I think a pinball game is already retro enough on its own, so you don't really need to rely on Pac-Man characters. Maybe something else could work just as well.
That said, I really loved the combat mechanic. It felt like a great mix of retro vibes and a fresh gameplay idea. It brought back a lot of old memories, and to me, that's what retro is all about—a little bit of nostalgia.
I also loved the animations, especially how well they synced with the music on the main menu. It made everything feel really dynamic.
Great game!