Pac-Man World 2 was one of my favorite games growing up. It was one of my first Xbox games alongside Sonic Heroes, Sonic Mega Collection Plus, and Halo 2, so Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC already had a lot to live up to for me. When it was announced, along with the Sonic DLC releasing with it, it really felt like it could do just that. With that being said, I couldn't write this review before I completed the game 100% (including Sonic DLC) and getting that blue ribbon.

This remaster adds a lot of QoL changes that really improve the original. New skills, actual character dialogue and personality, a better collectible system (younger me is still crying over missing ONE Pac-Dot), and a bunch of unlockable content keep the old spirit intact while building on it. They even added a difficulty setting for those who aren't really good at these type of games, making it an excellent addition to children or those who want to get into gaming.

In the stages, you can feel the care in the tweaks to platforming. The Super Bounce, Pac-Dots finally having a use now that they're not required for completion, and the extra quips all add a layer of technique to something that used to be simple (THANK GOD for an actually decent drop shadow in platforming).

While the platforming takes the cake and that old joy still shines through, the bosses were the real big surprise. In the original, they were pretty basic and the real challenge came from the levels. Here, the new quirks and the golden fruit pinch modes make them much more interesting and entertaining.

I know some people don't like that this isn't a 1-to-1 remake of Pac-Man World 2, and a lot of people wanted exactly that. To me, the soul of the game is still here, just modernized. At first, I could understand why veterans might feel annoyed, because the main run can feel a little easier. That was until the post-game comes in.Once you beat Spooky, the game starts remixing stages with higher difficulty, and it feels like a direct challenge to veterans (and yes, it gave me a bit of Ghosts 'n Goblins style PTSD, in a good way).

It's not perfect, though. Time Trials are going to turn some people off. Most of them are fair enough and make you think, but some boss times feel rough. Inky stands out, and both Spooky fights were miserable for me, especially when hits didn't register. Then there's the Gashapon. Collecting tokens is fine, but using them there reminded me of the gacha games I play (Dokkan Battle and Puzzle and Dragons). Pulling over and over for completion got old very fast. For a casual player, it won't matter much, but for completionists it's a headache.

Even with those flaws, I genuinely love Pac-Man World 2 Re-PAC. It feels like a real love letter to the original with smarter systems, better movement, and a post-game that actually tests you. If you enjoy 3D platformers, have nostalgia for Pac-Man World 2, or just want a fun adventure with some bite, I would absolutely recommend it.