Pac Pix (Nintendo DS)

One review stated that Pac Pix was a good idea, but basically a big tech demo rather than a game. I have to disagree with this - sure, Pac Pix is a one trick pony, but it is quite a trick, and much more involving that a similarly simple DS game, Mario & Yoshi.

Drawing your Pac Man, arrows or bombs is a brilliant concept, well executed, and a lot of thought has obviously gone into making the controls as intuitive as possible. Just as well, as a few reviews have mentioned, it does get very difficult very quickly.

While the graphics are simple (this is in keeping with its 'scribbled' theme and look), they really need to be with so much going on on-screen, and complement the game perfectly.

The game does have a few flaws - its horrendous difficulty level, and the slightly repetitive nature of the game, however, what is Pac Man if not repetitive? However, the player never gets bored seeing the Pac Man they have drawn themselves, come to life, and the addition of arrows and bombs adds an extra twist.

Works best as a quick pick up and play title, after the initial novelty wears off (this itself will take some time), with a quick burst here and there, it'll definitely be one that you'll want to keep in your collection. Highly recommended.


Pac-pix great as a 1st ds game   September 13, 2005
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

I got my nintendo ds a few months after it was released, and after reading loads of reviews, it looked as if pac pix would be a great game to get so i got it.
the game gives you a nice pleasant intro and gives you an easy to get your head round tutorial showing you how to draw pacman and guide him around.
when you play the actual game, it is quite hard and considering it has no difficulty level choice, it shocks you at how hard it actually is.I got this game in june and i am only on chapter 10 of book 1 and i am quite an average gamer.if you take it to seriously, you will most probably lob it across the room so just have short bursts of playing it and then you will ease into one hell of a gaming experience.

Conclusion- if you like games that seperate themselves from the crowd,like me, then buy this, but do be warned it can get challenging.


Technical marvel wrapped in a game   July 21, 2005
Mr. B. Murden (UK)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

Pac-Pix was one of the most impressive pieces to be demonstrated at the Nintendo booth of E3, allowing the player to draw their own Pac-Man and watch him come alive as he animates and gobbles ghosts just like he always did.

The basic idea hasn't changed an awful lot since then, though many new objects can be drawn that aid in solving various puzzles. Arrows, for example, can be drawn and will project themselves in the direction they're facing, popping ghost bubbles and activating switches on the way.

Pac-Pix is reasonably challenging, and can be even more so if in a moving vehicle (however, this is more a generic stylus problem than one associated entirely with Pac-Pix.) The stylus and dual screens are used to great effect, and this is a perfect demonstration of the potential of the DS. However, that's precisely what it feels like for the majority - a tech demo.

Despite the impressive nature of the technology, there isn't too much actual game here to really showcase it. As such, Pac-Pix comes off as a technical demonstration wrapped in a game.

Summary
An excellent idea let down only by the game that surrounds it.