Nintendo DS

Pac 'n Roll

The game is simple to learn, easy to master, yet quite challenging to complete. With multiple worlds, levels, and challenges, there is plenty of dot and ghost gobbling to be enjoyed by kids and adults of all ages and the use of the touch screen is flawlessly executed. It’s a definite addition to any DS gamer’s library, especially if you love Pac-Man.

This game does a good job in retaining its cartoony look and it does that well. The view is kind of far away so it hides a lot of visible polygons which is a good thing. The music fits the game’s look and the sound effects get the job done. The one thing that really bothers me though is the cutscenes because Pac-Man’s gibberish speech really gets annoying. If you want to bring a good game on the go, you cannot go wrong with Pac'n Roll.

When I first started playing this game I thought it was going to be yet another repetitive title with little depth and even less variety but the outcome was something else entirely. Although the levels are very similar, they are just different enough to keep you coming back for more. This is all down to a mixture of design and some ingenious puzzles. There's also a fair bit of extended gameplay to be had thanks to the bonus challenges but what the game really lacks is a multiplayer mode and if this had been included Pac 'n' Roll would be fast approaching full marks. Even without it though you are going to be playing his game for some time. Last of all it's confirmation that it was a good idea to buy a DS in the first place.

Pac 'n Roll is a unique twist on an old formula. The touch control, while not entirely stable, is a very enjoyable and amusing experience. A little cleaning up in that area and some kind of multiplayer mode could make Pac 'n Roll 2 a serious hit. But the chances of a sequel are pretty slim, considering this game has succumb to the appealing bargain price of $10. Hey, for $10, just about any game is a mandatory purchase. This one just happens to give you your money's worth... and a little more.

I was pleasantly surprised when I put Pac’N Roll into my Nintendo DS. I didn’t really know what to expect, but after playing through its levels and enjoying the new challenges brought to the table via the touch screen controls, I am happy to report that it is one of the better games for the Nintendo DS. The game is a decent length and with the extra challenge mode it will keep you coming back for more. The storyline might be a little goofy, but it helps move along the game and the variety of levels and challenges keep it entertaining. If you are looking for a game that takes full advantage of the Nintendo DS’s touch screen and is actually fun and challenging then you should check out Pac’N Roll from Namco.

As far as replay value and multi-player go, you should find yourself occupied with the single player for several hours. The Story mode doesn't last all that long, maybe 5-7 hours, if that, mainly extended by the difficulty of World 5 (lava level), but the Challenges and Time Attack are worth playing through. You can also play the original arcade both by yourself for the high score and with friends. In conclusion, Pac'N Roll isn't a game that you should buy a DS for, though if you own the system, you should look into it. For those looking to buy Nintendo's dual-screened system, Pac-Man's new adventure just might be another reason to buy it.

Pac ’n Roll ist ein schön entspannendes Spiel, welches angenehm an den Klassiker »Marble Madness« erinnert: Knackige, intelligent aufgebaute Levels, einfache Steuerung, knuffige Optik. Story und vor allem die Sprachausgabe bedürfen zwar einer gewissen Trash-Resistenz, machen dem Spielspaß aber keinen Abbruch. Ein netter, gut spielbarer Geschicklichkeitstests für große und kleine Kullerkugeln, gut für Zwischendurch geeignet.

In the end, the game offers another thoughtful use of the stylus feature of the DS. Pac'N Roll unfortunately isn't terribly long, but the chance to go back, improve on your scores and unlock a few goodies is still worth the purchase. This is an ideal title for any fan of puzzle games or just a fan of Pac-Man himself.

Originell ist "Pac'n Roll" nicht: Das 'kugeliger Held'-Konzept gibt's beim Stallkollegen Kirby auch, außerdem erinnern sich Veteranen angesichts des Pampelmusen-Gerolles wehmütig an den Automaten-Oldie "Marble Madness". Namcos Variante hat aber einiges zu bieten: Die ansprechend gestalteten Levels liefern viel Abwechslung und Herausforderung, um Stylusfreunde zu Ausflügen zu motivieren, zumal die Steuerung weitgehend gut klappt. Nur zur Ausführung der Turboschübe hätte ich mir eine etwas weniger pedantische Möglichkeit gewünscht. Grafisch wird solide Kost geboten, auch wenn Euer Star zwangsläufig recht klein ausfällt. "Pac'n Roll" nutzt die DS-Eigenheiten gut und taugt immer wieder für eine Runde.

Anytime a DS game actually uses both screens for the better of gameplay, it receives a few bonus points in my book. Pac ‘n Roll isn’t a flawless game by any means, but it does in fact offer a very unique and refreshing twist to one of the most beloved franchises in the industry’s history. Anyone looking for a little bit of platforming fun will definitely want to give this version of Pac-Man a try.

Namco's latest Pac-Man spin-off does an acceptable job at translating the Pac-Man theme to the Nintendo DS, taking good advantage of the system's unique strengths. In the end, however, there just isn't all that much depth to Pac 'n Roll. But if you're looking for a puzzler/platformer that will suffice for killing a few minutes at a time, you can do a lot worse than this game.

The gameplay may be too consistent (read: repetitive) for continuous play, but an hour here and there may be just what the doctor ordered.

At the end of the day, Pac ‘N Roll isn’t going to persuade you that Namco is aiming this title at anyone but the younger crowd. Even so, a polished package with some incredible game-end challenge means that if you have a DS and you’re looking for the next great platformer, you’ve just found it. Maybe you can even help Pac-Man regain his legs! One can only hope.

If you don't mind a relatively short game, then you'll have a lot of fun with Pac'n Roll. It's a unique take on the platforming genre that plays to the abilities of the DS. Unfortunately, it was released during the same week as two big Nintendo-made DS titles, Nintendogs and Advance Wars: Dual Strike, so it might get lost in the shuffle. Don't let it, though -- you'd be missing out on a surprisingly fun game.

Moins innovant que Pac-Pix, Pac'n Roll n'en demeure pas moins une très bonne surprise de la part de Namco sur Nintendo DS. Le concept de la chasse aux fantômes prend une toute autre dimension grâce à l'apport du stylet, et les sensations de jeu sont excellentes. Seul souci, on progresse sans réelle difficulté et l'on arrive trop vite à la fin du jeu.

It’s a game with a ton of unlockables, but the gameplay’s not enjoyable enough to make you actually want to find all those unlockables. Lacking any multiplayer support, Pac ‘n Roll just doesn’t have any compelling reason for being on your DS. Maybe as a discount purchase, but certainly not a new purchase.

With so much in the way of fantastic games about to come out for the Nintendo DS, I can't really recommend spending much time with Pac 'n Roll. The game's very playable, but it's just not very much fun. More imaginative level concepts and a better implementation of the rolling game mechanic could've resulted in a brilliant title. However, the fact remains that Pac 'n Roll is a fine idea implemented without any real sense of imagination behind it.

Yes, there's serviceable gameplay here with enough unlockable extras to keep youngsters interested. You could give them this as a present, and they'd probably play it. They'd hate you, but they'd play it. Pac 'n' Roll proudly stands as the king of mediocrity. Not bad, not good, but just there anyway, pushed out of the door to keep the income coming. You can't begrudge the developers for doing it, and there is decent content in it, somewhere, but anyone looking for a good adventure title for the system should pass this one by.

Pac 'n Roll proves that completely unique games can still be as painfully dull as sweeping your bedroom.