PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs Review – Nom on Those Dots 

Can you hear the sound of nom nom because the iconic yellow ball of unending hunger returns in PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs – the expanded version of 2020 Google Stadia title of the same name…well, except without the “Chomp Champs” at the back.

This entry of PAC-MAN sticks to its classic roots, basically eating dots in a maze, running from or chasing down ghosts, and scoring points. What sets this title apart from classic PAC-MAN is that up to 64 players can play at the same time, with all players beginning in their own mazes before more areas get unlocked. Essentially, this is a multiplayer PAC-MAN title.

To spice things up, the title splits into Elimination and Ranked, with slight differences in gameplay between the two, but keeps the victory conditions the same. Do you enjoy battle royale? Well, the Elimination Game is conducted in a battle royale format, where the last player alive wins.

Meanwhile, Ranked is self-explanatory and is unlocked once you reach level 10. To win, you have to rank yourself in the top 32 in a match, and points are awarded based on the final rank in a match. As you accumulate enough points, you will be placed at higher tiers, starting with the lowest rank Bronze, then Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and eventually Chomp Champ. While you can drag some friends into Elimination games for some friendly chaos, Ranked is exclusively solo.

This new competitive element to the classic PAC-MAN gameplay adds a lot to the familiar maze action fun, spicing things up with increased tension as everyone battles it out. Now you are not facing only the pesky ghosts chasing you down but also trying to score the highest to crown yourself as the most gluttonous yellow ball of chomps.

Maze of Yummy Dots 

Elaborating further, we know how the PAC-MAN formula works, but the classic gameplay has been spiced up more with new elements to consider. Now in the maze, there are circular teleportation gates that players can take to travel around. Additionally, players can also travel to other mazes and encounter other players. There is a timer to these gates, counting down to lock down them from blue to red glow.

Aside from the classic power pellets that reside at the corners of each maze, there are power items that appear periodically from the teleportation gates. Blue items benefit us, while red items bolster the enemies and make them more dangerous. These items are activated automatically when eaten, but you can also save them for later use with a click of a button before eating.

The power items include extreme speed acceleration on either players or ghosts or perhaps gaining extra life to withstand a death blow from the spooky ghosties. There are also shields or ways to attract ghosts for high-risk high-reward combo opportunities, changing the way we approach the all too familiar PAC-MAN.

Tasty Tasks and Fashionista Ball 

Further separating itself from the classic are the tasks that may appear during Elimination and qualifying match battles. These tasks allow players to earn more coins and experiences during settlement, pushing their score higher.

Some tasks may have you use power items in the opponent’s mazes, or swallow two opponent PAC-MAN whole like a cannibalistic maniac. Most of these tasks would require you to interact with other players, so even if you don’t invade other mazes, your opponents may come knocking and cause disturbances in your homely maze.

Aside from gameplay changes to the classic formula, you can also customize your own PAC-MAN for some personal touches. That is right, there is dress-up in this game for your gluttonous ball of nom nom. New clothes for your PAC-MAN can be bought with coins earned from participating in matches.

Not only do you get to dress up your PAC-MAN for a runway show, but you can also decorate a maze with themes, from classic to seasonal, to even festive ones like a Chinese New Year one or perhaps silly concepts such as sushi decorated labyrinth.

PAC a Punch 

All in all, PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is a multiplayer fun time that spices up classic gameplay with new elements, although you may not be binge-playing for long as outside of these new toys, the game can be repetitive. By saying this, I mean that there are no new additional modes with fresh multipliers or conditions that push PAC-MAN beyond what we know of – eating dots, running from or chasing down ghosts, and scoring points

Unless you are crazy about PAC-MAN or looking for a multiplayer PAC-MAN experience, this game is just that, another PAC-MAN on the shelf of many other PAC-MAN. As it stands, PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is a decent reimaging of a classic, with multiplayer shenanigans and some new elements, but not enough twists to maintain its freshness.

PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Review code provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia.

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