As far as classic marketing tools go, “The Demo” is near the top. Whether or not I am in the market for a new game, I download and try just about every demo that exists, just to see what is out there. Fairly recently, I downloaded the demo for the most recent iteration of Pac-Man, and to be honest, I was expecting little more than a bit of fun nostalgia; I ended up completely floored at the results. The full version of Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is amazingly fun — and a terrifyingly addictive re-vamp quickly added to my permanent collection — and after several hours, I can tell you this game is going to be on my playlist for quite some time.

I played a lot of Pac-Man back on the good ol’ Atari 2600. There have been many attempts at bringing back the Pac, with very little success ... until now. A wide variety of mazes, slick visuals and a thumping soundtrack revitalize this game, and the different time trials and game modes (not to mention customization options) keep it fresh, exciting and enjoyable.

Have you heard of the phenomenon of lost time? It’s often reported by those who believe they may have been abducted by aliens, because they are in their living room at 8 p.m., and the next thing they know, they look up at the clock and it’s 6 a.m., and they have no idea where they have been or what they have been up to.

Let me put forth this theory — perhaps they were playing Pac-Man Championship Edition DX. It has been a long time since I have blissfully dissolved into the fine art of game addiction in such an intense manner, such as when I am playing this game. By turning this game into a sprint, as opposed to a marathon, I easily lose myself in repeated attempts at high scores in the five-minute time trial. (There are many modes, but this is my personal favorite.)

Do you remember what it was like to gobble up all four ghosts on one power pellet in the classic Pac-Man? Now, with careful maneuvering and a slick hand, you can make that hundreds of ghosts. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX boasts more ghosts ... a LOT more. Many of these ghosts start off slumbering, only to be woken up as you pass nearby them — and before you know it, a barely controllable parade of chaos has been unleashed inside your TV.

There are also a couple of features added to the game that add to your survivability. One the one hand, you have “bombs” you can release, sending nearby ghosts to their starting position, and then you also have a extremely brief window of “bullet time” each time you pass by or near an active ghost, giving you an extra half a second to reverse your course of action and stay alive. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like them, or if they would make the game too easy, but in these intense, high-scoring games, I happen to enjoy staying alive quite a bit.

In addition to the game itself, this might be the most satisfying and involved I have ever been involved with, in regards to its leaderboard. It is what provides me with the motivation to play just “one more time” ... every time. I don’t suspect I will ever be No. 1, but I think I can beat you, and that’s what I call entertainment.

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX only costs $10. I can’t really elaborate on this awesome point. However, perhaps my rave review is not enough to get you to lay down your hard-earned $10. I understand this — so get yourself the free demo, and THEN spend your hard-earned $10. If you enjoy the world of Pac-Man, or if you are competitive, or if you like great games, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is going to be your best return on investment for a long time.