Lego Pac Man Arcade 10323 [Set Review] - Relive the Classic 80's Game

For retro-classic video gamers and Lego fans, you will surely love the Lego 10323 Pac-Man Arcade.

The latest LEGO game set PAC-MAN Arcade, is a nostalgic nod to the 1980s.

The charm of the classic Bandai Namco game is captured in this 2,651-piece buildable Pac-Man arcade machine with movable components that let you maneuver Pac-Man and ghosts around various portions of the maze.

The LEGO® Icons PAC-MAN Arcade is a retro-inspired build that combines Technic and standard LEGO® bricks in a dazzling display of eye-catching colors.
The pieces include new color themes and several black hues; this set is recommended for ages 18 and above. The set strikes a perfect balance between the joy of a Technic system and the satisfaction of good traditional Lego bricks.

LEGO turned its attention to arcade games and did that with arguably the most renowned and adored retro video game, Pac-Man.

The 10323 Pac-Man Arcade creates a scaled-down version of the classic arcade cabinet, complete with a clever mechanism inside that propels the game's protagonist and his pursuers around the maze.

Features

The LEGO Pac-Man Arcade machine is a large model, measuring 12.5 inches (32 centimeters) in height, 10 inches (25 centimeters) in width, and 7 inches (17 centimeters) in depth. The height and vibrant colors will make it stand out on a shelf.

In addition to the arcade cabinet, the set comes with big brick versions of Pac-Man, Blinky, and Clyde that can be rotated and exhibited separately or atop the cabinet.

You'll see an Easter egg secretly hiding inside the arcade cabinet. When you open up the back, you'll see a tiny vignette of a female Pac-Man fanatic having a blast at a retro arcade.

Sven Franic, the Lego set's designer, said in a statement, "This has been a cultural icon for the past 40 years. It was definitely a thrill to bring Pac-Man to life in Lego. We're always on the lookout for fresh takes on old game mechanics. For PAC-MAN's colorful mazelike environment, our creative designers worked tirelessly to reproduce the classic PAC-MAN arcade machine in Lego brick form.

Careful planning and execution yielded this one-of-a-kind LEGO model. In true video game fashion, Lego Pac-Man Arcade retains the magic of the original game while adding a playful new twist and a few surprises.

The LEGO Group's iconic yellow bricks and Pac-Man's trademark color served as the theme throughout the development of this Lego model. The set's brick-built arcade design looks fantastic and would be a lot of fun to play with.

Other features include a mini-fig-friendly side build, a rollable score counter, a rotating Pac-Man and ghost display set as a separate build atop the device, and squishable joystick pads. The coin slot effect is achieved via a clever rubber lever design. Compared to other sets, this one has a lot more versatility, and it's fun to show off.

Packaging

The packaging is largely accurate but has some inaccurate descriptions of its features. It shows the movement and operation by tiny arrows when you inspect closely, though the mechanism of this motion is not explained. The "batteries included" logo up front can confuse you. The little light brick does require batteries, but the full set itself isn't really motorized.

There are two new black Technic baseplates, and there are twenty-four numbered bags (1–14) inside the box. The characters are depicted in a wonderful, traditional style rather than simply being copied from the box cover.

The customary first notes detail the nature of the partnership between the brands. However, the fact that the game's inventor, Toru Iwatani, was inspired to choose the bright shade of yellow that is LEGO's trademark when designing the game in 1980 is just as fascinating.

There are 18 stickers included on the package, though some inaccurately printed.

Build

The arcade cabinet's components are stored in numbered bags (1–14). You must assemble it from the ground up. Using ingenious building techniques, the yellow and black facades of the side walls join together in front. Modeled using bricks, it captures the look and feel of vintage arcade equipment. It's a perfect fit for the LEGO collection, and this shouldn't be the last time you'll likely see a LEGO arcade cabinet.

The screen and the mechanism within it that moves the figures are the most complicated. It can be a time-consuming and tedious part of the build. It's constructed on two 'peg boards' measuring 19 x 11 inches. There's a new mechanism to move Clyde in the center with two chains that tie the characters strung around the maze. The Pac-Man and ghost caricatures on top can be taken off for a simpler design, but they look fantastic when left in place.

Take your time when placing these stickers because their placement will have a significant impact on the final model's aesthetic. The construction may look boring from behind, but that's because the backs of real arcade cabinets aren't meant to be seen. It came as a pleasant surprise to find that it was concealed and that its covering could be removed.

When you examine the foundation of the console, you'll have the stage to set up the base and the mechanism. There's a 2-axle rubber Technic connector that props up the 2x3 light brick. This part serves as the spring that pushes the button back into its retracted position after being released. It's good to press the button and feel some resistance from the mechanism. The one (very minor) drawback here is that the characters sit diagonally instead of in a line if you push the button all the way.

Work on the sides of the game cabinet once the base is finished. The wall has two layers: one on the inside (which is black) and one on the outside (which is yellow). This also allows the large side decal tiles to be flush installed.

At this point, halfway up the wall, you'll get the first view of the main mechanism, though it's still too obscured by the down-gearing. Something notable is happening within the walls. You'll achieve this in two places on each side by means of interlocking brackets, plates, and tiles, which bring them to a level with the wall's surface. This helps keep everything securely fastened together.

When the sides reach their midpoint, place the bracing bar across the rear. These methods are used to both strengthen the connecting beam and offer a spot to clip the "screen" into place. A bar with a stopper is pushed into a receiving half-pin within a Technic brick after passing through a pair of elements connected by a pin.

As you go deeper into this model, you'll notice that forcing bars through pins is a recurring motif. By now, you've already installed those massive tiles in their housings.

The main mechanism can make you scratch your head if you don't see a new mold in the shape of a chain link with a bar connected that's included in the package.

It must have taken a lot of iteration to get the "screen" just right. Several pins and half-pins are used in the bottom half alone as soon as construction begins. The black recoloring of the Technic baseplate and the corresponding recoloring of the 16-tooth gear, however, are far more interesting.

The game characters that will enter the maze are Clyde, Blinky, and, of course, Pac-Man. It comes along with an 1980s arcade mini-scene with gaming minifigures in there too.

It's amusing how Pac-Man and the ghosts have the ability to appear on the arcade machine replica and then make sharp turns using a complex system of gears, wheels, and beams.

You'll then have to deal with Pac-Man's insatiable appetite for the tiny pellets. There are sixty-four of them, and they can be mounted in a distinctive manner thanks to the ingenious bar-through-pin method.

This process of adding them all at once is rather intimidating. However, the instructions provide a "road map" for where you should put them.

The maze then becomes visible, though most of the random studs remain hidden. It's made up of both vintage and brand-new 0.5" and 1.3" circular plates. It measures one by four by two-inch panels to cover the entire structure.

To further define the maze, another stack of printed tiles is utilized. You now have two 22 tiles and two 23 tiles in addition to the previously mentioned 12, 13, and corner tiles.

Putting the tiles on makes the whole thing stand out. The pellets' floating-in-space appearance is achieved by inserting bars through the pins. This is undoubtedly the most ingenious facet of the arcade structure as a whole.

Clyde is the last specter that will make his way into the ring. Another clever method involves placing the component on top of a spire piece and then tiling over the slot to keep it in place.

The cherry, on the other hand, ingeniously moves back and forth in connection to it, all part of a process with the other characters, as soon as you operate it.

The back of the "screen" somewhat resembles a circuit board, though it's not as transparent as it should be. All of the primary axles have been lowered and attached to gears on the other side, using axle connectors from Technic to attach the axle that will be doing the operation. As soon as a connecting piece is added at the end, the whole thing will be able to move as one unit.

Placing the scoreboard on the "screen" is your last step before installing it in the cabinet. A black 2x6 tile with the words "HIGH SCORE 16440" is written up front. There's also "1UP" sticker on a transparent window.

Then there's a cylinder-shaped component with four decorative stickers and a rotating dial located around the back. This mechanism is not attached to the main body and feels a bit stiff, but it is useful to have.

After that's installed, the tile and plate are then used to neatly finish off the "screen" on all four sides. It's great to finish assembling the cabinet and then get to this point. The whole retro arcade machine is now starting to look great and awesome.

The internals of the joystick are made of rubber Technic pieces. There are a pair of L-shaped axle connectors securing the parts to the surrounding brick, while an axle and hub with four bars hold everything together. The front slants slightly thanks to some deft use of hinges, and there's a fake coin slot attached by clipping it in a separate assembly.

When everything is finished, this Pac-Man Lego Arcade set definitely looks ready to power up. You can complete everything with flair by adding the stickers and embellishments to the tiles.

Operation

The characters' movement across the maze is controlled by a set of chains, gears, and wheels housed inside the screen. You can access it by turning the handle on the side of the cabinet. They stick to a specific route, but their fluid motion is remarkable considering all the turns they have to make. They really can't stay upright because of the way they're being moved, but at least they spin as they go.

The model's joystick is movable thanks to four Technic 1x2 rubber dampers, but its motion has no effect because the joystick is not attached to anything.

The gears and lever arms coordinate three actions. The left-hand black gear meshes with a gear attached to the cabinet's side handle. After the heavy subassembly, secure the cabinet using bars and clips. After the construction of the cabinet's sides, begin constructing the roof.

In the real machine, the red coin slot is located much further down in the cabinet and is revealed when one of the buttons on the right is pressed.

You can adjust your score from zero to four by turning the gear wheel to the right, with a high score sticker appearing above the maze.

Completed Model

At first glance, you'll think the Lego set is a bit small, but upon further inspection, you'll realize that this is the ideal size. This model structure doesn't have to take up all of your shelf space. Even with the top removed, it's not that tall. While this build isn't really "playable" in the conventional sense, the simple mechanism makes up for it with its fun and cool features.

The fact that the crank turns in your direction instead of the other, as seen from the front, may seem backwards at first, but it's not a huge deal. The ingenuity with which all the characters move shows the magic that happens both in front of and behind the scenes. The model resembles a slot machine as soon as you add the top, a classy addition that is often appreciated for its practicality.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• A faithful recreation of the original Pac-Man arcade
• Authentic retro design with iconic details
• Fun, engaging, and challenging build
• Brings you back in time you're enjoying Pac-Man in the mall arcades
• Mechanical maze, 4-way joystick, and illuminating coin slot.
• High-quality Lego bricks, and it's sure to last for a long time.
• Great gift for fans of Pac-Man, retro video games, and Lego builders.

Cons

• The set can be a bit pricey, but it's worth the investment for fans of Pac-Man and Lego.
• Building can be a bit repetitive, but it's still enjoyable overall.
• Small interior space, which limits the detail that could have been included.

Our Take

If you spent countless hours playing the game in arcades in the eighties, you'll definitely appreciate this faithful mini copy of the Lego 10323 Pac-Man from the real machines. It's cleverly conceived, and the process of building it is absolutely fun and challenging. The model upon completion looks fantastic.

Overall, the Lego Pac-Man Arcade 10323 is an excellent building set for fans of Pac-Man, retro video games, or Lego building. It's a challenging but rewarding build, and it features a number of amazing features.

If you're one of the true fans of classic video games, you will surely find the LEGO PAC-MAN Arcade a welcome addition to your collection.

Our Rating

Light Kit for Lego Pac-Man Arcade 10323

The Lego Pac-Man Arcade 10323 is a stunning set that is sure to bring back memories of the classic arcade game. But what if you could make it even more amazing? With the LeLightGo Light Kit, you can do just that.

The LeLightGo Light Kit is a complete set of LEDs and connectors that you can use to illuminate your Lego Pac-Man arcade. The kit includes everything you need to get started, including step-by-step instructions.

The vivid and dazzling LEDs brings life to the Lego Pac-Man Arcade. The kit includes LEDs for the marquee, the screen, the ghosts, and the power pellets. You can even use the LEDs to create custom effects, such as flashing lights or a pulsing glow.

The LeLightGo Light Kit is easy to install. Simply follow the instructions, and you'll have your Lego Pac-Man Arcade lit up in no time. The kit is also compatible with the Lego Power Functions system, so you can add even more functionality to your model.

If you're looking for a way to make your Lego Pac-Man Arcade even more special, then the LeLightGo Light Kit is the perfect solution.

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With its bright LEDs and easy installation, the LeLightGo Light Kit is a spectacular way to bring your Lego Pac-Man arcade to life.

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