Pac-Man World 3

One of the most popular videogame characters of all time is back for another try at the 3D platformer genre. Pac-Man World 3 tries to breathe new life into the classic Pac-Man formula – but, as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. It takes some guts to replace the simple Pac formula into a run-of-the-mill collectathon, yet here we are. For the third time.

This time, Pac-Man will have to traverse a mysterious new realm, while keeping in touch with the series’s roots. How well does this 3D platformer fare when compared to other games of its kind? Let’s find out.

Dots and Mazes

From its inception, the Pac-Man World series has been divisive among fans. For one, the game can’t be considered terrible by any stretch of the imagination. Perhaps the only problem with this series is that it strives too far from the tried-and-tested Pac-Man formula.

The third entry in the series aims to remedy that disconnect with the inclusion of more nods to classic Pac-Man games. That doesn’t mean that Pac-Man World 3 is just nostalgia bait. On the contrary: this game takes Pac-Man to some brave new worlds.

On his way to his 25th birthday party, Pac-Man gets sucked into a vortex that transports him to an alternate dimension known as the Spectral World. In this world, players will have to make use of their well-known Pac-Man World abilities, like jumping and shooting pellets, as they solve puzzles and find their way back home.

Power-Ups and Allies

Most gamers have played at least one Pac-Man game in their lives. From the basic arcade title to the more complex ones like Pac-Mania, the core gameplay of Pac-Man is as iconic as Tetris. However, Pac-Man World 3 acts more like a 3D platformer from the fifth generation of consoles than any of the arcade classics.

Traversing through levels is similar to games like Super Mario 64 or the like, where players must jump from platform to platform in a 3D plane. However, the difference here is that Pac-Man wasn’t designed to be a platformer mascot, which is why the game has its spherical hero using a myriad of abilities and relying on some very unlikely allies.

Not only will Pac-Man have access to its jumping and butt-bouncing abilities, but he can also use skills like time deceleration and supercharged versions of standard attacks. Also, for the first time in a 3D Pac-Man game, players will be able to control Pinky and Clyde: two of the classic ghosts from the series.

Not so Retro

The jump from a 2D plane to a 3D perspective hasn’t always been a step-up for good ol’ Pac. In Pac-Man World 3’s case, the visuals are not entirely unsalvageable, although there are many blurry textures that compromise the game’s overall visual quality.

That said, character models look good enough: the charming designs of Pac-Man and the ghosts look great, even though the levels can be a bit confusing. Overall, the game won’t break any records for its visuals, but they’re serviceable enough to be enjoyable.

Pros:

• Charming character designs
• Fun power-ups
• Neat references to previous Pac-Man games

Cons:

• Some bugs and glitches
• Blurry textures
• Lacks replayability