Pac 'n Roll

Pac 'n Roll
Developer(s)Namco
Publisher(s)Namco
Director(s)Takahiro Okano
Producer(s)Nobutaka Nakajima
Designer(s)Tadashi Iguchi
Masata Yanagi
Programmer(s)Hiroshi Kajita

Masakazu Yorifuji
Toshihiro Kushizaki

Yohei Miura
Artist(s)Aiko Shimosako
Composer(s)Etuso Ishii
Yoshinori Kawatomo
SeriesPac-Man
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: July 28, 2005
  • NA: August 16, 2005
  • EU: October 28, 2005
  • AU: November 3, 2005[1]
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Pac 'n Roll[a] is a 2005 platform video game developed and published by Namco for the Nintendo DS. The game features a 3D Pac-Man that players control by rolling him through the playing field using the touchscreen. Transformed into a ball, Pac-Man embarks on a journey with his fairy companion, Krystal, to rescue his friends from Golvis and the ghosts.

The game was originally released in Japan on July 28, 2005, with releases following in North America on August 16, 2005, in Europe on October 28, 2005, and in Australia on November 3, 2005.

Gameplay

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The objective of Pac 'n Roll is to maneuver Pac-Man to the goal plate at the end of the stage, while collecting Pac-Dots and avoiding ghosts. The player controls Pac-Man via the touchscreen by swiping him to roll around in the specified direction. Striking the screen will let Pac-Man perform a dash attack, which lets him break crates open and move faster.

Pac-Dots are spread throughout the level, and are needed to open Golvis Gates, which prevent the player from progressing without a certain number of Pac-Dots. Ghosts wander across the levels. If a ghost hits Pac-Man, it will have to be shooed off on the touchscreen; failing to do so will result Pac-Man gradually losing health until his life bar is fully depleted. Pac-Man loses a life if he falls off the course, or loses all his health. Power Pellets can be collected to allow Pac-Man to eat the ghosts. Pac-Man can also eat chocolate bars to give him special attires, such as transforming him into a heavy knight and giving him a winged cap. Eating the Knight Chocolate gives Pac-Man knight attire, which increases his weight; making him fall faster and more difficult to move, but lets him break metal crates and lets Pac-Man walk underwater. The Wing Chocolate gives Pac-Man a winged cap, which lets him fall slower, allowing him to fly for short distances. The standard chocolate reverts Pac-Man back to his normal state.

Pac 'n Roll features six worlds, with each world (except the sixth and final world, which only has one stage) consisting of 4-6 stages. At the end of every world is a boss battle with Golvis. These levels take place on a narrow path, with Golvis chasing Pac from behind. Pac-Man must eat 3 Power Pellets, and hit Golvis three times to defeat him.

Completing a level unlocks extra versions of said level, including time trials and challenge modes.

The game also features a special world known as the "Pac-Moon", which is unlocked after clearing specific levels. The Pac-Moon consists of 3 special stages: the first stage is a direct port of the original Pac-Man with customizable settings (which, unlike the main game, uses the buttons for control), the second stage consisting of a stage seen at the game's E3 demo, and the third stage consisting of a 3D recreation of the original Pac-Man maze.

Plot

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Taking place during Pac-Man's youth, Pac-Man spends a summer at the home of Pac-Master for training, to fight the ghosts in Pac-Land. During his training nights, Pac-Man experiences a dream where a shadowy ghost chases him in a dark neon alley. During Pac-Man's training, Pac-Master's family goes to the Power Pellet Harvest Festival with Pac-Man. The Ghosts, plotting a way to put an end to the Pac-Family, decide to summon the legendary rock and roll-loving ghost named Golvis; a ghost considered too powerful that the ghosts eventually sent him to space. At Castle Pac, the Pac-People celebrate the large crop of power pellets being harvested, until the festival is interrupted by Golvis' arrival. In an attempt to save the Pac-People, Pac-Master consumes a Power Pellet to scare the ghosts. While the other ghosts turn blue, Golvis remains unaffected. Golvis and Jack, his sentient guitar, cast a spell on the Pac-People, which transforms them into balls, and kidnaps them all. Before Pac-Man is sucked in, Pac-Land's guardian fairy, Krystal, stops Golvis and saves Pac-Man.

With Pac-Man being the last member of the Pacs yet to be captured, Pac-Man travels across Pac-Land to save the Pac-People from Golvis: Pac-Baby, Pac-Master's wife, Pac-Dog and Pac-Girl. After saving Pac-Girl, Golvis attempts to strike Pac-Man from his UFO; Pac-Man and Krystal give chase to Golvis to his UFO and defeat him one last time. Reigning victorious at the end of the battle, Pac-Man and Krystal escapes from Golvis' crashing UFO alongside Pac-Master. With Golvis defeated, Golvis' curse on the Pac-People is broken; restoring the Pac-Man and his friends back to their original forms. The people of Pac-Land hail Pac-Man as a celebrity for his heroic acts.

Golvis, Jack and the ghosts eventually end up stranded in the unknown ocean. The ghosts condemn Golvis for his actions, while Jack reveals that the reason why he was sent away into space was primarily due to his clumsy personality.

Pac 'n Roll Remix

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Pac 'n Roll was re-released on to the Wii in 2007 as part of Namco Museum Remix; it is renamed Pac 'n Roll Remix and instead of the controls using the touch screen, it uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuk.[2] The story is also removed from this version of the game and the DS version's "Ghost Land" world is replaced with a new world titled "Golvis's Hideout". The Wii version's final boss is also different from the DS version's final boss. This version also doesn't include collectable gems, time trials, challenge stages, the "Pac-Moon" world, or the original Pac-Man.

In North America, this version was also re-released again in 2010 as part of Namco Museum Megamix, also for Wii.[3]

Pac 'n Roll Remix is included in Pac-Man Museum+, which was released on May 27, 2022. This version uses basic controls instead of motion-based controls.

Reception

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Pac 'n Roll received mixed to positive reviews. In Japan, it sold 15,268 copies by the end of 2005.[10]

Legacy

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Various tracks from the game would be used in GREE's Pac-Man Monsters.

Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: パックンロール, Hepburn: Pakku n Rōru

References

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  1. ^ Van Leuveren, Luke (November 7, 2005). "Updated Australian Release List - 7/11/05". PALGN. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Aaron, Sean (12 July 2009). "Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  3. ^ IGN Staff (16 November 2010). "Namco Museum Megamix Now Available for Wii". IGN. Archived from the original on 13 April 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Pac 'n Roll for DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Bettenhausen, Shane (August 30, 2008). "Pac 'N Roll Review". 1UP.com. IGN. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Walker, John (October 19, 2005). "Pac 'n Roll". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "パックンロール (DS)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  8. ^ Colayco, Bob (August 22, 2005). "Pac 'n Roll Review for DS". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Harris, Craig (August 22, 2005). "Pac 'n Roll". IGN. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Game Search (based on Famitsu data)". Game Data Library. March 1, 2020. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
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