Nintendo DS

Pac-Pix

Pac-Pix is a shining gem of what the Nintendo DS can and should be offering. Enough of these GBA spillover titles. Give me original ideas that use the stylus if you want me to keep my DS battery charged.

Overall, Pac-Pix isn't the longest or best game on the Nintendo DS, but it serves as a great place to appreciate what the DS can do. With Pac-Pix and other games like WarioWare, Kirby: Canvas Curse, and Yoshi Touch & Go, it's obvious that the Nintendo DS is an innovative and fun way to play video games. I just hope that developers start putting more of a story behind their (extremely fun) gimmicks.

Back at last year's E3, Pac-Pix was easily one of my ******** concepts for the Nintendo DS platform, but even when it was revealed I was a little hesitant about the idea panning out into a full-fledged product for the console. The final release of Pac-Pix is similar in idea to what Yoshi Touch & Go ended up becoming: an arcade-style throwback where high scores rule over the now-common beginning/middle/end gaming design. It's a lot of fun, but you have to get through the frustration element of your drawings failing for no other reason than they weren't perfect enough for the software to recognize. And though 12 levels don't sound like a whole lot of gaming, good luck getting through chapters 10, 11, and 12 -- these are some of the toughest challenges you'll come across on the Nintendo DS.

Pac-Pix is a really unique spin on the Pac-Man franchise. Even though it can get frustrating and challenging at times, I think that you will find it to be pleasant to play and a nice change of pace from many other games out there.

Kaum ein Videospielheld kann auf eine so lange Erfolgsgeschichte wie Pac-Man zurückgreifen. Der kleine, gelbe Münzfresser kanns einfach nicht lassen und gibt nun auch auf dem NNTENDO DS den Geisterjäger zum Besten. Altes Spielkonzept, gewürzt mit innovativen Ideen und PAC-PIX war geboren. Mal schauen wie gut Pac-Man den Sprung auf den DS überstanden hat.

Honestly, I saw a brief demo of this game at last year's E3 and didn't really pay it any mind. At first glance, it seemed to be little more than a cute gimmick to showcase the DS's touch screen features. Well, that's why we actually play the games, people.

Es ist immer wieder erstaunlich, zu welchen designtechnischen Höhenflügen ein so einfaches Instrument wie ein Touchpad die Entwickler treiben kann – selbst das vollkommen simple Pac-Man-Spielprinzip gewinnt so eine ganz neue Seite. Jedoch: Nach der anfänglichen Euphorie ob der gestalterischen Möglichkeiten (»Fullscreen-Pac-Man, muahaha!«) kühlen die Flammen recht schnell ab – im Laufe der 60 Levels stehen euch nur immer mehr Geister bei immer weniger Zeit im Weg, was den Spielwitz natürlich ein wenig erschöpft, zumal keine Mini-Games oder Mehrspielermodi die Langzeitmotivation aufrecht erhalten, außerdem ist die Zeichenabfrage nicht immer zuverlässig. Aufgrund des sympathischen Ambientes, der cool umgesetzten Idee und der einfachen Bedienung ist Pac-Pix für Knobel- und Malfreunde dennoch sehr empfehlenswert.

Once all is said and done, there's next to no replayability factor for Pac-Pix. There's really no need to go back and challenge a chapter you've already completed, and once beating the game, Pac-Pix may indeed grow a nice dust layer on top. We suggest at least hiring Pac-Pix because it can be very entertaining for a day or two. Overall Pac-Pix is a great innovative game with huge potential for a successful sequel if Namco learn to master the art of longevity, multiplayer, and diversity.

Pac-Pix uses the DS's hardware well, but lacks the addictive quality of a truly great masterpiece.

Si j'osais, je vous dirais que Pac-Pix est une tuerie ! Sans exagérer, et malgré un a priori bêtement négatif sur ce jeu, j'ai trouvé le concept absolument génial. L'idée n'est pas seulement originale, elle est ingénieuse et participe d'un plaisir de jeu énorme lorsqu'on découvre ce titre. Maintenant, il est vrai que le soft chancelle un peu sur le long terme, mais il comptera pour longtemps parmi les jeux les plus étonnants de la Nintendo DS.

It's not too surprising that a DS game would be novel and slightly lacking in substance; nor should it be shocking that a Pac-Man spin-off is creative but unfulfilling. What you might not expect is that Pac-Pix possesses those negative qualities in smaller quantities than usual -- on the balance, it's more involving than disappointing. Sure, it's no Ms. Pac-Man... but what is? Like so many DS titles, Pac-Pix is a game that deserves to be experienced; unlike many of its peers, though, you just might come away from the experience satisfied.

Den Helden selber zeichnen, das ist für Euro-Zocker völlig neu: Der originelle Mix aus Malprogramm und Geisterjagt fordert Euren Grips mit außergewöhnlicher Spiellogik und das Geschick mit gewitzter Koordination. Wer den Helden schlampig zeichnet, vertrödelt kostbare Zeit. Zum Glück hat Namco einen hilfreichen Tutor eingebaut, der Euch den korrekten Schwung beibringt - trotzdem klappt die Erkennung nicht immer optimal. Der einzige Spielmodus geriet etwas schlicht, führt Euch aber behutsam in die einzelnen Spielelemente ein. Um mit verschieden großen Helden zu experimentieren, ist "Pac-Pix" immer wieder für eine Runde gut. Im Vergleich zum Geschicklichkeits-Kollegen "Polarium" vermisst Ihr aber Rätsel-, Survival- und Zweispielermodus.

Voilà une nouvelle version de Pac-Man que nous ne sommes pas prêt d’oublier, grâce au fun procuré, à une durée de vie plutôt impressionnante pour un Pac-Man et à une difficulté bien croissante tout au long du jeu. On regrettera quand même l’absence d’un mode multijoueurs, ce qui aurait pu permettre de procurer encore plus de fun. Une seule chose à faire, courrez l’acheter !

The core idea is very cool and unlike anything else on the market. Unfortunately, the game wrapped around that idea isn't nearly as inventive.

Pac-Pix redouble d'efforts pour nous montrer de quoi il est capable mais ne se transcende jamais. C'est simple d'emploi, vraiment étonnant mais au final, on y revient rarement. La faute à une progression trop linéaire et répétitive, sans doute. Reste le fun qu'il procure, bien présent et idéal pour une petite partie dans les transports en commun…

"Pac-Pix" is a cute little game where you just have to draw Pac-Mans' with your own stylus. Gameplay is here but the action might become a bit repetitive after a while. The short levels are well designed and original. Namco has been clever to add something special to their DS version of Pac-Pix, drawing PacMans with your stylus and it works very well. Pac-Pix is worth buying if you're a Pac-Man gamer or wants something original and refreshing but in the end ... it may wear off since it's a bit too short.

Pac-Pix is fun while it lasts, but like the title character’s insatiable appetite, you will be hungry for more. It needs more levels, more objects to draw, and a few alternate play modes to make this game worth penciling in for most puzzle game fans. There’s also no reason why the original arcade game couldn’t have been “pac-ed” onto this cart, perhaps with the ability to guide the character with the stylus instead of the directional pad. As it stands, Pac-Pix is an entertaining diversion for a few hours, but its long-term value is more than a little sketchy.

Pac-Pix was always going to struggle to be more than a cute little concept game that showed off how cool the touch-screen idea was, and so it has proved. For a few hours it's a really entertaining diversion that's unlike anything we've seen before. On the basis of originality and freshness alone it's worth top marks, but the problem that almost everyone has had with the game is that, like many novelties, it soon wears off. If you can track Pac-Pix down for a low price then it's worth checking out if you're looking for a completely unique handheld gaming experience, but otherwise we'd suggest checking out some of the other far better DS titles with superior longevity. Nice try Namco, but next time we'd like a tad more variety, thanks.

There's no doubting that Pac-Pix is a cool concept. That, however doesn't automatically translate into an immediately playable game, and the worst strike against Pac-Pix is that the charm and shine wears off very quickly indeed. Rather like Yoshi Touch & Go, Pac-Pix only offers long-term challenge to gamers who like high score challenges, rather than something with narrative plot or particular game depth. That's not a cardinal sin for a portable title, though, and the fact that any unlocked "Page" of levels can be tackled on a whim does make it a good title for playing in short bursts.

While Namco has wisely included a grading system, the difficulty leaves a lot to be desired and the game will take next to no time to complete. Granted, there are some amusing extras (the neat Sketch Book spring to mind) but there simply isn't enough here. It's definitely a title that needs to be experienced, but whether it should sit proudly on your gaming shelf is less certain.

If you play your games in short bursts, whether on a bus ride to work or on a break, this game isn't going to wear you down. If you're the type that enjoys a solid game time before going to bed, you won't spend too many nights with this. It's a concept that deserves exploration, and the idea doesn't deserve to die. It simply needs to be surrounded by a deeper game.

There's no doubting that Pac-Pix is a cool concept. That, however doesn't automatically translate into an immediately playable game, and the worst strike against Pac-Pix is that the charm and shine wears off very quickly indeed. Rather like Yoshi Touch & Go, Pac-Pix only offers long-term challenge to gamers who like high score challenges, rather than something with narrative plot or particular game depth. That's not a cardinal sin for a portable title, though, and the fact that any unlocked "Page" of levels can be tackled on a whim does make it a good title for playing in short bursts.