Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a solid remake and a completely serviceable platformer that I thoroughly enjoyed playing through. It’s a bit on the basic side and has some goofy voice acting, but anyone who enjoys 3D platformers will have a fun weekend with this one.
Pac-Man World 2 Re Pac
Developer: Now Production, Namco Hometek
Price: $30
Platform: PS4, PS5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PlayStation 5 code for review
Almost three years ago to the day, I reviewed the first Pac-Man World remake, having never played a game in the Pac-Man World series. I had a good time, so I expected a similar experience with this remake of the second game in the series. Sure enough, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is essentially more of the same pleasant platforming, though with an extra dose of cheesy voice acting on top.
In Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, your goal is to collect the powerful golden fruits that the iconic Pac-Man ghosts stole from Pac-Land. Be prepared for the “Pac” suffix to show up a lot, because pretty much everyone is named Pac-something, which is a funny little bit throughout. This little quest takes Pac-Man through various colorful levels, ranging from red-hot volcanoes to a haunted maze. It’s a pretty standard platformer format, which is a recurring theme here.
Most of the stages have you jumping on platforms and kicking/stomping enemies, with smaller sections frequently popping up that have you eating a power pill to turn into a huge Pac-Man capable of eating the non-named ghosts. Some stages mix things up with swimming sections or vehicle piloting, which makes for a refreshing sense of variety throughout the four-or-so-hour-long adventure. It’s honestly the perfect length for this sort of title, as it doesn’t overstay its welcome or wear out any of the admittedly straightforward gameplay styles. There are a couple of additional mechanics, like being able to throw pellets and timing your butt-bounces to get extra height, which also help in that regard.
“I love the ghosts all sounding like they were seemingly plucked straight out of New York, but Pac-Man himself feels a bit off.“
Even when you’re not platforming, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac has a fun little hub area in the form of the previously mentioned Pac-Land. Between levels, you can see how the town is gradually being fixed by your actions, play original Pac-Man-inspired Maze Levels, and, my favorite, use coins you’ve collected to purchase gashapon figures of Pac-Man, his friends, his foes, and different items. These can be placed around town as statues to decorate the area, and they all have different rarity rankings to really get you hooked on the mechanic. Well, maybe that’s more true for people with as crippling a plastic addiction as mine, but I dig it either way.
The visuals pop thanks to the bright colors and cartoony style, and I’m fond of the silly designs of all of the many Pac-people, who seem to be named after their age, gender, or jobs. The music isn’t as memorable as in other 3D platformers of the original game’s time, but it suits its purpose and is suitably poppy and fun.
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac has some mixed voice acting.
The voice acting in Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is an interesting case, as it’s not bad per se, but it’s a bit odd. I love the ghosts all sounding like they were seemingly plucked straight out of New York, but Pac-Man himself feels a bit off. Maybe I’m just too used to the sort of ’90s “attitude” that a lot of platformer mascots have, but Pac-Man doesn’t really have much of a personality in the game. He almost comes across like a sitcom dad, making the occasional pun and stating what’s going on in a straightforward manner. I wish he were a bit more rambunctious, but it’s not a huge deal.
The Final Word
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is an enjoyable remake that anyone who digs platformers can have fun with. It doesn’t break the mould, and the voice acting can come off as a bit strange, but even without any nostalgia for the original game, I had a fun time with this new remake.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
