Reimagining Pac-Man? Where do we even begin? Maybe toss him in “Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures” where you kinda boss him around with rocks. Weird choice, honestly. Or, hear me out, drop him into a Metroidvania jam like “Shadow Labyrinth” as a sidekick. Now that, that’s where things get interesting.
Caught a sneak peek of “Shadow Labyrinth” at PAX East 2025. Played it on a handheld Switch, trying not to envy another journo with a flashy PC setup. They tied it to an Amazon show called “Secret Level” — prequel stuff. Actual gameplay was 30 FPS on the Switch, because, well, age does that. But 60 FPS on a PC? Smoother than a jazz band on rollerskates. And hey, Switch 2 promises 60 FPS, so there’s hope.
Anyway, Shadow Labyrinth? It’s all about moving and fighting. You’ve got this Swordsman No. 8 dude jumping around like he’s training for the Olympics. Grapple points? Rails? Pac-Man transformation into this little munching PUCK? It’s a wild mix. They offered a gauntlet challenge at the booth, but honestly, who’s gonna master new moves at a crowded convention? Not this one over here.
Now, combat — big highlight. There’s this handy on-screen move list ‘cause honestly, remembering moves is hard. Attack, dodge, parry? Pac-Man becomes a giant enemy-chomper. Fluid, challenging but fair. First boss? Dead ringer for that Metroid Dread intro guy.
Post-boss munching rewards you with a new laser attack — perfect for blasting through walls. And how about those special enemies in the new zone? Couldn’t sword them. But then… aha! Colleague realizes you pump them with air like balloons. Dig Dug anyone? Spoke with a rep, and yep, there are more Bandai Namco Easter eggs sprinkled throughout. Keeping fingers crossed for a Galaga nod.
Mark your calendars: July 18. It’s coming to all the big consoles and Steam. Standard, Deluxe, and Secret Editions — last one’s got a black light for secret map reveals. Under $100 for that? Bargain.
Walked away scratching my head, but intrigued. A heavy-hitting Metroidvania with Pac-Man vibes and a nod to Bandai Namco’s universe. Sounds like a recipe for chaos, or brilliance — maybe both. Guess we’ll see when it drops.
