Extra lovely than the day I misplaced you.
In 2002 we have been on the tail finish of 3D platforming’s golden age. Tremendous Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, and Spyro had loved their time within the highlight. There was a push so as to add ever growing depth to the style. For some this was including components of third particular person shooters, or maybe a big seamless open-world. After which there was Pac-Man World 2. A observe as much as the Ps unique Pac-Man World, the sequel branched out to the Gamecube, Ps 2, and Xbox. Whereas it actually carried with it some expanded ambition as in comparison with the unique, it maintained a concentrate on easy, tight platforming. As a child, I liked Pac-Man World 2, and it has all the time quietly occupied an area in my reminiscence as among the best 3D platformers of that era. It had some awkwardness in its digital camera controls and degree design wasn’t all the time even, however there was simply one thing about it that caught with me. Granted, loads of that comes from being ten years-old when Pac-Man World 2 launched.
So it was with a coronary heart stuffed with nostalgia that I sat down with Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac. What I discovered was way more than a easy, remastered nostalgia journey. However somewhat an exceedingly spectacular effort to make Pac-Man World 2 stay as much as that nostalgia excess of the unique really does. Because it seems, whenever you tackle the few lingering points within the unique recreation, you wind up with an astoundingly good 3D platformer.
When the ghosts assault Pac-Village, steal the golden fruit, and unleash the highly effective ghost Spooky it’s as much as Pac-Man to revive the village and put issues proper. You’ll set out throughout six areas to finest the ghosts, recuperate the fruit, and foil Spooky’s plans for Pac-Land. Whereas I doubt anybody is coming to Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac for the drama, the brand new and extra in depth voice work does lend the story some enjoyable new gravitas. Martin Sherman who performed Pac-Man in Pac-Man World 3 returns to ship recent dialogue for this beforehand silent model of Pac-Man. Wormwood, as voiced by Xander Mobus additionally turns in a very nice Saturday morning villain efficiency.
Every area of the overworld map incorporates a number of linear 3D platforming phases and a boss battle. Opposite to what I used to be anticipating, these phases aren’t 1:1 recreations of the originals. Fairly, the builders appear to have been given the liberty to change, develop, or rearrange, as felt applicable. We are able to see it proper within the very first stage, the place a maze phase has been moved from the start of the stage to some extent considerably later. Thorn bushes within the unique recreation have been changed with bear traps, eradicating the potential confusion with different foliage. Each space of this degree is clearly taken from the unique recreation, however somewhat than being an ideal recreation, it has been considerably reimagined and in each occasion, is an enchancment on the unique recreation design. Boss fights inform the identical story. Bosses have been given new assaults and phases not seen within the unique recreation. The primary boss you’ll face is a big mechanical frog. Within the unique recreation you’d look ahead to him to stay out his tongue, use Pac-Man’s butt-bounce assault, after which look ahead to him to do it once more. In Re-Pac, the frog now has a number of different assaults, and smaller explosive enemies additionally wander the sector. You’ll should dodge these new assaults when you wait to your opening. And when the frog does stick out its tongue, a properly positioned explosive enemy will be caught up in it, getting you an additional well being pickup along with damaging the boss. It is as in the event that they went again to 2002, took each piece of suggestions the unique recreation acquired, after which rebuilt it from scratch to unravel all of these issues. It’s completely ridiculous how a lot work has clearly gone into touching up each inch of this recreation.
Pac-Man’s motion was all the time a powerful level for the unique and it has been made even higher right here. Paired with a very rebuilt digital camera system that holds as much as fashionable requirements, the easy act of exploring is now way more satisfying. My one criticism right here is that by default Pac-Man’s Rev Roll transfer (a touch assault just like the Spin Sprint from Sonic the Hedgehog), is mapped to B. Aiming the Rev Roll is finest achieved with the appropriate stick which is awkward whereas holding B. I remapped this to the unused ZL button as a substitute and located this labored significantly better. Having the motion on B is extra in keeping with the unique controls, however is one space the place an apparent alternative for enchancment was missed.
The Swap 2 model of Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac comes with two graphics modes. Fortunately in contrast to within the Re-Pac model of the primary Pac-Man World, efficiency is now the default chosen choice. This mode targets 60fps and manages to hit it the overwhelming majority of the time. I did discover a one-off bug the place after a cutscene, the digital camera gave the impression to be animating at a decrease body price than the remainder of the sport. Restarting the extent mounted this subject and I wasn’t in a position to re-create it once more. In the meantime the decision mode boosts the output decision barely and targets 30fps as a substitute. Very similar to the earlier Re-Pac, there may be actually no purpose to go for decision mode. The precise improve in decision is minimal, and the impact on playability is substantial.
It’s price highlighting simply how a lot content material is included in Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac. A few of that is carried ahead from the unique recreation however this new model goes far past that. Every degree has a sequence of missions that may be accomplished to unlock alternate costumes for Pac-Man, music that may be swapped out for the overworld music, and arcade video games to be performed in Pac-Village. Sadly, on account of authorized points, Ms. Pac-Man will not be playable within the arcade this time round however you do get entry to the unique Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, and Pac-Assault. After finishing a degree you’ll additionally unlock a time trial mode which additionally consists of entry to an internet leaderboard. Whereas I didn’t do time trials for each single stage, I did take pleasure in attempting to outperform different reviewers in each boss battle. There’s even some new submit recreation content material that I will not go into element on.
I went into Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac anticipating a nostalgic journey by means of a pleasant but flawed 3D platformer of my youth. As a substitute I bought a lovingly re-imagined overhaul that exceeded my expectations in each means. That is now simply a wonderful 3D platformer without having for qualifiers. Stage design is diversified with a pleasant gradient of problem and one-off mechanics in practically each degree. Each good thought from the unique has been preserved and all the pieces round it has been improved. Whereas it isn’t technically an extremely lengthy recreation, it’s dense with content material and replayability. The Swap 2 model itself runs nice outdoors of a uncommon technical hitch. Final however not least, they credit score the complete unique design crew. The largest destructive I may give to Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is that it makes it very laborious to return to the unique.
