Released: 2006
Publisher: Namco Networks America Inc.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Wacca wacca wacca wacca wacca... without any shadow of a doubt this has to be the ultimate old school arcade game. It's kept me amused for years with it's simple yet hectic gameplay. But can such a classic actually work on the iPod, without a joystick?

Out of all the arcade classics, the 1980 original Namco Pac Man is surely the first choice addition for every self respecting iPod owner.

I must have bought this game 5 or 6 times now in one format or another and it never fails to amuse!

All the characters are there, Blinkey, Pinkey, Inkey & Clyde not looking a day older than when they first hit the gaming scene over 25 years ago.

The iPod version is little different from the original although there are a few additions in the games options which I can not recall being present in the other versions I am familiar with.

The game comes with three modes, Normal, Original and Easy with the speed of play differentiating between the three. In addition to this, the game will allow you to enter straight back in at a particular stage (so long as you have already reached that far) when you start a new game.

This makes reaching the higher, more elite stages of the game more attainable although perhaps they were being too generous when they also decided to add a re-credit option (up to 3 times) at the Game Over stage.

The game plays well on the iPod although you will quickly notice that any heavy handedness of the clickwheel is not for the best way of controlling our little yellow friend. Instead, gentle, light touches with swift removal from the clickwheel work well although this is not always possible when excitement gets the better of you.

All in all an excellent addition to the iPod phenomenon.