The subsequent sport I wish to put ahead for Worst Videogame Title 2024 is PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs. I imply, simply have a look at it. PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle is pushing it a bit of, the unique identify of the sport when it launched on Google Stadia in 2020. However the Chomp Champs suffix provides actually nothing other than a crick in my jaw every time I attempt to try to say all of it within the one breath.
As a result of the sport identify does such a horrible job indicating what it’s, permit me. PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is the most recent battle royale PAC-MAN sport which, by my calculations, is a minimum of the fourth PAC-MAN battle royale sport on the market. This nonetheless, is the primary one to return to Xbox.
You sq. off towards 63 different PAC-MANs/MEN doing what the long-lasting character does finest: consuming pellets and chasing down ghosts. The twist right here is that your opponent’s mazes will be visited by travelling by means of portals when open. Of their mazes, you too can eat pellets and ghosts, however you too can EAT OTHER PAC-MEN. PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Cannibal Champs would have been a way more appropriate identify.
Because the variety of members reduces, so does the variety of mazes. You’re by no means wandering aimlessly round a maze on the lookout for ghosts of pellets, all the pieces is condensed down properly.
Issues rapidly get frantic as nicely, however with out lowering the enjoyable. You begin with three lives, however as you progress extra will be discovered by means of power-ups. There are additionally missions to undertake all through; these aren’t important however can earn you some further factors. They vary from issues like consuming ghosts of pellets in an opponent’s maze, to inserting a bounty on the pinnacle of one other participant so that you can search out and eat. That’s you probably have any further human gamers towards you.
It’s extremely unlikely that you’ll have a full foyer of 64 precise gamers, even with cross-play enabled. Areas are stuffed with AI opponents, and more often than not you’ll be taking part in towards them within the two predominant modes, Elimination and Ranked.
The distinction between these modes? Completely nothing. Ranked mode unlocks after you hit Degree 10 in Elimination mode however these two play identically, apart from Ranked mode being hypothetically extra aggressive. Offering you discover a human opponent.
Ranked mode is supposedly going to supply seasonal rewards, however herein lies the most important drawback with PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs. You’re in all probability considering this appears like a enjoyable free-to-play title, however it’s a premium launch. And an expensive one too, costing £15.99 for a sport that’s offered as a freemium title. And there are additionally further DLC packs containing outfits and customisation choices.
The issue with the AI is that you’ll rapidly realise they don’t have a lot talent. Video games will probably be over pretty rapidly and a variety of the time I’ve gained by default fairly than having a showdown with an opponent on the ultimate maze. The odd instances that has occurred although have been a blast; tense affairs the place you possibly can go early and devour energy pellets to catch your opponent out, or bide your time and hope they get caught quick between ghosts. Generally I really feel that PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs could be higher with extra gamers beginning on fewer mazes, to make these nice moments extra commonplace.
I’m not all the time comfy bashing on a sport for its value, and can solely achieve this when obligatory. However PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs presents itself as a free-to-play title. One have a look at the primary menu, though this seems to be like probably the most primary and inconsiderate UI I’ve ever seen, will inform you. There’s a store the place you possibly can achieve entry to a really restricted quantity of customisation choices, and the promise of seasonal rewards. And, I can’t consider I’m about to say this, however it is a sport that may have benefitted from a Battle Move, or some sort of development system. Other than levelling up and incomes cash, there isn’t a means to progress and unlock extra issues. It’s painfully primary, and this will probably be detrimental to the long-term efficiency of the sport.
Your customisation choices embody hats, glasses and outfits in your PAC-MAN. Nevertheless, many hats and outfits can’t be worn collectively, with the outfits overlaying up most of your PAC-MAN.
You too can buy new themes in your maze, however with so few accessible at launch, you’ll frequently see the identical ones again and again. Whether or not extra are to be added over time stays to be seen, however I’d anticipate them to solely be within the type of paid DLC in any case.
Above all else, nonetheless, PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is enjoyable. The gameplay of PAC-MAN is timeless and remains to be the predominant function right here. Something further options add to it fairly than dampen the enjoyable. And if all you’re after is one other trendy tackle the core gameplay, it is a worthy buy.
These on the lookout for one thing a bit extra, an entire expertise, will probably be left upset by PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs. There’s one sport mode cut up throughout two ‘completely different’ mode sorts, no actual sense of development, an archaic menu and easily not sufficient right here to maintain followers taking part in long-term.
And on the value PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs has positioned itself at, that actually is just not ok.
