Info about PAC-MAN™ CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2:

Official game description:
The much-awaited sequel to PAC-MAN™ CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION!  
Featuring eye-popping 3D graphics and funky visuals, the latest version of the classic game takes chomping and chasing through mazes to a whole new level!  
Make up to four ghost trains for maximum chompage!  
New modes include Score Attack and an Adventure Mode with fast fleeing fruit, big bad bosses, ridiculous remixed rules, and more!

Release date: Sep 13, 2016

Categories: Arcade, High Score Chasing, Maze Navigation, Score Attack, Action, Run 'n' Gun

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game runs well on Linux using Proton 9.0-4, with positive feedback on launch reliability and Steam Deck compatibility. There are some general performance complaints, but these are not specific to Linux.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has good compatibility with Steam Deck using Proton 9.0-4, but suffers from significant issues with Xbox controller support and lacks optimization and essential settings. The difficulty balance is also poorly managed, leading to user frustration.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community generally finds the game worth purchasing when it is on sale or at a discounted price. Multiple reviews mention buying the game on sale and recommend others to do the same. The specific mention of a fair price and the suggestion that paying more is unreasonable indicate that the community considers the game to be fairly priced at a lower range, likely below the current base price of $12.99. The phrase '3 pavos' roughly translates to $3, which is a significant discount from the current price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the game is often played in short sessions, with players typically engaging for a few hours at a time. The mention of short sessions and the lack of emphasis on long campaigns indicate that the game is designed for quick, repetitive playthroughs rather than extended periods of gameplay. The evidence does not provide strong indicators for game completion, story completion, or endgame playtime, hence those values are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game requires players to complete a mandatory tutorial and overcome a steep learning curve before accessing the core fun experience.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Completion of the tutorial and learning curve
  - Time to anchor: 0h 6m
  - Friction: Mandatory tutorial; Steep learning curve
  - Unlock drivers: Completing the tutorial; Pushing through the learning curve
  - Conditions: Patience to complete the tutorial; Willingness to overcome initial frustration
- Player Archetypes:
  - Frustrated Traditionalist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and familiarity with classic Pac-Man gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Prefers the simplicity and responsiveness of the original Pac-Man.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: diehard fans; Pac-Man fan
    - Reference games: Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+; Pac-Man 256
  - Competitive Score Chaser (buy)
    - Motivation: The thrill of high scores and competitive gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys fast-paced, high-intensity score chasing.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Pac-Man fan; hardcore pac man guy
    - Reference games: Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+; Pac-Man 256
  - Innovation Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of new and innovative gameplay mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys exploring new twists on classic gameplay.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Pac-Man fan; hardcore PAC-MAN fans
    - Reference games: Pac-Man Championship Edition DX+; Pac-Man 256


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Modern reinvention of Pac-Man (weight 0.43): This game is praised as a bold, high-energy reinterpretation of the classic Pac-Man, modernizing it with faster movement and new mechanics while retaining the original gameplay experience.
- Great soundtrack (weight 0.37): The game features an impressive electronic soundtrack that is perfectly in tune with the game's rhythm, enhancing the overall experience.
- Fast-paced and stylish gameplay (weight 0.31): The gameplay is described as stylish, fast, and frantic, offering an exciting and engaging experience for players.
- Impressive visuals (weight 0.29): The game is visually impressive with neon colors, pulsing lights, and bright arcade-style graphics that create a dynamic and engaging arcade experience.
- Casual and engaging fun (weight 0.19): The game is described as fun to play casually, engaging, and satisfying, making it a great choice for passing the time.
- Variety of game modes (weight 0.18): The game offers many modes and options, providing players with a variety of ways to enjoy the game, including different gameplay styles and music choices.
- Satisfying ghost mechanics (weight 0.1): Players find satisfaction in eating many ghosts in sequence and accumulating trains of ghosts to eat in batches, adding a strategic element to the gameplay.
- Cool boss fights (weight 0.1): The game introduces boss fights, which are described as something new and cool, adding variety to the gameplay.
- Fair pricing (weight 0.09): The game is considered to be reasonably priced, offering good value for the content and experience it provides.

Common complaints:
- Clunky and unresponsive controls (weight 0.4): Controls are described as clumsy, sluggish, and unresponsive, particularly with gamepads and joysticks.
- Forced tutorial is annoying (weight 0.35): The mandatory tutorial is widely criticized for being annoying, poorly designed, and sometimes difficult to complete.
- Nostalgia and classic mode missing (weight 0.32): Players feel the game does not capture the essence of the classic Pac-Man and lacks a classic mode, making it feel inferior to previous versions.
- Ghost train mechanics criticized (weight 0.22): The ghost train mechanics are seen as bizarre and irritating, with paths and behaviors that players find frustrating.
- Adventure mode disappoints (weight 0.2): The Adventure Mode is often described as misplaced, not fun, and disappointing, with some players finding it very strict and frustrating.
- Lack of basic features (weight 0.18): Players report a lack of basic features, proper settings, and customization options, including video and controller settings.
- Gameplay becomes repetitive quickly (weight 0.17): The gameplay is criticized for becoming boring and repetitive quickly, lacking variety compared to previous versions.
- Bombs teleport player back (weight 0.14): Bombs sending players back to the start is seen as a negative and dull mechanic.
- No cloud saves (weight 0.13): The game lacks support for cloud saves, which is a significant inconvenience for many players.
- Power pellet mechanics frustrating (weight 0.12): The revamped power pellet mechanics are found to be frustrating and chore-like by many players.
- Fruits running away (weight 0.09): Fruits running away from the player, especially in higher difficulties, is not enjoyed by players.
- Price too high for content (weight 0.07): Many players feel the game is not worth the price, considering the content and features offered.
- No windowed mode option (weight 0.07): Players are frustrated by the inability to configure the game to run in windowed mode.
- Game gets stuck on loading screens (weight 0.07): Some players report issues with the game getting stuck on loading screens.
- Visual density overwhelming (weight 0.06): The visual density can be overwhelming and contribute to frustration, especially with difficulty spikes.
- Lacks content from Switch version (weight 0.06): The game is noted to lack extra music tracks and co-op mode that were present in the Switch version.
- Lacks graphical settings (weight 0.06): The game lacks graphical or performance settings, which is a drawback for some players.
- Cheating in leaderboards (weight 0.06): Online leaderboards are polluted with cheated or fake scores, which is frustrating for legitimate players.
- Control configuration issues (weight 0.06): There are issues with control configurations, such as the back button being backspace and escape not working as expected.
- Game pace is slower (weight 0.06): The game pace is noted to be slower and less threatening compared to previous versions.
- No Chinese language support (weight 0.06): The game lacks Chinese language support, which is a drawback for some players.
- Music doesn't loop properly (weight 0.06): There is a potential bug with the background music not looping correctly.

Gameplay feedback:
- Ghost trains are central (weight 0.55): Ghosts form long, writhing trains that roam the map and must be attacked from the front. Players accumulate trains of ghosts and eat them in batches, which is a central feature of the game.
- Multiple game modes available (weight 0.35): The game offers various modes including Score Attack, Extreme mode, and Adventure mode. These modes provide diverse gameplay experiences and challenges.
- Modernized classic gameplay (weight 0.28): The game modernizes classic Pac-Man gameplay with faster movement and new additions. It retains the core mechanics while introducing new elements and achieving warp speeds.
- Ghosts require multiple hits (weight 0.25): Ghosts can be bumped multiple times and need to be hit three times to kill the player. They become 'angry' after multiple bounces, adding a layer of strategy to interactions.
- Variety in level difficulty (weight 0.2): The game offers various level layouts and difficulty levels, providing a range of challenges for players.
- Boss battles and ghost avoidance (weight 0.16): The game features boss-like ghosts and boss battles, requiring players to avoid or bounce off ghosts strategically.
- Power pellets change ghost behavior (weight 0.13): Power pellets cause ghost trains to scatter across set paths, changing their behavior and making them easier to eat.
- New mechanics introduced (weight 0.12): The game introduces new mechanics and updates to the classic Pac-Man gameplay, adding fresh elements to the experience.
- Bombs reset player position (weight 0.11): Bombs in the game send Pac-Man back to the starting point or the center of the maze, adding a penalty for mistakes.
- Fruits exhibit dynamic behavior (weight 0.11): Fruits in the game sometimes run away from Pac-Man, adding an extra layer of challenge to collecting them.
- Dynamic level changes (weight 0.11): Levels in the game change dynamically, providing a fresh experience as players progress.
- Diverse maze navigation (weight 0.09): The game features different types of mazes, requiring players to navigate and run through various maze layouts.
- Addictive gameplay (weight 0.07): The game offers addictive and new gameplay mechanics, keeping players engaged and entertained.
- Achievements and objectives (weight 0.06): The game includes achievements and objectives for players to complete, adding goals and replay value.
- Simple and effective controls (weight 0.06): The game features simple control schemes, making it easy for players to pick up and play.
- Gamepad support available (weight 0.06): The game supports gamepad controllers, including Xbox controllers, providing flexibility in how players can control the game.
- Engaging soundtrack (weight 0.06): The game features a soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, adding to the overall enjoyment.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization (weight 0.17): Many players report that the game is poorly optimized, leading to various performance issues across different hardware setups.
- Numerous bugs (weight 0.13): The game is filled with numerous bugs that affect gameplay, including issues with menus and various glitches.
- Xbox controller issues (weight 0.13): Players using Xbox controllers experience poor control response and overly sensitive controls, making the game difficult to play.
- Loading screen problems (weight 0.11): The game frequently gets stuck on loading screens, preventing players from progressing and causing delays.
- FPS and resolution settings (weight 0.1): The game lacks options for resolution and FPS settings, limiting players' ability to customize their experience.
- Frequent freezing issues (weight 0.08): The game often freezes during gameplay, causing significant disruption and frustration for players.
- Stuttering and frame rate problems (weight 0.08): Players experience stuttering and frame rate issues, affecting the smoothness and enjoyment of the game.
- Steep system requirements (weight 0.06): The game has high hardware requirements, making it difficult for some players to run it smoothly on their systems.
- Game crashes (weight 0.05): The game crashes frequently, causing players to lose progress and disrupting the gaming experience.
- Launch issues (weight 0.05): Some players report that the game refuses to launch, preventing them from playing altogether.
- Windowed mode unavailable (weight 0.04): The game does not support windowed mode, which can be inconvenient for players who prefer or need this option.
- Streaming issues (weight 0.04): Players have reported issues when trying to stream the game to another device, causing additional frustration.
- No cloud saves (weight 0.04): The lack of cloud save functionality means players cannot easily transfer their game progress between devices.
- Buffering/saving symbol persists (weight 0.04): Some players encounter a never-ending 'buffering' or 'saving' symbol, which disrupts gameplay.
- Japanese error causes crashes (weight 0.04): A specific error related to Japanese language settings causes the game to close unexpectedly for some players.
- Tutorial restart required (weight 0.04): Players have had to restart the tutorial multiple times due to issues, causing frustration at the start of the game.
- Potential BGM loop bug (weight 0.04): There is a potential bug causing the background music to loop improperly, affecting the game's audio experience.
- Loading times between screens (weight 0.03): Players experience noticeable loading times between screens, which can disrupt the flow of the game.

Recommendations:
- Championship Edition DX+ preferred (weight 0.39): Many players recommend sticking with or buying PAC-MAN™ Championship Edition DX+ instead, as it is considered superior to this version.
- Recommended for Pac-Man fans (weight 0.27): The game is highly recommended for fans of Pac-Man, especially those who are hardcore fans and have high-end PCs. It is seen as a revival of the classic series with new mechanics.
- General recommendations and tips (weight 0.16): The game is recommended, especially if it can be obtained for free. Players suggest using a joystick for the best experience and playing the first game before this one as it is cheaper and simpler.
- Recommended despite initial frustration (weight 0.08): The game is recommended for those who can get past the initial frustration and are willing to push through the learning curve.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.07): It is recommended to buy the game during sales to get the best value for money.
- Switch version for coop mode (weight 0.04): The Switch version is recommended specifically for its cooperative mode, adding a social element to the game.
- Local 2-player mode (weight 0.04): The game features a local 2-player mode, allowing for multiplayer fun using WASD and arrow keys.
- DLC content addition (weight 0.04): Adding DLC content from the Nintendo Switch version is noted, which could enhance the game experience.
- Wait for patches (weight 0.04): It is suggested to wait for patches before fully committing to the game, indicating that there may be some issues that need addressing.
- Listen to the OST (weight 0.04): Even if not playing the game, listening to the original soundtrack (OST) is recommended, highlighting the quality of the game's music.
- Skip if buying on Steam (weight 0.04): Suggests skipping the purchase if buying directly on Steam, possibly due to better alternatives or pricing.
- Ask for refund if issues (weight 0.04): Suggests asking for a refund if encountering persistent issues, indicating potential problems with the game.

Other player notes:
- Controller sensitivity issues (weight 0.08): Multiple players report problems with controller sensitivity, indicating a widespread issue affecting various types of controllers.
- Deceptive exit screen (weight 0.04): Players find the exit screen misleading, suggesting it may not clearly indicate the consequences of exiting the game.
- Switch version extra features (weight 0.04): The Switch version of the game includes additional features not found in other versions, which is noted by players.
- Community guide by Campion (weight 0.04): A community guide created by Campion is mentioned for providing workarounds, indicating that players are relying on community support for solutions.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.34): Players are frustrated due to a combination of technical issues, such as optimization problems, game crashes, and infinite loading bugs. Additionally, the game's high difficulty, steep learning curve, and changes in mechanics from previous versions contribute to the frustration. Control issues, lack of features, and mandatory tutorials further exacerbate the negative experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.21): Players express disappointment due to the game's high difficulty and unrealistic expectations. Comparisons to the predecessor highlight missing features, changes in gameplay mechanics, and a lack of innovation. Performance issues, high price, and the overall feeling of the game being a downgrade from the previous version also contribute to this sentiment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.14): Players enjoy the gameplay loop, music, and graphics, finding the game fun and engaging. The variety in mazes, different modes, and the fast-paced gameplay contribute to a positive experience. Improved mechanics, visuals, and the overall positive experience with the game and its music are also highlighted.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Players are excited by the high-energy reinterpretation and visual spectacle of the game. The dynamic and challenging gameplay, along with new mechanics and classic elements, create an adrenaline-filled sensory experience. The competitive leaderboard system and fast-paced gameplay add to the excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players find satisfaction in the enjoyable gameplay, reasonable price, and good performance. The variety of modes and levels, along with the fast-paced and satisfying gameplay, contribute to a positive experience. New mechanics and the game's status as a worthy successor to Pac-Man DX are also noted.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Players experience joy from the exciting gameplay and great visuals. The neon and clean visual design, along with the fun gameplay, contribute to a positive and enjoyable experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgic as the game brings back memories of childhood and previous games in the series. Comparisons to the first Pac-Man Championship Edition and the timeless appeal of classic elements evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Players are interested in the new take on an old classic, with new mechanics and gameplay changes. The introduction of new modes and time frames piques their curiosity and engagement.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the fantastic soundtrack and graphics. The banda sonora y gráficos are highlighted as standout features that enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Players are annoyed by the mandatory tutorial and the game getting stuck on the loading screen. These issues disrupt the gameplay experience and cause frustration.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Игроки испытывают ностальгию по классическому PAC-MAN. Ностальгические отсылки к оригинальной игре вызывают теплые воспоминания и чувство связи с прошлым.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Игроки испытывают возбуждение от скорости и динамики геймплея. Быстрый и динамичный геймплей создает ощущение адреналина и волнения.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players express enthusiasm due to the positive description of game modes and music. The engaging gameplay and enjoyable soundtrack contribute to an overall enthusiastic response.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are in awe of the soundtrack. The music is highlighted as a standout feature that enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to the complete absence of a classic mode and negative changes from the first game. These changes are seen as detrimental to the overall gaming experience.
- Exhilaration (weight 0.01): Players feel exhilarated by the act of defeating ghosts. This aspect of the gameplay creates a sense of excitement and thrill.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom as the game can become boring quickly. The lack of sustained engagement and repetitive gameplay contribute to this feeling.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the cheating in leaderboards. This issue creates uncertainty and frustration regarding the fairness of the game.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Players feel regret due to the initial avoidance of the game because of its mixed reception. This sentiment arises from the realization that they might have missed out on a potentially enjoyable experience.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players experience happiness due to the positive changes and new mechanics in the game. These improvements enhance the overall gaming experience and contribute to a sense of joy.}