When you think about giving Pac-Man a makeover, there. Are. Options. Seriously, it’s like choosing a pizza topping combo—endless. You could do something wild like “Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures.” You know, where you subtly steer him around by hurling rocks? Yeah, not my fave. Or consider a daring twist, make him just another character in a Metroidvania game called Shadow Labyrinth. That’s a way cooler route.
Anyway, I was at PAX East 2025, and they had this preview of Shadow Labyrinth. I got my hands on the Nintendo Switch version while this other guy was on the PC. It actually ties into an episode of the Amazon show Secret Level, so if you’re a plot nerd, give it a watch. Quick note: on Switch, it runs at 30 FPS. Not thrilling, but we’re talking about old tech. On PC, it’s the smooth 60 FPS. Honestly, smoother gameplay elsewhere but hey, they said it’ll be 60 FPS on the Nintendo Switch 2.
So there I was, getting my game on. Platforming was all about jumping, hopping, and dashing. And check this out—you could turn tiny and, yep, gobble pellets while avoiding those pesky buzz saws. There were some challenging bits they were eager to show, but convention isn’t the place for skill honing. I like to be alone when I’m trying to not suck.
Combat packed a punch too. There’s a move list ’cause you will forget which button does what. Attack? Check. Dodge? Check. I even turned Pac-Man HUGE for epic chomping. Reminded me of that big dude in Metroid Dread. Anyone else see that? Parrying was oddly satisfying.
After smacking down the boss, I got a laser attack, which was neat ’cause I needed it to blast through a wall. Then came the maze part, and my friend figured out you had to puff up enemies like in Dig Dug—what a trip! Confirmed: other Bandai Namco games will show up in various spots. Fingers crossed for Galaga.
Circle July 18 on your calendars. This gem’s dropping for Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam with various editions. Heard there’s one with a black light map—sounds wild, right? Pricing’s all over, $30 to $60.
Walking away, I’m intrigued. Somehow this dark, eclectic mix of Bandai Namco nods just fits. And hey, any game vibing off Hollow Knight’s gotta be one to watch.
