• Publisher: Namco
  • Release Date: Aug 23, 2005

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 35
  2. Negative: 1 out of 35
  1. This is one of the most addictive games I've played in recent years.
  2. Simple to learn, easy to master, yet quite challenging to complete.
  3. This is the type of game I've been waiting for to hit the DS. Something that makes practical use of the touchscreen without sacrificing gameplay.
  4. This game does a good job in retaining its cartoony look and it does that well.
  5. If Pac N’ Roll had been on any other system, it would still have been a fun game, but the way it plays out on the DS is just magic.
  6. 80
    And anyone who's a fan of "Super Monkey Ball" or the classic "Marble Madness" should definitely give this one a spin. Or a roll.
  7. Pac 'n' Roll is a really good, fun game. And with Pac-Pix already putting a smile on our faces, it seems that Pac-Man is turning out to be one of DS's biggest stars. [NGC Pocket]
  8. It goes beyond the "gimmicky" nature of touch screen controls and provides a unique and fun experience.
  9. However the game isn’t that difficult until the very end, so more experienced gamers will be able to fly through the story mode with relative ease.
  10. It doesn’t quite measure up to current DS standards in the presentation area, but other than that, it provides a very fun, laid back gaming experience.
  11. A more fleshed out offering than Pac-Pix, and is a cut above most handheld games. It’s a competent 3D platformer with a great camera system and a well-implemented control mechanic.
  12. 76
    Pac ‘N Roll has very good pick-up-and-play value thanks to its short levels and easy to learn gameplay.
  13. The stylus control is perfectly tuned and single-swipe boosts are easy to trigger, yet quick and accurate movement gets tiring after several minutes. [Oct 2005, p.97]
  14. Unlike "Yoshi's Touch and Go" and "Kirby: Canvas Curse," I found myself growing tired of moving Pac-Man along in this fashion. Maybe I'm just lazy. [Sept 2005, p.62]
  15. 75
    One warning to potential consumers, though: The bizarrely long cut-scenes (and the baby-game story they painfully tell) will bore any gamer old enough to read them. Avert your gaze.
  16. Pac'N Roll unfortunately isn't terribly long, but the chance to go back, improve on your scores and unlock a few goodies is still worth the purchase. This is an ideal title for any fan of puzzle games or just a fan of Pac-Man himself.
  17. Pac ‘n Roll isn’t a flawless game by any means, but it does in fact offer a very unique and refreshing twist to one of the most beloved franchises in the industry’s history.
  18. The game is part puzzler, part platformer and it offers a decent implementation of the stylus and touch screen for control. Unfortunately, the novelty of the interface can wear thin, despite some different wrinkles in gameplay that you encounter over the course of the game.
  19. 70
    The tight platform skills and stylus control go hand in hand to create an intuitive, instinctive experience that challenges and entertains in equal measures.
  20. If the mechanics were applied to stronger level design, then it would plant its flag firmly in 80 territory. As it is, it remains well worth playing, but not a necessity for any DS shelf.
  21. Due to its unique gameplay though, if you have the opportunity to rent this title you should definitely do so, but there's just not enough content here to justify a purchase, unless you decide you really want to collect all of those gems.
  22. 70
    A colorful, engrossing run through one of the best "rolling ball simulators" since Atari gave birth to the idea. Some extra bulk weighs the title down and keeps it a gnat's wing away from being a true classic, but Pac n' Roll is good, clean fun for gamers of all ages.
  23. Even with a thin (even irritating) story and relatively short play time, Pac N Roll is fun in small doses.
  24. The gameplay may be too consistent (read: repetitive) for continuous play, but an hour here and there may be just what the doctor ordered.
  25. The game's very playable, but it's just not very much fun. More imaginative level concepts and a better implementation of the rolling game mechanic could've resulted in a brilliant title.
  26. Looks pretty good, but it tends to get tiresome after a few hours.
  27. I found myself playing the game simply because I had nothing better to do, not because I was particularly into it. [Sept 2005, p.119]
  28. Pac ‘N’ Roll is regrettably short and, with few rules to master, its replayability is quite limited. With the DS’s library rapidly expanding beyond minigame collections and touchscreen experiments it’s a tough sell, but as a fast, cheap diversion there’s enough simple fun in exploration to make it worthwhile. [Nov 2005, p.113]
  29. Proves that completely unique games can still be as painfully dull as sweeping your bedroom. [Sept 2005, p.114]
  30. 60
    Pac 'n' Roll proudly stands as the king of mediocrity. Not bad, not good, but just there anyway, pushed out of the door to keep the income coming.
  31. 60
    Namco definitely had some great ideas and managed to capitalize on several of them, but the lame story coupled with the troublesome burst move somewhat mars the overall experience.
  32. You have to appreciate the fluid control and decent gameplay, but the lack of depth and marginal delivery should keep it from gobbling up your cash.
  33. Though it's fine for killing time, only big "Pac-Man" fans will truly be engrossed with this game.
  34. 40
    Yet another DS title that feels like it should have been part of a larger overall game, rather than the entire focus of the product.
User Score

No user score yet- Awaiting 3 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. PaulB.
    Aug 25, 2005
    An odd little game-- it's got some solid traditional Pac-Man elements, but I get the feeling the touch-screen trackball simulation is An odd little game-- it's got some solid traditional Pac-Man elements, but I get the feeling the touch-screen trackball simulation is more a tech test (and possibly an attempt to develop a workable control method for a DS Katamari Damacy) than a fully developed game. And I agree with the review that mentioned how problematic the burst move is-- it's damn difficult to execute, and often leaves you drifting off the edge of a ramp and into the depths. But there's still fun to be had here, just not as much as in Pac-Man's recent outings for the big consoles. Full Review »