Mini Review: Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac (PS5) – Fine Remake Won’t Set the World on Fire

by

I think when people think of Pac-Man, they immediately picture the classic arcade game. But if you’re looking at his history on PlayStation, I’d say the Pac-Man World trilogy really defines it. It’s arguably the best representation of how Pac-Man evolved on the console. It’s a really fun series!

After the successful 2022 update of the classic Pac-Man World, fans wondered if Pac-Man World 2 would receive a similar overhaul. Now, three years later, Now Production and Bandai Namco have teamed up again to remake what many believe is the strongest game in the series.

Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a classic example of a 3D platforming game. You’ll spend your time running, jumping, and collecting pellets within stages that are mostly structured like hallways. The game features 25 main levels, and almost all of them have been updated or changed in some way from the original version.

However, this improvement makes levels much larger and more complex. Along with a shortage of memorable moments and exciting challenges-especially at the beginning of the game-levels often feel slow and can seem to go on forever.

The bosses have also been significantly reworked – some have been completely replaced from the original game. However, like many of the enemies, most bosses take a lot of hits – six or more – which makes every battle feel drawn-out and tedious.

Most major changes in this remake aim to extend the game’s notoriously short five-hour runtime.

Now, each stage has three missions you need to finish, and completing them will unlock a new costume for Pac-Man. Plus, you can earn collectible statues through a gachapon system – these are used to decorate your Pac-Village.

Beyond the main story, the game unlocks remixed versions of existing stages and a new time trial mode for players who want more content. However, these additions mostly just encourage you to replay stages you’ve already finished repeatedly, and don’t offer much in the way of truly new experiences. While they’re a nice bonus, they don’t significantly expand on the gameplay beyond what you’ve already seen. More details can be found on the official website.

The improved graphics and new voiceovers in Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2 show the developers are trying to create a more complete game than the first one. However, similar to the original Pac-Man World Re-Pac, it still feels quite ordinary and noticeably old-fashioned. It doesn’t quite escape feeling dated, despite the improvements. The game struggles to stand out.

Those who enjoy 3D platforming games will probably find this one enjoyable, especially if they liked the first game. However, it has some frustrating parts that prevent it from being a game we can easily recommend.

Read More

2025-09-29 19:07