Pac-Man & Galaga Dimension Review (Nintendo 3DS)

Galaga 3D Impact

Just as you might have noticed, 3D is not in the title of the Pac-Man half of the package, it stands out that 3D is in this title. The popular space shooter that gave players the satisfying experience of blasting wave after wave of space bugs is back, and the new take on this classic is more immersive and fun to play.

This version of Galaga has morphed the popular arcade game into and on-rails shooter, putting the player in a turret to blast those familiar waves of oxygen-starved arthropods. The screen of the 3DS becomes the glass separating the gamer from the vacuum of space, and through this window the bugs charge into sight, into the crosshairs, and into oblivion, assuming the player’s trigger finger is on time.

In this game, the parallax barrier technology not only works, but shines. The player must look directly at the screen, so the technology that tricks their mind into seeing depth to the action allows them to feel their instincts kick in as enemies hurtle their way, in sharp detail. The movement-based controls require the players to swing the portable console from right to left and up and down, but never off the proper viewing axis that allows the 3D effect, creating a good use of this new gaming feature.

To Sum It All Up…

Many times sequels are highly anticipated events that turn out to be utter disappointments, and the more popular the original, the more the bitterness when the audience receives a flop. This is true of movies, books, music releases, and among other examples, games. To follow up a gaming success like Galaga or a cultural icon like Pac-Man with a successful sequel can be a daunting task, and many fans of the titles expect so much to be let down they are not even giving the game a chance to get out of the starting gate. Will either of these new versions ever replace the originals in the minds of video game enthusiasts? No. Never. Not even close. But they are quality games that take advantage of new technology quite well, and bring titles loved by many into the 21st century.

And for the crowd who can never be pleased, Namco was considerate enough to include the original versions of both games in the package.

Author Note:

This was a guest post by Jared Lonzer. If you’d like to read more such posts on WoW, you can check out his blog where you can read about the latest WoW Quest Helper, choosing between the different WoW Classes and many other World of Warcraft topics.