In this new review we go to the discovery of PAC-MAN World Re-PAC, a 1999 title re-proposed to the general videogame audience through this interesting remake
Hard, really hard to find someone who has never heard of or even just mentioned PAC-MAN. This is because we are faced with one of the icons of the videogame world and videogame culture from an international point of view. And it is precisely for this reason that, when you go to deal with a title starring, or even just about, the yellow sphere created by Tōru Iwatani, there is always a need for a thread of attention (and respect ) more.
In the 1999 was released a title destined to enter the hearts of gamers, it is PAC-MAN World, platform in 3D (yes, in 3d!) starring the famous yellow ball. Today, in 2022, with a very interesting restyling operation, this title is re-proposed to the general public and we will deal with it in this PAC-MAN World Re-PAC review.
Methodology and approach
Before going into the more technical aspects of this PAC-MAN World Re-PAC review, we believe it is important to clarify and underline what the terms of this analysis will be. We do not believe it is relevant to repeat and tell what is already known. By this we mean that, going to deal with every mechanic of a 1999 title could be redundant as well as cloying, rather what we want to highlight is the technical work carried out in the making of this title and the market value (and more) that such an operation may have within the video game industry in 2022.
Intact brilliance – PAC-MAN World Re-PAC review
PAC-MAN World Re-PAC presents itself, after 23 years, with a basic structure in the concept but decidedly brilliant and well articulated in the realization. A series of areas with a series of levels to face and overcome. From a purely “platforming” point of view (allow us to coin this term) we are faced with a real excellence, or if it is not, we lack it. The level design of each single level is certainly the most interesting aspect of this title. Excellent in 1999 and still excellent today, in 2022.
Secrets, collectibles, items to collect and enemies to defeat scattered throughout the maps and reachable using the verticality and the depth of every single explorable area. In this sense, this title hits the spot, from every point of view. What makes the nose turn up slightly, and this probably falls within the perspective of a revival of something pre-existing, is a responsiveness of the commands not always precise and not always functional.
A “new” look – PAC-MAN World Re-PAC Review
The major restyling operation carried out with PAC-MAN World Re-PAC certainly concerns the technical aspect and the technical sector total of the work. The step forward, compared to ’99, is clear and clear for obvious reasons. Greater graphic cleanliness, updated textures and a visual rendering that all in all offers a nice impact, thanks also to one enviable and perfectly tested chromatic variety. All seasoned with a perfect soundboth in music and in game sounds.
All this, however, must in any case be included in a comparative discourse with operations and titles that are born with the same intent. Taking this into consideration, we cannot fail to underline how much, despite a positive work, the technical re-realization of the game does not come up with our times and, we repeat, at the same level as other similar worksespecially if we consider that our test took place on PS5 in the version just for the fifth Sony home console.
A winning operation? – PAC-MAN World Re-PAC review
As mentioned at the beginning of this PAC-MAN World Re-PAC review one aspect we want to focus on concerns the value of this videogame operation. The idea of re-proposing today a title like this, a title with one of the most famous characters in the history of video games in a new technical sauce (although not too much) and above all with the component 3Din our opinion, is a winning and interesting idea with a view to approaching a new and different audience.
This title, in fact, does not want to appeal only to nostalgics and fans of the 1999 game but he can easily address and speak to a younger audience and why not, too very young. Accomplices a difficulty and a level of challenge that are not excessive, an element that today could represent a small but decisive interpretation. For this reason we would like to praise and reward the choice of Bandai Namco, hoping that it can also be a winner in the response of the public. We emphasize “also” because, as far as we are concerned, it is a winning job from the start and in respect of ideas.
Let’s sum it up!
Come to the end of this PAC-MAN World Re-PAC review it is time to take stock and try and write down a judgment that takes into account the analysis carried out in the previous paragraphs. PAC-MAN World Re-PAC is a reinterpretation of the 1999 title that brilliantly struck gamers 23 years ago and brilliantly, in the management of the gameplay and in the ideas of level design, reappears on the market. Some defects in the technical implementation, both from a graphic point of view and from a point of view of the responsiveness of the commands, does not allow us to insert this title in the Olympus of restyling operations in recent years but, certainly, this operation of re-presentation we like it and we will continue to like it, which cannot fail to assign us to the game a more than positive vote.
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Points in favor
- Still enjoyable gameplay
- Level design brillante
- Excellent market operation
- Graphically updated …
Points against
- … but not as much as we would have liked
- At times unresponsive commands