Pac-Man Waka Waka is a voice-controlled game released for select Amazon Alexa-based devices, such as the Echo Show; it was developed by Doppio Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2020. The game was delisted and discontinued in November of 2023.[1]
Story[]
Upon starting the game, a sarcastic British narrator comments over a panicking Pac-Man; stating that "Pac-Man was just testing the integrity of the walls with his, uh...forehead". The narrator - later revealed to be named "Pal" - had his powers stolen by the Ghosts. It is up to the player to assist Pac-Man in helping Pal to regain his powers.
Pac-Man himself only speaks in "waka waka" sounds, to which Pal will reply "That's exactly right, Pac-Man!" or similar quips.
Gameplay[]
The player controls Pac-Man in a grid-based series of mazes. To move, the player shouts a command for Pac-Man; saying "Wiki" moves up, "Wika" moves down, "Waki" moves left, and "Waka" moves right. Just shouting the normal directions (or cardinal directions) also provides the same function, but this appears to earn the player less points. Each movement only moves one tile, so a sequence of commands is required. For each tile Pac-Man moves, Ghosts will also move, who will defeat Pac-Man if touched.
The objective of the game is to reach Pal's core at the furthest end of the maze. While the maze is filled with Dots and Fruits, eating them isn't strictly required. There is a 3-star achievement system; stars are unlocked by completing certain challenges (e.g. eat [x] amount of Fruits).
The player can also command Pac-Man to "wait"; this enters "Strategic Mode", giving the player time to plan their next move. During this period, the player can also have general conversations with Pac-Man; it is unknown how these interactions would play out.
In-app purchases[]
The game was a free download by default; however, the game had a dedicated "Waka Club" subscription service, with a somewhat ridiculous price structure of $6.99 per month.[2] Without the Waka Club subscription, the player could only play the tutorial levels and the first stages of each world.
Compatible devices[]
Due to being screen-based (whereas many Alexa devices lack screens), the game isn't fully compatible on most Alexa platforms. The official website recommends using an Echo Show or a Fire TV Cube device; it is reportedly also compatible with certain Samsung TV models. The website also states that the player can still communicate with Pac-Man on a screenless device.
Gallery[]
