I’m not sure that Namco Bandai should ever be forgiven for dreaming up Pac-Man Party (or Pac-Man Kart Rally 3D or Pac-Land) but the venerable Japanese publisher is at least attempting to make amends. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is the direct sequel to one of 2009’s most inspired revivals.

Much like the first Pac-man Championship Edition, the new game will retain the core traditions of the series. You’ll navigate a two dimensional maze, gobble succulent fruit and play cat and mouse with ghostly adversaries. In short, this is a genuine Pac-man game, not a cynical grab for cash.

That’s not to say that the game is bereft of new ideas. Pac-man will have access to a range of new powers and weapons, while enemy movement patterns appear to have been daringly remixed. If the hypnotic new trailer is any guide, long suffering fans of the series will be handsomely rewarded for their perseverance.

Look for Pac-man Championship Edition DX on XBLA in PSN in spring 2010.