Ms. Pac-Man (MD, 1991)
Graphics-6.5 Sound-6 Control-8 Challenge-9/?* Story-4
Level Design-7 Frustration-7.5/?* Fun-7/7.5?* Originality-5
Overall Score-7
*2-player
+
Some optional gameplay additions (2-player co-op/vs/alternating options, speed booster/pac-booster option (always on or toggled), 4 different maze modes (arcade, "strange" - adds minor deads and large rooms here and there, big, mini); same additions as in the NES ver.)
Difficulty options (4 levels)
Fast paced and eventually pretty intense
Selectable starting level out of the first 7 from the get go (then whatever you've reached after a game over)
The enemy AI still holds up pretty well
Minor visual improvements (mainly for the sprites), cute cutscenes in-between every other level (skippable)
+/-
The booster makes the game easier at first but pretty soon vulnerability periods and ghost speeds become really fast (some ghosts Become faster than your avatar)
Steep difficulty curve
Collectathon (100% every level)
Very forgiving hit detection when it comes to ghosts touching you
One hit kills
-
Repetitive (more so in arcade maze mode where each maze layout repeats three times) - they could've added more Obstacles/hazards/enemy types to some maze modes
Only 3 continues (normal and easy) - it seems you gain them over the course of the first few levels but I'm not sure how it works
Pretty basic sound and no option for in-game music
No "level begins" jingle plays after the first one - emulation issue?
Notes:
-Made for three button controllers - Need to boot while holding the mode button on a six button controller for it to work properly
Level Design-7 Frustration-7.5/?* Fun-7/7.5?* Originality-5
Overall Score-7
*2-player
+
Some optional gameplay additions (2-player co-op/vs/alternating options, speed booster/pac-booster option (always on or toggled), 4 different maze modes (arcade, "strange" - adds minor deads and large rooms here and there, big, mini); same additions as in the NES ver.)
Difficulty options (4 levels)
Fast paced and eventually pretty intense
Selectable starting level out of the first 7 from the get go (then whatever you've reached after a game over)
The enemy AI still holds up pretty well
Minor visual improvements (mainly for the sprites), cute cutscenes in-between every other level (skippable)
+/-
The booster makes the game easier at first but pretty soon vulnerability periods and ghost speeds become really fast (some ghosts Become faster than your avatar)
Steep difficulty curve
Collectathon (100% every level)
Very forgiving hit detection when it comes to ghosts touching you
One hit kills
-
Repetitive (more so in arcade maze mode where each maze layout repeats three times) - they could've added more Obstacles/hazards/enemy types to some maze modes
Only 3 continues (normal and easy) - it seems you gain them over the course of the first few levels but I'm not sure how it works
Pretty basic sound and no option for in-game music
No "level begins" jingle plays after the first one - emulation issue?
Notes:
-Made for three button controllers - Need to boot while holding the mode button on a six button controller for it to work properly
