Pacmania 3D represents one of the latest from Namco's back catalogue of arcade games to hit the mobile phone platform. The game is a fairly faithful port of the arcade original, but this is both a blessing and a curse as far as the game itself is concerned as Pacmania 3D falls prey to a few different issues in and of itself. However, Pac-man enthusiasts who were big fans of any and everything Pac in the '80s will certainly enjoy what this game offers.

For those not in the know, Pacmania 3D is basically a re-tooling of the original game that Namco released in the arcades in the late '80s to mixed results. The game was presented from a slightly-slanted isometric view and featured detailed sprites, as well as a few different abilities that Pac-man could now perform, like jumping. However, the deviations from the original in terms of look and gameplay were exactly what turned away many hardcore fans of the original. The isometric view made it so you couldn't see the entire playing field, an unnecessary frustration which almost serves to add a challenge element. Unfortunately, the jumping ability makes the game very easy and defeats the overall Pac-man feel of the experience.

The game's graphics were a bit of a sore spot for the original game, not because they were bad or anything, but because they tampered with the look of the beloved original game. The same holds true for the game today, as the game still looks pretty good, but the revamped visuals may turn off hardcore fans. Soundwise, Pacmania 3D fares much better, with tight sound effects and music that stays true to the original, probably more so than anything else in the game.

Good news: Pacmania 3D is just as it was in the arcades. Bad news: Pacmania 3D is just as it was in the arcades. The game will be as you remember it on the mobile phone as it was in the arcades, but it still is a sub-par arcade variant on the original classic.

Gameplay: 6.5
Pacmania 3D is just like it was in the arcades, which is both a blessing and a curse. The isometric angle makes it so you can't see the whole playing field and the jumping ability makes things a little too easy.

Graphics: 7.5
The graphics are bright and colorful, and look very sharp on the mobile phone screen.

Sound: 8.0
The game sounds very good, with nice sound effects and music

Difficultly: Easy/Medium

Concept: 7.0
Pacmania 3D is a good port of a forgettable entry to the Pac-man series.

Overall: 6.5
Love it or hate it, Pacmania 3D is just as it was when it released in the arcades in the late '80s.