Introduction
Basic information
Developer Name: Bandai Namco/ Now Production
Full Name: Pac-Man World Re-Pac
Release Date: August 26, 2022
Released on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
Seeing Pac-Man World return with a fresh coat of paint was a surprise I didn’t know I needed. The moment I loaded it up, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. While the game is clearly targeted toward a younger audience, its crisp presentation and tight gameplay easily carried the experience. It’s the kind of game that doesn’t ask too much of you, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you want. There’s something refreshing about a short platformer that doesn’t overstay its welcome, but still manages to feel complete.
Story and setting
Plot overview
The story is simple, Saturday morning cartoon-style fun: Pac-Man’s family has been kidnapped by Toc-Man, and it’s up to Pac to travel through six themed worlds to rescue them. It’s lighthearted and barely more than a setup, but for a game like this, it works perfectly.
World building and immersion
There’s not much character depth, but Pac-Man’s little cutscenes and interactions bring a sense of charm. Each rescued family member adds a fun twist, and the villain is cartoonishly goofy in all the right ways.
Character development
It’s not emotionally deep, but it does strike the right tone, fun, familiar, and a touch nostalgic. There’s a small smile when you rescue each family member, and that’s more than enough.
Emotional impact
The game balances light-hearted humor with moments of genuine emotion. Whether it’s the joy of a successful jump or the frustration of a failed mission, the game manages to evoke a wide range of feelings without ever becoming too serious. It’s a feel-good experience that leaves you smiling.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 6.5
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
This is where Re-Pac succeeds most. The controls are tight and responsive, and the remake adds helpful tweaks to improve level design and player flow. Pac-Man’s basic move set, jumping, bouncing, rev-rolling, and pellet-blasting feels good, and each level introduces something new to play with. Boss fights are simple but enjoyable, and the game’s tone never tries to be anything it isn’t.
Classic 3D platforming with light combat and exploration. The mechanics are easy to learn and satisfying to master.
Difficulty and balance
Fair and forgiving. This is an ideal entry level platformer for younger players or anyone looking for something that offers low stress.
Pacing of the game
The levels move quickly and consistently introduce new ideas without dragging.
Innovation and uniqueness
Not much new here, but the tweaks from the original game add value. The addition of improved camera controls and streamlined progression is welcome.
Controls and user interface
Extremely polished. The controls feel much better than in the original version. Menu navigation is snappy and clear.
Microtransactions
None, and it’s refreshing.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 7.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The visuals strike a perfect balance between modern clarity and classic style. The bright, cartoonish art design gives each level its own personality, and the enemy animations are full of life. The design is clearly aimed at children, but it retains enough of its retro charm to appeal to older fans too. It is clean and colorful. The redesigns of characters and levels maintain the spirit of the original while feeling at home on modern hardware.
Technical performances
No performance issues to speak of. The game runs smoothly with consistent framerates and short loading times.
Environment and design uniqueness
Each of the six worlds has its own identity, pirate ships, space stations, factories, and haunted houses. The variety helps keep the short runtime interesting.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 7.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The music and sound effects are cheerful and fitting, though not exactly groundbreaking. The soundtrack matches the tone of each world, and classic Pac-Man sound bites are scattered throughout. It’s upbeat and pleasant, but not particularly memorable.
Sound effects quality
The iconic chomping sounds and quirky enemy effects still feel satisfying.
Voice Acting
Minimal voice acting is used—mostly grunts and short expressions, but it’s enough to give characters some personality.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 6.5.
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
Replayability is limited. While it’s fun to go back and replay a few favorite levels, the game is short and straightforward. I completed it 100% in a matter of days, and beyond collecting everything once, there’s not much reason to return. It’s not a game built for depth or replay value, it’s about enjoying a fun ride once.
Extra Content
Around 5–7 hours for a full completion run. It was a bit too fast, and I only had to look up one secret. There are some bonus levels and a few minor unlocks, but nothing extensive.
Replay value
Low. Once you’ve seen it all, you’ve truly seen it all. Here is a screenshot before I found the final secrets hiding in this game.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Pac Man World Re-pac with a 6.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
Include the original version as an unlockable bonus. Also, offer a few extra challenge stages or time trials to encourage replays.
Comparisons
Fans of Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series or Super Lucky’s Tale will feel right at home. It’s simpler than Crash Bandicoot, but smoother and more consistent.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
While going through the levels, I kept thinking of how much I wanted Pac-Man World 2 and 3 to get the same treatment. The second game, especially, holds a dear place in my heart. It reminded me of being a kid, standing outside a game store with my grandpa for hours to snag one of the last available copies—back when you had to physically wait in line to get games early. Those moments came flooding back while playing this. It’s a small game, sure, but it gave me a big smile.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Pac Man World Re-pac, I give it a personal rating of 7,5
Last words
Pros
- Polished platforming
- Faithful to the original
- Bright and cheerful presentation
- Smooth controls and camera
- Kid-friendly design
- Varied level themes
- Enjoyable boss battles
- No bloat, no filler
- Strong sense of nostalgia
Cons
- Very short runtime
- Low replayability
- Simplistic mechanics
- No extra challenge modes
- No major innovations
- Doesn’t include the original version
Pac-Man World Re-Pac is a bite-sized platformer that does exactly what it needs to do, and nothing more. It’s fun, accessible, and polished, and for longtime fans, it’s a nostalgic joyride. While it may not have lasting appeal, it’s a warm reminder of simpler gaming times. Here’s hoping Pac-Man World 2 is next.
FINALÂ RATING
7
Please let me know what you think of Pac Man World Re-Pac in the comments!
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Looks interesting.
It looks like a good game to enjoy in a day!
I liked how the review didn’t just praise the game for nostalgia, it actually looked at what works and what doesn’t.
I agree with your review, very simple but nice game, great for kids 🙂 Graphics and style is very good..
I vaguely remember renting this game when I was young. It seemed like a fun enough game, and based on this review, it sounds like you kind of feel the same!
Thanks for reviewing this one! 😄
Nice remake of Pac-Man World. So many memories!
Sounds like a very mediocre game. The kind that you play when you don’t know what to play, and you forget anything that happened within it, except for maybe some annoying things you encountered. ^^;
The classic story of boy chases ghosts. Funny that I remember seeing this more in cartoons then the game.
Sometimes I enjoy such simple and short games. Good for relaxed afterwork Gaming!
Is there something left from the original Pacman? (meaning: the first, waka waka, before it went to Shakira 😀 )
If possible, i will get and play this game. I like it.
I see you mention that you want it to include the original version. Does this means that there is something missing in this game version that you would like to have?
It’s good to have a so different Pac Man game
Looks kinda fun. As stated many times before, I like to see when old game series get new installments that actually do kinda well. Even though I never liked the original pac-man, the game is just an icon 😀
Looks interesting! Will check out the original 🙂
Hey, I recognize this from the Screenshot of the Week! 😀
Interesting concept, turning Pac-Man into a 3D platformer… Not sure I’m fully convinced, though. But I’d definitely give it a try one day, looks fun! 😀
I loved the original on PS2! Super creative way to do Pacman, this remake looks like so much fun! My favourite part of the original was the intro with all the ghosts, it was hilarious!
thanks for the review. it reminds me of my very first experiences with gaming since pacman was probably one of the first console games that I played!
I like Pac-man character. This game fits for me.