Even after more than four decades, Pac-Man is unforgettable, the reason perhaps being the game design that’s simple. Yet, it has always offered a distraction from everyday problems without losing sight of reality, symbolised by a confusing maze through which we travel either running away from or chasing down our ghosts.
And OnePlus has managed to capture the essence on its new offering called OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Limited Edition, which is a clever way of marketing one of the best phones the company has come up with this year. It’s never easy to justify the pricing of any limited edition because it’s clearly for fans willing to pay big bucks.
The essence of the game is captured right from the moment you touch the box, which comes with a hint of the maze the game is known for. The Nord 2 is already a well-designed phone with just about the perfect weight and feel but here you have a rear panel that has a hint of the maze. Turn off all the lights and see the magic unfold in the dark.
Recently, OnePlus released a Harry Potter edition of the OnePlus Watch, which has fantastic packaging and a few wizardry touches thrown into the UI. The company has gone beyond small offerings on the Nord 2 to deliver a Pac-Man feel throughout the UI. So, all the system icons have a feel of the iconic game, right from the start-up screen and colour scheme. The UI is extremely well-tuned, something OnePlus has always been known for.
But the real magic comes through while playing Pac-Man256, which comes pre-installed. The game has the retro Pac-Man feel, packed with levels. Rest assured, you will be playing the game for hours because our obsession with the hungry, yellow circle (inspired by a pizza with a missing slice) hasn’t diminished. Drawing on Japan’s appreciation of ‘wabi-sabi’ or finding beauty in simplicity, it scored a hit even when Google turned to the video game while creating its interactive Google doodle in 2010 — a version of the game. So, it’s great to see OnePlus opting the Pac-Man theme for a limited edition of a phone that managed to win hearts with its simple but effective camera system and efficiency.
Agreed that there is no Hasselblad branding on the cameras here — available on the OnePlus 9 Pro — but that hasn’t stopped me from taking photographs using the phone. From the 50MP primary camera with a Sony IMX766 sensor you end up with clear, crisp shots. The focus is fast enough and AI could spot scenes quickly to make all the required adjustments. The presence of OIS on the main camera helps greatly. In daylight, there are zero issues and even objects at a distance appear clear while the 8MP ultra-wide lens puts in a decent performance and the level of noise is lower than on most phones. Do I like the camera? Yes. Like the design and the theme of the phone, it’s uncomplicated.
The snappy camera system on the phone is on point when it comes to colour reproduction
In the dark, the back cover glows to reveal a maze-like structure
The pre-installed Pac-Man256 game will keep you engaged for hours
There is a well-designed Pac-Man-themed back cover in the box to celebrate the game
Powering the phone is a very able MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI, which has been a great performer this year, allowing users to do almost any task seamlessly, helping which is 12GB LPDDR4X RAM (you get 256GB UFS 3.1 storage). It’s a great companion for the 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED display that supports 90Hz refresh rate, which is big, bright and the colours pop while the stereo speakers offer a good soundstage (with noise cancellation support). There is even Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection at the front and back, lowering chances of shattering the screen during drops. But this is a special edition phone, so go ahead and put the Pac-Man-themed rear panel cover that comes in the box.
Since you will be chasing ghosts a lot while playing the game, hook up Warp Charge 65 to give the 4,500mAh battery up to a day’s power in just a few minutes to ensure you and Pac-Man game are always on the move.
As a phone, it’s a trimmed down version of the OnePlus flagship device but after a few days you won’t even notice what has been left out. It’s uncomplicated and puts experience over bloatware. If Pac-Man has been the benchmark for simple game design, the phone does the same when it comes to executing a limited edition. Stress free, both the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Limited Edition and the game it is inspired by. This is one of the best innovations we have seen on a smartphone this year.
At a glance
Device: OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man Limited Edition
Price: Rs 37,999
High notes
• Excellent integration of Pac-Man
• The preloaded Pac-Man game will keep you busy for hours
• Efficient processor
• Long battery life
Muffled notes
• No wireless charging
• 120Hz display refresh rate would have been welcome on the special edition
