Following the actual Pac-Man Championship held in New York, Microsoft have today confirmed the existence of a Pac-Man sequel, developed by none other than the game's original creator Toru Iwatani.
Pac-Man Championship Edition will be released as today's 360 Arcade game, and will cost you 800 points. New features include HD visuals (as is the norm), the fact that the stages change shape during gameplay, a Championship Mode, two Challenge Modes, and three Extra Modes.
The Championship Mode was "designed especially by Mr Iwatani for the Pac-Man World Championship", with only the idea of getting the high-score within five minutes in mind. The two Challenge Modes, however, set a time limit of ten minutes and change some elements. The "Patience and Reward Course", for example, will limit your power pellets but provide more normal pellets for high scores, and "The Darkness Course" puts Pac-Man in a spotlight, disabling you from seeing the ghosts.
"Extra Modes 1, 2 and 3 are named "The Freeway Course", "The Manhattan Course", and "The Overall Course". In "Freeway" both Pac-Man and the Ghosts travel at warp-speed for advanced players in a five-minute session. "Manhattan" is based on the New York district, again timed for five minutes. "Overall" combines elements of all the other modes - a ten minute marathon for the best of the best."
If all of that isn't enough Pac for you, then don't forget there's still Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man to be downloaded for 400 points each too.
