Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC Review – A Nostalgic Feast

Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC Review

Pac-Man is in the midst of a resurgence. From the critically acclaimed Secret Level episode that introduced a darker take on the yellow icon to his appearance on the track in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Namco is pushing its mascot back into the spotlight. After Pac-Man World received the makeover treatment in 2022, fans suspected it wouldn’t be long before the sequel followed suit. The sophomore release has been given a shiny upgrade, though the real question is whether it can truly compete in today’s 3D landscape.

After the mythical Golden Fruit is stolen from the village by those pesky ghosts, Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde, a supernatural spirit unleashes havoc, plunging the world into danger. With the environment corrupted and wildlife driven mad, you must head out in search of your foes to reclaim the fruit and restore peace to the beloved land. It’s a simple premise, but one that leads you to new locales that serve up some strong 3D platforming.

Straight Ahead

Pac-Man World 2 features linear levels packed with fruit and dots for you to collect. Slight deviations and small tasks on your journey will reveal hidden fruit, giving reason to explore every nook and cranny. Each item is tracked and linked to missions per level, which reward you with costumes once completed. This adds a nice incentive to scour the area and replay levels to dress up the yellow blob in all manner of fun attire.

Controlling Pac-Man is a joy thanks to the tight, responsive controls. Although his move set feels familiar, the thoughtful design of levels takes full advantage of his abilities. You can butt-bounce to stun enemies and reach higher ledges, lob pellets to strike from a distance, and deliver a lethal kick on your quest to reclaim the sacred fruit. The game also nails a sense of speed and momentum, largely thanks to Pac-Man’s ability to roll. Ramps and downhill segments are cleverly placed to let you build up pace and blaze through stages. Once you’ve cleared a level, a time trial mode unlocks, putting all your traversal skills to the test as you hunt for the most efficient route. With rankings tied to your performance, it becomes surprisingly addictive, encouraging repeat runs to shave off precious seconds.

Like many 3D platformers of its era, judging jumps can often feel imprecise, leading to some frustrating moments. Bandai Namco tackles this with the clever addition of a marker that shows exactly where you will touch down. It’s a simple, unobtrusive feature that dramatically improves the flow of play, allowing you to enjoy the game’s cozy charm instead of wrestling with clunky mechanics.

A Familiar Feeling

Each region is themed, following conventions of the genre. From rich, dense forest areas to slippery, ice mountains, Pac-Man World 2 plays it safe with its theming. Each world includes specific mechanics tied to that specific region, making memorable gameplay segments. Whether you’re bouncing off trampolines through the trees or skating on the ice, there’s something to make each area different from the last. This adds a great level of variety to the experience as you drift further from the norm as you delve deeper into the game.

Tying these areas together is the hub, which includes an array of characters that you can interact with in order to learn more about the charming world. Although you can find collectibles and spend what you’ve earned in levels, the highlight comes from playing modern iterations of the traditional maze games. In the arcade, you unlock different levels, which vary the formula to make a fresh version of the classic. It’s a great way to pay homage to the original while taking the character down a new path.

One new addition is a light two-player mode. Though limited in scope, it gives younger or less experienced players a chance to join in by controlling a Pac-Drone that can gather items and fire from a distance. It’s not true co-op, but it works as a simple way to involve others. While it’s not a feature I’d personally use, it’s a welcome option for families, especially those with younger kids or siblings. The developers have also introduced an easy difficulty setting to further broaden accessibility, making the game more approachable for newcomers.

Lookin’ Good!

The graphical enhancements help to add character to the world and characters. Bosses in particular look excellent, brimming with personality, whereas some of the general fodder you fight on your journey lack the same level of creativity. However, assets are clean and there’s a nice layer of polish to each element. While it still clearly looks like a game from the era, it’s a strong upgrade that preserves and updates the adventure.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a fun platformer that recalls the many great titles of its era. The introduction of new mechanics helps each region feel distinct, even if the overall design remains conventional. This remake adds thoughtful quality-of-life features that enhance the experience, though not enough to warrant its price point. Still, it’s a charming adventure that offers plenty for both newcomers and returning fans, and a nostalgic reminder of a time when the genre truly thrived.

***A PS5 code was provided for this review***