I admit it. When this evaluation got here alongside, my gaming endurance was being examined to its restrict by Silksong’s brutal issue. So I rolled fairly enthusiastically in direction of an alternate I hoped could be extra stress-free. (I genuinely remorse the hours I spent defeating The Final Decide.)
Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac appeared the best pellet-shaped breath mint to freshen issues up. However whereas this ground-up remake will probably please followers of the 2002 authentic, it’s ironic that I discovered myself haunted by comparable frustrations that I used to be experiencing elsewhere – together with bosses that crossed the road from being difficult to changing into a little bit of a chore. For newcomers extra usually, you’ll need to resolve whether or not the value level of £34.99 at launch matches your funds for what’s, at its core, a six-to-seven-hour expertise in a style the place there are such a lot of different choices.
First, let’s handle the considerations of these primarily within the high quality of this refresh. For essentially the most half, the brand new additions are extremely constructive. The inclusion of a touchdown goal as you leap — a circle that exhibits you the place you’re heading and makes platforming pain-free — is extraordinarily welcome and removes a few of the frustration a sport with its coronary heart within the early noughties may give its gamers.
The graphical improve impresses, too. That is no ‘sharper’ re-release like we’re getting elsewhere with sure galactic opponents. Compared, the older model now appears to be like a bit of primitive, with some garish shadows. Lastly, Pac-Man and the inhabitants of Pac-Land have been dropped at life in a approach that extra lives as much as the franchise’s promise, longevity, and sense of enjoyable. From the sun-drenched city that serves as the extent hub (and offers entry to retro-inspired problem mazes), to the longer draw distances, all the pieces appears to be like good. Just some moments of retro sport design — digicam frustrations, principally — undermine the general impression.
Efficiency on Swap 2, besides for 2 very temporary stutters, is 30fps in ‘High quality’ 4K docked mode, or 60fps at 1080p (docked or handheld). I didn’t have the prospect to play on the unique Swap, however 30fps is the max there in any mode. A phrase of warning, although: anybody planning to play this sport on Swap Lite may discover the presentation too small. I’m unsure it might be snug. The presentation right here doesn’t go well with small screens fairly like different platformers.
This second ‘Re-Pac’ (the earlier Pac-Man World: Re-Pac got here out in 2022) has an honest quantity of different new options. Now a second participant can take part as a ‘Pac-Drone’ – excellent for a younger little one or anybody else glad to restrict their gaming to capturing pellets at bins and enemies. Adjustments to chop scenes and the extent design additionally present up. The ultimate boss, for instance, is noticeably completely different to the unique; the battle takes place in a barely remixed area with new enemies and assaults, and a extra formidable sheen to the presentation.
Then there are additions like the brand new mission mode. Right here, the sport asks you to fulfil three optionally available challenges on each stage, normally to choose up all of the fruit (over 20 objects – there’s a variety of fruit) and to attain a medal on the time trial, plus yet another random job.
For me, the degrees have been simply too lengthy to make going again and gathering such a excessive variety of objects really enjoyable, particularly when the collectables reset each time you play, so there’s no likelihood of diving again in for a solitary melon or a strawberry. However there are eventualities (taking part in along with your kids, possibly) the place the additional content material can be appreciated, I’m certain. Collect all of the collectibles and also you’ll find yourself unlocking new mazes, costumes, and collectible figurines to show round your private home village.
Throughout its stronger moments, Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac actually is a variety of enjoyable. I loved the submarine and swimming ranges. I loved skating away from a large snowball. I loved all of the moments when Pac-Man gulped down a large pellet and was a chomping head, paying homage to his basic video games, and turned the tables on the in any other case invincible ghosts. I preferred the sense of momentum and the shock that the platforming was way more difficult than I anticipated (one famously tough lava stage used up over 20 lives). I had my work lower out for me at occasions, and that was advantageous.
At a cheaper price, I would advocate the sport extra readily, however even then I’d nonetheless lean into framing the evaluation as assessing a slice of gaming historical past that’s been refreshed and renovated, fairly than a sport that really earns its place alongside up to date heavy hitters like Donkey Kong Bananza. There’s no disgrace in that, however let’s be clear – at its coronary heart this can be a a lot better-looking and smoother-playing model of a 23-year-old sport. This story of the demonic Spooky stealing all of Pac-Land’s golden fruit, and the brief little journey that ensues, is a bit of old-school.
And, through moments of cumbersome issue paying homage to a sport from 2002, that’s my cue to tie this evaluation again to the opening, particularly my self-indulgent use of Silksong as a reference. Let me say that I used to be grossly mistaken: I may need thought I used to be escaping frustration by taking part in a vibrant Pac-Man sport – certainly it might be straightforward, proper? However boy was I incorrect throughout the finale. And never essentially in a ‘honest’ type of approach.
I’d already had a bit of hassle with one of many bosses in the course of the sport, the place I fell off the world a number of occasions through a digicam quirk {that a} trendy platformer wouldn’t enable. I felt the identical type of unfairness right here, too. Principally with some jumps I needed to make quickly with a purpose to injury the boss – they erred on the facet of being irritating greater than difficult and got here after a sequence of assaults that have been tough to keep away from and left me with barely any life left.
In a yellow-tinged irony, this boss had greater than a passing resemblance to the Final Decide – and right here’s the factor, I actually couldn’t kill it. I couldn’t full this sport.
I don’t know what I used to be doing incorrect. After 30 makes an attempt, dying each time, having to undergo the three phases of the boss combat over and over, shedding all my lives, struggling eight Sport Overs, switching in desperation to the kid-friendly ‘fairy mode’ (that makes you invincible), and in some way nonetheless failing to succeed (I made the sequence of jumps as soon as, then died on the high by flying off the world), I used to be thrown again to the very begin as soon as once more.
And I simply needed to cease. Truthfully, possibly it’s time to return to Silksong.
Conclusion
I don’t need to let my moan in regards to the last boss overshadow the evaluation. There’s nonetheless a enjoyable sport right here, and a beautiful remaster of a well-loved platformer. The issues it does effectively — the persona of Pac-Man, buddies, and enemies within the lower scenes, the range within the gameplay — shine brightly. For these with nostalgia for the unique, I’m certain you’ll take pleasure in your ‘Re-Pac’-aged model. It’s been made with love. For non-fans, nevertheless, this can be a harder buy to justify.
Arguably, the value is a bit of steep for what’s on supply, and a few lingering retro-frustrations within the execution of the 3D platforming and boss fights may sit badly with an viewers anticipating a sport with the finesse of extra trendy alternate options. Certain, even Donkey Kong Bananza has its share of low-cost deaths, however the reality is Pac-Man World 2: Re-Pac isn’t in the identical league. Quick, candy, prettified, retro, and never for everyone; these are the key phrases right here.
