Celebrating the iconic Pac-man’s 30th birthday, Namco Bandai have released Pac-man Party, a game set in the theme of a birthday party, now available all throughout North America exclusively for the Wii. Namco have described Pac-man Party being as “something for the entire family” and having “chock-full of non-stop action as players use their Wii Remote™ and reflexes to compete against one another across unique virtual game boards.”
Here’s Namco’s official press release:
“Since his 1980 debut, PAC-MAN still reigns as one of the top pop culture icons globally with the franchise spawning hundreds of products that provide engaging entertainment for people of all ages. PAC-MAN Party continues this legacy by offering a game that captures the spirit of the franchise and the hearts of its players. Featuring more than 50 exciting mini-games and eight characters to choose from including newcomers Woofa, Patra and Roger, players will be fully immersed in fun filled time-based trials. From dodging a cascade of blocks, to racing and sports challenges, there is non-stop action for everyone.
Depending on a player’s mood, they can select three modes of play. Story mode provides the opportunity to explore all the game board worlds and protect Mr. Cookie’s secret recipe. Mini-Game mode offers a quick fix for those who want the sudden rush of competition without the commitment. Party mode has up to four friends competing across different boards to collect the most points. Raising the stakes a bit more, property can be strategically developed on any given space which can increase wealth and provide the quickest route to victory. However unlike traditional board games, if someone lands on a spot that is already occupied, players will have to fight for ownership via challenges.
To help level the competitive playing field and encourage big comebacks, Power Cookies can be utilized during each mini-game to increase a characters size or put extra force and speed behind each effort. But the party doesn’t stop there. As an added bonus, PAC-MAN Party also features a Classic mode where players can experience the original arcade versions of PAC-MAN®, Galaga® and Dig-Dug®.
To further promote PAC-MAN’s 30th anniversary, PAC-MAN Kart Rally™ recently launched on mobile devices, including Java, BREW, RIM and Windows Mobile. The game combines fast-paced racing action with 10 beloved iconic Namco characters, including PAC-MAN®, Taizo Hori from DIG DUG®, the Prince from Katamari Damacy®, Susumu Hori from Mr. Driller® and the Fighter from Galaga®, to name a few.”
Happy birthday, Pacman!