Pac-Man fans have been eating dips and munching ghosts for years, and there’s no sign that our collective appetite will be satisfied any time soon.
But what happens when Pac-Man fans challenge each other to find out whose hunger reigns? This is the question we can finally answer in the field of competitive dining, raised by Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs will be available on PS5 and PS4 with cross-play on May 9. Early access will begin on May 2 for those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition.
Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs is an online-only 64-player Pac-Man game, played across multiple interconnected mazes. Eat everything in your own maze
The developer behind this title is Amber Studio, an incredibly diverse team with a passion for Pac and are excited about the challenge of bringing this gameplay to a wider audience.
In Chomp Champs, every choice made is geared towards getting more players into the action. For example, a tutorial maze was added at the start of the game to help new players get up to speed and feel comfortable. Different game modes are included so that professional competitive players and casual fans alike can find one to enjoy.
While there have been multiplayer Pac-Man games where players compete to be the last Pac standing, what makes Chomp Champs different is that you can travel to the mazes directly different and interact with other players. There are many diverse mazes like the Autumn maze, which shows how the world of Pac-Man changes through the seasons, or you can feel a bit nostalgic with the Mr. Driller.
In each match there are 64 players, each with their own maze arranged in a network connected to neighboring mazes by Mega Tunnels. Once the tunnel opens, you can take actions with your neighbor, which opens up a world of crazy gameplay possibilities.
As the match continues, the mazes with the lowest scores are gradually eliminated from the playing field. The maze border flashes as a warning, letting players know how to exit the maze before it’s too late. Each time a maze is eliminated, the remaining mazes will click together.
The development team even included a classic visual effect used here to commemorate glitch 256 from the original Pac-Man arcade game. This tells you that the board has changed and you have a new neighboring maze to explore. With the maze eliminated, players have fewer places to go, eventually bringing all remaining Pac-Man players together in a final showdown until only Chomp Champ remains.
There are seven Power Items in Chomp Champs – some are simple, easy-to-use power-ups, while others will take a bit of practice to truly master. Get more lives with Extra Lives or protect yourself with Pac Shield. Use Speedy Pac to speed up to escape danger or win the race for a Power Pellet. Use Ghost Lure strategically to set up a big ghost bite combo or lure ghosts to other Pacs. Speedy Ghost can be a double-edged sword because it makes the ghosts faster for you and your opponents in the same maze. But if players combine it with other powers, they can stay safe while leaving opponents struggling in chaos. These strategies are possible because you can hold up to two Power Items. Use them at a time of your choosing to turn the tide!
The customization system in Chomp Champs gives you lots of ways to express your personality. You can choose the indoor maze, player icon, and Pac-Man outfit to create countless unique combinations. You have a number of customizations available when you first load the game. But there’s much more to be unlocked by redeeming Tokens earned in Elimination mode.
There are also six exclusive customization items available as a pre-order bonus to our Chomp Challengers Pac and over 20 customization options available through the Deluxe Edition, including seven-day early access .
During playtests, we saw players who enjoyed eating their neighbor’s Power Pellets, stealing their Power Items, or even eating their neighbor’s Pac-Man. Others cooperate and help other players by eating ghosts and saving them from trouble! Some players really like to show off their cool customizations and funny reactions. We’ve tried to give players as many ways as possible to express their Pac-Man personality in the game.
Since the maze is interconnected, players can explore the arena, visit or check on their neighbors, and continue from there. Each match plays out a little differently, so expect the unexpected in Chomp City!
