Game #18 – Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

Publisher: Namco

Developer: Namco

Platforms: PSN/XBLA

When released in 2007, the oriignal Pac-Man Championship Edition was unlike anything that had come before it. It totally changed up the way you played Pac-Man, as well as provided one of the most competitive experiences out there for the Xbox Live Arcade. Three years later, we get a sequel/update – Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, and it's even better.

DX changes up the game even more drastically, by focusing greater on ghost chains. As you unveil more of the map, you'll be spawning sleeping ghosts. Moving Pac-Man past them wakes them up, and will start following him. Once you've attained a long enough chain, you eat a Pac-Pellet and then you turn around to devour your chain, resulting in a speed increase, a massive points jump, and one of the most satisfying game mechanics yet.

In addition – there's a tonne on offer. There's 10 maps, multiple game modes on each map – and each and every mode and map has a leaderboard, giving you a tonne of competition opportunity. And hell, if you have friends who are as addicted to Pac-Man as you are, be prepared for some showdowns.

Pac-Man CE DX is one of those games that offers a lot, gives a tonne of competition opportunity and obscenely addictive. Sure, it might be easier than the original game, but when it's as fun as this, who cares?