Pac-Man World 3

While I wasn’t born when it came out in the arcades 25 years ago, it’s difficult not to recognize a gaming icon like Pac-Man. It is this yellow, pellet-gobbling legend that has stolen many a quarter and many a heart of gamers determined to clear map after map while avoiding the touch of death from the ghosts that pursued him. Yes, 25 years is a long time and Pac-Man still manages to show up in some form of another, whether it’s on the Xbox 360’s Ridge Racer 6 or the PSP’s Namco Museum Battle Collection. Making his return in 3-D form once again, we celebrate the 25^th anniversary with Pac-Man World 3 for the PSP. Everyone say it with me: Wocka Wocka Wocka!

The game’s main story mode recognizes our yellow friend’s long accomplishments as his loving wife Mrs. Pac-Man and their son Junior welcome Pac home with a birthday cake. It’s his 25^th birthday and just as he’s about to blow out the candles he is teleported into metal works factory. Pac-Man quickly discovers that his old nemesis and now friend, Orson the ghost, was the one that teleported him away from his family to save Pac-World once again. The enemy this time is an evil genius named Erwin who is sucking out the raw energy of the Spectral Realm and thus will collapse Pac-World. Everyone, including ghosts, is in danger so Pac-Man sets off to stop Erwin, finding help with the two most unlikely sources … Pinky and Clyde, two of the ghosts that have been chasing him for years.

A portable version of the same game released on the PS2, Xbox and GameCube, Pac-Man World 3 offers the same levels and extra features the big boys bring to the table. Like the first two Pac-Man World games, this is a 3-D platform game complete with the usual assortment of platform jumping, puzzle solving, item collection and enemy bashing. The levels feature some impressively massive environments with the classic power pellets Pac-Man enjoys to eat as well as the familiar fruit for added points (and collecting them in this game unlocks Collector Cards).

With the aid of Orson, Pac-Man comes to discover his various new moves. He can now climb fences, pole swing, and jump up walls and punch enemies and objects. Pac starts off with some basic moves like his butt bounce and his Rev Roll (that rolls Pac-Man into a lethal wrecking ball). Later in the game, though, he can super-charge his abilities to perform a Super Butt Bounce as well as learn how to use his Electro-Charge abilities (to electrify your enemies) as well as Chrome Power (that turns Pac-Man temporarily invulnerable). There’s even a Classic Power Pellet that turns any Spectral Enemy blue, which allows Pac-Man to be the hunter and eat them instead.

The game’s first few levels start off linear while the later levels are brimming with variety. As I mentioned above, there are even levels where Pac-Man must work together with his old rivals Pinky and Clyde. You’ll be able to play as the two ghosts and the fun part is the conversation between them and Pac-Man. You’ll move both at the same time but you’ll have the advantage of using Clyde’s Sonic Boo. Later in the game, you’ll assume the role of Toc-Man who has a Super Spin Attack and makes use of Clyde’s Sonic Cannon. These things help add more to what would have otherwise been a mediocre platform game. In terms of the platform jumping, it’s stuff we’ve seen before in old platform games. Even the puzzles, that have Pac-Man butt stomping huge buttons to activate a lift, are classic platforming elements.

hThe game’s enemies are not too difficulty to defeat, really. Once you learn how to make use of your specialized attacks, you’ll thrash enemies like the Mighty Lummox in no time. Later in the game, though, you’ll go up against Erwin’s robotic enemies like the mechanized scorpion and the deadly Gyrotron. There’s even an enemy known as the Bomb-O-Tron that isn’t that easy to get rid of but thanks to the robotic enemies the game will offer some challenge.

There are even added extras, such as the Museum that offers up a video interview with Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani that offers insight on all things Pac-Man (including the fact that the game was called Pac-Pac in Japan). The game also offers the option to play the original 2-D classic Pac-Man game! The other features aside from the great extras in Museum is the game’s wireless multiplayer. The game features three game modes for up to four players, among them a Versus mode that has players taking up the role of the ghosts as they hunt the game’s host who plays the role of Pac-Man. It’s fun stuff but nothing really innovative.

On the graphics front, Pac-Man World 3 looks sharp, colorful and just as good as the PS2 version. Pac-Man looks great in 3-D and nicely detailed to the point that you can see him chomp down on a power pellet. While the visuals are still a bit dated, there’s no denying how good the game’s environments look. The most visually stunning of the locales is the Spectral Realm with its pools of spectral energy that gives the place its ghostly glow. The only bad part is that you’ll have to constantly swing the camera around manually with the shoulder buttons because the camera angles aren’t the best. There’s the occasional framerate stutter as well, but it never gets out of hand.

The game’s sound is made up of some good voice acting and most of it comes from Pac-Man and Orson. The dialogue is nicely written and the banter between Pac and his two ghostly rivals is priceless. There’s a solid soundtrack that plays during most of the game but, in many occasions, it stops during some segments in the game and thus makes for some awkwardly silent moments. Still, there are some good sound effects, particularly when Pac-Man makes short work of his enemies. Then there’s the classic Wocka Wocka Wocka sounds Pac-Man makes when he’s eating power pellets.

In the end, Pac-Man World 3 might not be an innovative platform classic but it’s an enjoyable game that is sure to please fans of the 3-D series. Without really adding anything revolutionary to the gameplay, the ability to play as the ghosts, the wireless multiplayer and the decent level variety is handled well enough that a purchase or rental might just be what the doctor ordered if you like platform games or Pac-Man.

Gameplay: 7.2
The PSP version feels a lot like the PS2 version and that’s a really good thing. Aside from wrestling a bit with the camera, though, the game’s weak spots are really its levels that don’t introduce the best parts until later in the game. The ability to play Pinky and Clyde is a fun twist. The new moves really don’t save the game from mediocre levels mixed in with the really fun ones.

Graphics: 7.0
The game looks just as sharp as the PS2 game and that’s a great thing. The problem is that the PS2 graphics are a bit on the dated side. Then again, there are some nice-looking environments, great effects and fun 3-D character models. Even the cutscenes look good.

Sound: 6.9
The voice work is solid and the dialogue is surprisingly wonderfully written. There are some good tunes here but there are levels that feel a little too silent. The sound effects are pure old school Pac-Man and, after 25 years, it still sounds good.

Difficulty: Medium
The traditional platforming gameplay is familiar territory and the enemies, even the tougher ones you’ll meet later in the game don’t prove much of a challenge. The camera often obscures platforms so you’ll fall to your death more times than enemies kill you. Even the puzzles aren’t hard to solve.

Concept: 7.2
The level environments are nice and huge and there’s some variety to the usual platform actions. Teaming up with your old rivals adds hilarious results and there’s even multiplayer fun to be had. The Museum extras include the original 2-D Pac-Man game as well as interviews with the creator and fun features to unlock.

Multiplayer: 7.0
Using the game’s Ad Hoc connection, you can play multiplayer games with up to four friends. There are only three game types (Battle, Versus and Ghost Swap) but they’re good ones, especially Versus (where the host takes the role of Pac-Man while the other players chase him as the ghosts).

Overall: 7.0
While not the best platform game you’ll play on your PSP this year, Pac-Man World 3 is a satisfying jaunt worth playing. Fans of the first two Pac-Man World games will certainly enjoy this game that might not add a refreshing new take on the series but had enough levels to keep your hands busy for a few hours. Add multiplayer fun and you have a game you should most definitely buy if you’re a fan or rent if you’re a casual platform gamer.