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Above is Rizal Park rendered like a Pac-Man maze. You can actually play Pac-Man using the Rizal Park as a maze, thanks to Google and its idea of an April Fool’s joke.
Google maps rolled out a gamified version inspired by the classic ‘80s game, turning real city streets into a Pac-Man maze. Go to Google Maps. On the lower left side, you’ll see two squares: One for the Satellite view feature and another for the Pac-Man game. Look for an address and then click on the Pac-man square.
You use cursor keys to direct the famous gobbler in roaming the streets. The ghosts are ever present, as couple of cherries and of course the pellets for Pac-man to gobble gobble.
Except for a few major roads like Buendia Avenue, Ayala Avenue, Julia Vargas, and portions of EDSA — yes, just portions of EDSA — you’ll have go specific in looking for areas to play the Pac-Man game. So search for landmarks instead of streets.
Below are 15 areas in Metro Manila where you can enjoy — or stress over — Google’s April Fool’s Joke. Because, my goodness, look at Buendia possibly the hardest area to play and navigate. Two-way traffic, narrow streets, plus rotundas are recognized here. Good luck with that!
1. Buendia
Using the cursor keys to navigate Buendia’s narrow grid roads is challenging! Check out the dead-ends and the rotundas plus two-way traffic!
2. San Juan
The long and winding roads around the San Juan Gymnasium is terrible. The warp exits and entrances are quite surprising, too.
3. EDSA-Mandaluyong
It’s not lacking cul-de-sacs and rotundas.
4. EDSA-QC
Making a right or a left, up or a down can get confusing in this area of EDSA-QC — much like in real life!
5. Shaw Boulevard
It may look simple but see that loop in the middle? We wasted so many lives trying to get through that.
6. Ayala CBD, Makati
The sheer breadth of Ayala-CBD is enough to confuse you. But this also makes it fun to play.
7. Roxas Boulevard
It will be the narrow streets that will kill you in Roxas Boulevard. Because they sure killed us.
8. Rizal Park
Watch out for deadends and two-way traffic.
9. Intramuros
Again, the loop in the middle killed us.
10. Ayala Alabang
Look out for sudden two-way traffic and the confusing exits/entrances.
11. C-5 Eastwood
Somehow, the pesky ghosts are able to turn the simple lay-out of the C-5 area into a real trap.
12. Marikina
The narrow streets are hard to navigate on cursor.
13. Pasong Tamo, Makati
The number of pellets make Pasong Tamo look difficult but it’s actually rather fun and kind of easy to play!
14. Julia Vargas, Pasig
Easy-peasy.
15. QC Memorial City, QC
For a petiks-good time.
