. Must ... buy ...

****************************************************************************

Gameplay Descripion: This cart features Ms. Pac-Man and Super Pac-Man. In
Ms. Pac-Man, you control the first lady of gaming as she eats her way around
multiple mazes, chomping dots, power pellets, fruit, and ghosts. Super
Pac-Man is much like any other Pac-Man game, but with three major changes:
first, you eat keys to open locked doors; second, you can swallow special
Super-Duper power pellets to become the gigantic Super Pac-Man, capable of
smashing through locked doors and speeding around the maze at double speed;
finally, bonus stages exist - plow through the maze against the clock.

Liked: It's classic Pac-mania. The inclusion of Super Pac-Man was the main
reason I bought the cart. Everyone has to play Super Pac-Man.

Hated: It's classic Pac-mania. The game gets repetitive after awhile. Also,
the game doesn't have a battery, so high scores are NOT saved. A Super Game
Boy border would have been nice.

****************************************************************************

Graphics Description: Overall, the game is nice. You can play in either close
up view (which allows for more detail but scrolls) or a zoomed out view of
the entire maze. In the standard close-up view, the game looks pretty much
identical to the arcade versions. This game supports the Super Game Boy with
predefined color palettes.
 
Liked: The ability to choose from zoomed or scrolling camera angles.
Hated: The lack of a Super Game Boy border for the game.

****************************************************************************

Sound/Music Description: Well, there isn't much here. The sound effects
sound decent for Pac-Man games, and there is very little music.
Liked: Wocka-wocka.
Hated: The music in the cinemas and intro is VERY "tinny".

****************************************************************************

Play Control/Game Design: Simple maze design. Press up to go up, etc. Super
Pac-Man actually allows you to use a button to speed up.

Liked: Easy to play.
Hated: Nothing.

****************************************************************************

Improve: If another version comes out, I'd want to see Super Game Boy
support, Game Link cable support, and a few more games on the cart.

RIYL: Pac-Man, Lock 'n Chase, Mr. Do, Donkey Kong... and any other classic
games.

****************************************************************************

Final Words: Super Pac-Man good. Not as good as I remember it being, but it
is still good. I don't think the cart warrants $30, though. Wait for it to
drop to $20.

****************************************************************************
Score
Gameplay: 4 stars
Graphics: 2 stars
Sound/Music: 1 star
Play Control/Game Design: 4 stars
Personal Opinion: 3 stars

Final Score: 56%

****************************************************************************

Currently Known Codes: Press L or R on the title screen of either game to
switch between the normal scrolling view and the zoomed out 1/2 perspective.

Also, press SELECT on the Super Pac-Man screen to adjust the point totals
required for earning extra lives.