Following the 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System & Retro Television and the 10306 Atari 2600, LEGO has once again unveiled a new creation themed around a video game machine. This time, it travels even further back from personal consoles to the golden age of arcades. Set number 10323, "PAC-MAN," is officially announced today (the 22nd)! We at Toy People are thrilled to have had an early hands-on experience to bring this review to all you toy fans.
"A game with a theme of eating rather than killing each other might appeal to our female counterparts." This was the initial idea of "PAC-MAN" designer Toru Iwatani. Not only did "PAC-MAN" significantly change the situation where "arcades were no longer exclusively male playgrounds," as Iwatani had hoped, but its popularity can only be described as a global phenomenon. To this day, "PAC-MAN" remains one of the most iconic and successful arcade games of all time.
This LEGO "PAC-MAN" set, released under the Icons series, is designed based on the 1980s arcade cabinet. While recreating its retro appearance, it utilizes a variety of existing and newly developed LEGO parts to replicate the feel and experience of playing the arcade game as closely as possible. Features include a genuinely playable four-way joystick, a super cool light-up coin slot, and the PAC-MAN & Ghost chase scene achieved through a gear-linked chain mechanism! In addition to the cabinet, this set also includes a cleverly designed and fun PAC-MAN display piece and a small diorama with a minifigure that captures the atmosphere of an 80s arcade! So, let's get started.
▼ The packaging features the black background common to the Icons series, which clearly highlights the main subject. This time, however, it's infused with a blue gradient to better capture the video game atmosphere.
▼ The back showcases details, play features, and detailed specifications. The completed arcade cabinet model stands at a height of 32 cm and is about 25 cm long, making it a LEGO set with a strong presence that is still relatively easy to display.
▼ The side features graphics in the style of the "PAC-MAN" video game.
▼ The top shows the PAC-MAN display piece and a 1:1 scale comparison with the joystick.
▼ Inside, the contents include 24 numbered bags + 1 unnumbered bag of flat parts + two Technic panels. The bags are numbered up to 14, and the total piece count is 2651.
▼ The number of stickers is indeed a bit staggering~ and the number 2 sticker for the side is huge!!
▼ The instruction manual adopts a white-based color scheme, printed with PAC-MAN and the ghosts, giving you the visual effect of a game in progress before you even open it.
▼ Opening it up reveals the origin of the PAC-MAN game, the story of designer Toru Iwatani's initial concept, and a brief introduction to this LEGO set by its designer, Sven Franic.
▼ Now, let's start building this awesome arcade cabinet! GO GO!!
▼ Let's first take a look at this PAC-MAN cabinet from various angles.
▼ The charming joystick and coin slot. The joystick uses a silver-painted cylindrical part to create a more realistic visual effect.
▼ A soft material is used to replicate the realistic feel of the joystick, and the tactile feedback is quite good!
▼ Here's the light-up coin slot mentioned earlier. The coin slot is constructed with a transparent piece and a sticker.
▼ This is what the inside looks like.
▼ The largest sticker in this PAC-MAN set! Your editor was holding their breath while applying it. The rotatable handle on the side and the internal mechanism are truly the soul of this LEGO set, adding the perfect finishing touch.
▼ This small section is first built as a single unit, and then the other gear assemblies are precisely attached to it later. It's truly impressive!
▼ Turning the handle drives the PAC-MAN and ghosts in the maze on the front, but their spacing is fixed, so they can never catch each other. However, the play experience of making them move by turning the side handle is fantastic. The instruction manual also mentions that "making the ghosts turn smoothly at the corners without getting stuck" was one of the biggest design challenges of this set. The design team tested it mechanically thousands of times to establish a foolproof building structure. Truly admirable once again!
▼ If you don't look closely, it's not easy to spot the chain parts inside. And since that area can be seen as "where the dots have been eaten," it doesn't look visually strange.
▼ So, let's now take a look at the secret that makes this PAC-MAN machine move! First, it uses large panels full of holes as a base, upon which numerous Technic pins are installed, creating a surface that can accommodate both traditional bricks and Technic gear assemblies.
▼ Next is the chain's structural design, which uses a new part with a stud to make it possible to attach the 1x1 round tiles printed with PAC-MAN, the ghosts BLINKY & CLYDE, and more!
▼ Come on, to create all those tasty dots, 64 repetitive steps are waiting for you.
▼ A very clever gear mechanism. Once assembled and installed, it links up perfectly with the rotating handle part from before.
▼ The four score sections can also have their numbers changed by turning them (all four scores are stickers).
▼ The high score is 16440! This number appears quite frequently in PAC-MAN related merchandise. It even shows up in the game screenshot mockups in press releases from Bandai Namco. However, the perfect score for the first level of PAC-MAN is 14800. We hope some expert video game fans can help solve this mystery—what does 16440 mean!
▼ The only printed part is here. Thankfully, such a large and continuous pattern doesn't require a sticker. (Wipes sweat)
▼ Opening the back shell reveals the operation of the gear mechanism. The effort and ingenuity of the designer can perhaps only be fully appreciated by building it yourself.
▼ Inside the cabinet, there's also a compartment to place a mini arcade scene.
▼ The mini arcade machine is absolutely adorable. For years, many LEGO fans at home and abroad have been creating their own minifigure-scale arcade cabinets, and now we finally have an official one! MOC enthusiasts can take inspiration from the building technique. The minifigure's torso also has a PAC-MAN print exclusive to this set, which is awesome!
▼ The floor, infused with geometric aesthetics, is also worth learning from.
▼ Besides the eye-catching yellow cabinet, there are also a gumball machine, a round stool, and a trash can—classic fixtures of arcades back in the day.
▼ Finally, let's look at this display box that can instantly switch the roles of PAC-MAN and the ghosts.
▼ Just press the long Technic axle part at the back to activate it.
▼ Inside the display box, multiple gears are used to link and rotate the PAC-MAN and ghosts on top.
▼ And it uses rubber bands to create an awesome tactile feedback with a spring-back feel when pressed!
▼ The display box can also be placed in the space on top of the cabinet, making for a more space-efficient display!
LEGO 10323 "PAC-MAN" Review Summary:
This super cool PAC-MAN arcade cabinet LEGO set, built with 2651 pieces, is sure to hit the mark with both retro gaming fans and toy enthusiasts who love display-oriented LEGO sets. The cabinet body, with its largely smoothed-over studs, could almost be mistaken for a new video game machine at first glance. The reinterpretation of the cabinet's shape, while still retaining its retro charm, gives it a timeless look that is a pleasure to behold. It's truly an item that enhances the quality of any home display! Of course, beyond its beautiful appearance, the internal mechanism is also a delightful surprise. Lighting up the coin slot from time to time, or giving the handle a turn to watch PAC-MAN and the ghosts chase each other, is incredibly therapeutic.
The display box and the mini-scale arcade scene are also very interesting additions. The cleverness and tactile feel of the display box alone are addictive. The minifigure with its PAC-MAN themed print and the tiny arcade machine model add even more collectible value to this set. Personally, this editor feels that while there are a few too many stickers for this price point, the overall set is just too incredible. My wallet belongs to you again, LEGO.
LEGO® 10323 PAC-MAN
MSRP: NT$8,799
Total Pieces: 2,651
On June 1, 2023, LEGO VIP Members can enjoy Early Access for purchase. It will be officially released on June 4 at LEGO Certified Stores (Taipei Far Eastern Xinyi A13, Banqiao Mega City, Taichung Top City, Hsinchu Big City SOGO).
