Customer Reviews

Jakks Ms. Pac-Man TV Game

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is a great game system to pick up and take with you on a trip. I use this on call with an old tv with mono input av jacks. This gaming system has MS. Pac Man, Pole Position, Galaga, Mappy, and Xevious, all classic arcade games. Ms Pac Man is true to the arcade, and has the feel of it as well with this controler. Pole position is the closest I've seen to the arcade version, with the joystick turing as a steering wheel (very neat). Mappy is an interesting game of an mouse trying to nap a cat on the loose in a museum. Galaga is a lot like space invaders, with more difficult ships to blow up, and xevious places you behind the helm of a spaceship flying over land, blowing up enemies (a lot like tiger heli for nintendo). very cool system, great value from around 6-12 dollars. Worth picking up. Much better than some games available today. Four AA batteries, then plug and play, Family friendly!!!

OK, you need to be aware that there are 3 different versions of this game.

The first version was packaged in a plastic shell, and says 2004 on it. It does not support Jakks GameKeys.

The second version was packaged in a cardboard box, and says 2005 on it. It does support Jakks GameKeys and says so on the box.

The third version (and current version) is packaged in a plastic shell, and says 2006 on it. It does not support Jakks GameKeys.

I only care about Ms.Pac-Man, and had read some reviews that said the controls weren't very good in Ms.Pac-Man in the first version of the game. Since it uses an 8-directional controller (since one of the other games supports diagonal directions), and Ms.Pac-Man supports only 4 directions, there can be problems if you move the stick diagonally.

I've also read that the later versions made the controls better in Ms.Pac-Man. I've only played the second and third versions of the game, and indeed I did not have any problems controlling Ms.Pac-Man.

But I did notice a problem with the third version. Sometimes the image on the screen would move to the right and then snap back to the center, or the image would just be totally screwed up (like a really old TV whose antenna wasn't adjusted correctly). I did not have this problem with the second version. Maybe it was just a defective unit; I do not know if the problem occurs for all third versions.

The GameKey feature on the second version might seem cool (it is a cartridge slot that lets you play additional games). But I'm pretty sure that Jakks does not sell the cartridges separately (they are packaged with certain games, although none is included with the Ms.Pac-Man game, unless you were lucky enough to find the WalMart exclusive version of the second version of the game a couple years ago). And the GameKey cartridges are locked to a specific game. So if a GameKey cartridge came with the SpongeBob TV game, then you cannot put it into the second version of the Ms.Pac-Man game. Additionally, Jakks appears to have abandoned the GameKey feature, as their latest games do not have a GameKey slot.

The first and second versions of this game have been phased out, but there are still some stores around me that carry them.

Last thing: I don't like how the Jakks games require you to use a screwdriver to open up the battery compartment.

This joystick is a wonderful blast from the past. It plugs in easily to any tv and was a great attraction at our last party. I got it for my husband for his birthday and it was definitely the gift of the year! Everyone wants one...

I used to play Galaga forever in the arcades when I was 12. When I plugged this in and played it I couldn't put it down all over again! I have Playstation, I have XBox, I love video games. But there's nothing like going back to the basics. My six year old and three year old ask me to play it all the time. The fun is not lost on them even though they play games on the computer and on the Playstation, games with far more detailed graphics and storylines. Truly a bargain.

DO NOT BUY THIS!!! I got a plug and play for christmas, and was really happy. I could already envision myself playing Ms. Pac-Man hour after hour on Saturday night. So when I ran over to the T.V., I pluged in the cables, turned it on, selected Ms.Pac-Man, hit the joystick down... Ms. Pac-man goes up, right into an awaiting Blinky.

I don't know why, but this control is extremely flimsy. You go up, the charachter goes down. Turn the car left, takes about five seconds, and when it does, it collides with a car trying to pass you. Ms Pac-Man is horrific, especially. I can't even go pass one screen before falling in to the clutches of a ghost.

So don't buy this. Bad controls, mainly. Don't waste your money. Trust me.

I got this for a few friends for Christmas. I also have 2 of these for myself. This is the second version of the plug and play MS. PacMan. The second version has upgraded graphics and is more visually pleasing (not that there was anything wrong with the first version). I have noticed that the joystick is glitch-y. It seems to be fickle and difficult to direct at times. Sometimes it seems to have a mind of it's own and refuses to respond to the player. I love Ms. PacMan. I think the first version was a little more reliable in terms of joystick responsiveness. After I bought the second version, I reverted back to the use of the first version just because the joystick has greater sensitivity and responsivity in the first model! In any event, it is still a great game! I bought the A/C adaptor to decrease battery use, however I have yet to figure out exactly how to install the A/C adaptor, even after trying multiple times to install it.

I think this game is great. I remember playing it at the arcade in the early 80's. My sister and I were addicted to it. After a while it faded away and we missed it. My daughter bought me this game and I was so like a kid again. I am enjoying it to the hilt. It is definately worth the money that it cost, which was surpisingly inexpensive. I recommend it highly, especially for those who remember it back when.

Very portable, inexpensive, quality product. Plays just like the arcade and is just as difficult so you wont get bored of it quickly. Get more than one because it is an excellent gift idea and you wont want to part with yours, it's that good!

I bought this for my wife because she reeeaaallly wanted one since seeing it at a brick-and-mortor retail shop for much, much less than I had to pay online thanks to my foolish procrastination. Of course I had to take it for a spin. Here's what I found.

Simply put: Good idea. Terrible execution. The joystick ruins this thing. It makes a simple game like Ms Pack-Man very frustrating. I also find it ergonomically uncomfortable to use. It's unlikely I'll touch this thing again until my wife tells me she's beat my high score.

Our son got this for Christmas, but we're playing with it as much if not more than he is!!! The only problem we're experiencing at this time is the cost of replacing the batteries! We keep going through them so much because we can't seem to put the thing down! Stock up on a ton of those double A's if you get this. Your going to need it! Fun! Fun! Fun!