If you’re a fan of Pac-Man, you’re in luck. On May 9, Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs (not the catchiest title, is it?) hits PC and all main consoles. The online-only multiplayer launch is a battle royale game the place 64 gamers combat to outlive throughout interconnected mazes. It’s a chaotic use of the Pac-Man formulation that followers of the collection ought to get pleasure from.
If all of this sounds oddly acquainted, it’s as a result of the game initially launched practically 4 years in the past … as a now-lost Google Stadia unique.
Originally launched on November 17, 2020, Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle was touted as certainly one of Stadia’s key exclusives. Like so many different video games, it was practically misplaced to time when Stadia shuttered on January 18, 2023. Since it was a real unique for the service, it appeared like followers would by no means get an opportunity to play it once more. Thankfully, it’s again. And that’s excellent news, as a result of the newly up to date model is a enjoyable multiplayer curiosity that deserved a second probability.
In Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle, 64 gamers chomp by mazes concurrently and combat to be the final Pac standing. That concept could be explored later within the Nintendo Switch unique Pac-Man 99 (one other game that’s now defunct), however the concept is rather more profitable right here. The massive distinction is that gamers get extra alternatives to work together with each other. At completely different intervals, paths will open that result in rival gamers’ mazes. Players can mess with each other, stealing their invaluable fruits or gobbling up each other’s energy pellets. It’s all a bit extra tense and cutthroat than the comparatively lonely Pac-Man 99.
It’s additionally a bit extra complicated. There’s lots occurring on display, and the in-game tutorial solely explains a lot. Power-ups can seem in mazes from time to time. Some are simple, like an merchandise that freezes ghosts (and every other people within the maze) in place. Others aren’t terribly effectively defined, which may make early battles really feel a little bit hectic. Its scoring system will be laborious to determine too, because it’s not initially clear if gamers have to get the best rating to win or survive. An odd mission system that offers gamers sure duties to finish solely clutters it extra.
While there’s a studying curve right here, Chomp Champs is good enjoyable when you get a way of the way it all works. The core Pac-Man gameplay is as tight because it must be and it has a inventive means of ramping up in complexity. Anytime gamers clear a board, the issue rises. The ghost AI will get smarter and the maze turns into trickier to navigate. That infuses some rising stress into battles as the ultimate gamers might want to showcase some critical expertise to outwit each other.
My finest match got here all the way down to an extended one-on-one duel the place my rival and I spent a great 10 minutes battling it out in a single maze. I saved making an attempt to bait them into corners so I might seize an influence pellet and chomp away certainly one of their lives. It’s ruthless enjoyable, although the endgame can drag as soon as it’s down to 2 equally expert gamers who don’t die simply (power-ups like further lives drag that point out much more). It’s not essentially the most elegant model of Pac-Man, nevertheless it’s a fantastic check of endurance for professionals.
As a re-release, Chomp Champs doesn’t convey too many new concepts to the desk. It’s a reasonably stripped-down multiplayer bundle with one core mode, a ranked playlist, and a few cosmetics to purchase with cash earned from enjoying. The new model does add crossplay help, although, which ought to assist it attain a extra constant participant depend than Stadia ever might. Its $20 price ticket does really feel a contact excessive for what’s supplied right here, however there’s some strong multiplayer motion to be discovered right here for individuals who wish to dive in.
Even if it’s not a revelatory Pac-Man game, I’m thrilled to see Mega Tunnel Battle rescued from Stadia jail. Stadia’s sudden shutdown in 2023 created a real preservation disaster for video games like this. Every unique on the platform deserved to make its technique to fashionable platforms, however that’s finally as much as builders to resolve if it’s well worth the assets. In the case of Mega Tunnel Battle, I’d say the hassle is price it once you’re coping with certainly one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Here’s hoping that Pac-Man 99 can discover new life in the future, too.
Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs launches on May 9 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
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