Honestly, I never thought I would play Pac-Man World again, especially in 2022, almost two decades after I first picked it up from my parents’ pile of video games. I absolutely loved the game growing up. Got a chance to play Pac-Man World: Re-Pac, the choice is a no-brainer. Now, after playing the game for a few hours, I’m no longer sure.
The games are different, and not in a good way. It’s easier to play, looks great, and is almost exactly how I remembered it. But something – some distinct sense of charm – was missing. Am I reminiscing about the game through rose-tinted glasses? Are my tastes simply changing? Or is the remake really an inferior product to the classic platformer?
There are many schools of thought when it comes to how companies should remake the game. It’s no surprise, given the fact that it has become part of an essential industry over the past decade. Square Enix with Final Fantasy VII Remake The series took the opportunity to completely redesign the game from the bottom up, blurring the line between reboot and remake. Other companies, like Capcom with Resident Evil rework, do it againcan largely keep the layout or mechanics of the old level, but with minor changes to the plot.
However, when compared with these titles, Pac-Man World: Re-Pac almost feels like a remaster. The level layout is almost identical, save for a few changes to the boss battles (most notably Krome Keeper). The location of practically every fruit, every button, every steel ball booster and every Galaxian Collectibles are unchanged. Pac-Man’s animations, attacks, and moves are all quite similar to its PlayStation predecessor. And aside from some quality improvements, even the sound effects and theatrical themes are the same, for better or for worse.
Here’s a video comparing the animations of the two games, powered by YOYO-DODO from YouTube:
When it comes to new additions and quality of life updates, there’s less than what I’d expect for a game of nearly two decades. While in mid-air, Pac-Man can wiggle his legs for longer periods of time in the air, making airport maneuvers less complicated. Steel orb power-ups will respawn and there’s also a switchable ease mode to make things even easier. Along with graphical and user interface updates, Pac-Man World: Re-Pac noticeably easier to play than its original version. The game’s 4K resolution and high-quality textures also make levels look sharp and clear, although it’s hard to judge it when the camera’s angle of view is always fixed.
On the other hand, I am disappointed by some of the important changes that Bandai Namco has made. For example, classic mode is now locked after completing Mission mode. Arguably the scariest change is that the game’s trailer cutscene has been completely recreated, but with meaningless lines instead of actual dialogue. On top of that, the new cutscene removes any references to the five world bosses you fight in the game and removes the Toc-Man showcase party scene altogether. While the change may seem small, players who haven’t played the original game may find it a bit confusing why you’re suddenly fighting a flying ship at the end of the first area. The most disappointing change, personally, is that Pac-Man is no more his dramatic scream.
Pac-Man World: Re-Pac It’s a solid game, and I’ve rarely encountered any game breaking bugs during my gameplay. It’s faithful to the original game, almost to a fault. At the same time, it doesn’t recreate much of the out-of-date, out-of-the-ordinary humor found in Pac-Man World. For someone who doesn’t own an active PlayStation anymore and wants to experience the game again, it might even be worth $30. But if you really want to play the game, your money could be better spent simply buying a used PlayStation 2 and a copy of it. Pac-Man World. That way you will at least be able to play Pac-Man World 2also.
Pac-Man World: Re-Pac available to play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S and Windows PC.
