Pac-Man World Re-Pac (Switch) Review

A Healthy Platforming Treat

The original Pac-Man World released as a 20th-anniversary celebration of the arcade classic; 23 years later and Pac-Man World is perfect for a celebration of an oft-forgotten platformer. Pac-Man World Re-Pac follows the recent trend of platformer reimaginings we’ve seen from the likes of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, translating a title from the golden age of platformers into the modern era. After such a long absence from the 3D plane, it’s finally time to see how Pac-Man performs outside the maze.

Time has definitely been kind to Pac-Man. Re-Pac’s visual overhauls have Pac-Man looking rounder and sleeker than ever before. It also helps that, unlike the original that used sprites, Re-Pac actually gives Pac-Man a 3D model. Environments have fresh new textures and models, enhancing the detail while maintaining the cartoon-like atmosphere. The presentation has also been improved with new story cutscenes, cleaner menus, and a slew of new performance options. This is a night and day difference compared to the original. That said, nothing about the visuals necessarily stands out as overly impressive. When compared to its contemporaries like Crash Bandicoot 4 or Super Mario Odyssey, Re-Pac looks noticeably budgeted, but given its price of $30 USD, that seems to be an intentional compromise. It’s a more than serviceable upgrade, but given the visual focus of the marketing, I wish they could’ve smoothed a few more corners, especially where lighting is concerned. 

Pac-Man World Re-Pac kicks off with Pac-Man’s family being kidnapped by the eternally tailing ghosts, in a plot involving the Pac-Man imposter Toc-Man. Pac-Man must then travel across six worlds to save his family and take down his unconvincing doppelganger. The plot is basic, but fits the genre quite well and gives Pac-Man a side objective outside of simply reaching the end of each stage. 

Levels are designed as a marriage of 3D linear platforming and the maze-like collect-a-thon of the arcade classic. Stages are covered in a buffet of items to munch down while traversing each landscape, taking down enemies along the way. Backtracking to unlock new doors and paths will be a common solution to progression. This mechanic is a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes levels wrap back in on themselves in compelling ways, other times the backtracking feels like a chore that bogs down the game's pace. If you’re any kind of completionist these levels will be a dream come true, but you won’t be shunned if you eat in moderation either. The big items to look out for are the galaxians which unlock bonus maze stages, and hidden keys which free Pac-Man’s family members. Whether or not you free Pac-Man’s family is completely up to the player, however, this choice will have a significant impact on the game’s finale. 

Pac-Man has picked up quite the moveset outside of the maze. His kit now includes a butt bounce to slam on enemies, a rev roll to fling himself over long jumps, a dot throw to smash nearby foes, and a flutter to correct jumps. These diverse movement options allow for creative moment-to-moment gameplay and level design, although some moves definitely get more love and attention than others. Tying everything together are controls that feel tight, fluid, and responsive.

While Pac-Man World follows a lot of traditional platformer tropes, its world themes stand out fantastically from the swashbuckling docks of Buccaneer Beach to the chaotic amusement park of Spin Dizzy. The adventure even comes to a head at a haunted mansion which is an appreciated nod to Pac-Man’s ghoulish foes. Re-Pac’s exploration is also enhanced by a non-linear overworld. Worlds are unlocked in batches allowing players to progress as they please. The cherry on top of this “Pac-Man World” is the game’s sound design. Many of Pac-Man’s timeless sound effects return alongside energetic new ones.

Re-Pac’s soundtrack has a mix of uncompressed tracks from the original, a few remixed tracks, and a few entirely new additions. There are noticeable standouts like the main title theme, “Far Out”, and a surprisingly catchy lyrical theme for the credits. The soundtrack overall is incredibly pleasing, but most songs simply fade into the environment for better or for worse. Pac-Man as a brand has stuck very close to its retro roots and iconography so it’s refreshing to see such lively and detailed environments that still manage to feel so distinctly Pac-Man.

Returning Pac-Man World players will be happy to know that the nightmarish boss fights of the original have been drastically overhauled. Re-Pac’s boss fights are diverse and creative in ways I’ve rarely seen in any platformer, each employing a unique puzzle or even a new gameplay style. The bosses immensely benefited from the ease in difficulty, but the overall lack of difficulty in Re-Pac leaves something to be desired. Playing on the game’s standard difficulty (ignoring Re-Pac’s new easy mode) I found myself stockpiling nearly 100 lives by the game’s conclusion in contrast to my multiple game-overs from my previous playthrough of the original; admittedly though many of those deaths were due to glitches and camera issues which Re-Pac fixes.

Re-Pac is clearly designed to be more approachable which I don’t take issue with, but certain aspects of the game just feel too hand-holdy. For example, if you try to jump off the intended path or skip obstacles with a trickier jump you’ll likely run into one of Re-Pac’s numerous invisible walls. Elements like this feel like an unnecessary burden on veteran players who may want to experiment more with the game's mechanics. Instead, Re-Pac’s greatest source of challenge and replayability is its high score system. Almost every action you take in a level will contribute to your overall profile score, it’s mostly just for show, but there may be a secret waiting for those that go the extra mile.

Pac-Man World Re-Pac isn’t an overly ambitious game; It’s not pushing boundaries or trying to pioneer any aspect of the genre. However, Re-Pac sticks to its modest goals of creating a fun modern 3D platformer and dramatically succeeds. If you’re looking to whet your appetite with a relaxing platforming romp you’ll be in for a treat.

SCORES

GAMEPLAY - 8/10

VISUALS - 8/10

SOUND - 7/10

CONTROLS - 10/10

REPLAY VALUE - 6/10

OVERALL - 7.8/10

Pac-Man World Re-Pac is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. More information can be found on the official website. Screenshots were captured using native Switch features. A copy was purchased by the reviewer.