The mainPac - Man 99mode sends player into a survival musical mode with 98 online rivals . The plot starts off just like the coin - op experience , but the difference start to seep in as metre goes on . Just like inTetris 99 , musician are throwing   obstacles around as they play , withPac - Mantrading clearing lines with chomp ghosts . The secret plan borrows fromPac - Man Championship Editionby introducing spectre trains , letting players eat ghost quickly and speed up the knockout . The   obstacles manifest as a translucent version of Pac - Man that   crush the board by slowing player down . The gameplay consist of realise as much of the board as potential while jounce between power pellet , eating ghosts , and then securing the yield to readjust the board and do it again .

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The gameplay additions are simple but efficient , adding to the classic strategy without vex in the mode of what people love aboutPac - Man . A seasoned musician would only need a few rounds to interpret the unexampled automobile mechanic and get rolling , and it palpate like their old science would serve them well in climb the rankings and accomplish victory . game feelfaster than inTetris 99 , likely due to the terminus ad quem of just a single life . That limitation can also make the game feel less in the player ’s controller . build up a tower inTetrisis a strategy that sometimes does n’t pay off , but the ghost ofPac - Manwill always catch the player eventually . In that sensation , it does n’t hit the altitude of Nintendo ’s original liberal battle royale , but it does at least capture the fun of the originalPac - Man , which is no small effort in its own right .

Oblivion Lelles shopkeeper with the docks of Anvil behind him

Those who download the biz for free will just have access to the one online mode , but there ’s more toPac - Man 99for those willing to drop on a DLC bundle . A single purchase will give participant several offline play options as well as a collection of skins base on otherclassic Namco games . The skin are the best part of the DLC ensemble , introducing young sprites for the ghosts and fruit as well as remixes of each biz ’s soundtrack . There are some deep deletion included as well , with everything fromDig DugtoToy Popgetting their due . Five of the games are judge as " Namco Classic " rather than their actual names , which is flurry for people who do n’t knowMappybut ultimately not a expectant deal .

The offline modes are less exciting than the retro tegument and ultimately feel like a way to preserve the plot in the futurity rather than anything role player will need to refund to again and again . There ’s a Vs . processor option that just replaces the online instrumentalist with bot , and the ability to host private matches via a countersign , an oft - overlooked free improver toTetris 99that makes the game very streamer - well-disposed .   There are also   a couplet of   time attack modes that drop more towards the arcade classic in term of mechanics . These can be fun briefly , but they ultimately feel like an subscript version of the originalPac - Man , which is useable in at leastfive other variations on Nintendo Switch .

Ultimately , Pac - Man 99doesn’t abide up to the instant merriment ofTetris 99 , but it’sbetter thanSuper Mario 35and serves as   a worthy addition to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription . The paid modes will be neat when the secret plan inevitably depart offline , but finger purposeless in the now . Those looking to expand their game will in all probability find more consumption out of grabbing a few skins on an individual basis than grab the whole parcel , but the costless - to - play option will be the best deal for most players .

A Helldiver with a burning Super Earth reflected in their visor.

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Pac - Man 99is usable now on Nintendo Switch as a free download via Nintendo Switch Online . Offline modes and the ability to host private matches are available in a premium DLC offer . Screen Rant was provided a codification for the full game for the determination of this review .

Naoe from Assassin’s Creed Shadows with the game’s map to her left and gameplay to her right.

Pac Man 99 Gameplay Screenshot 1

Pac Man 99 Gameplay Screenshot 2