

Experienced game players as well as novices should have no trouble learning how to control Pac-Man, which makes for a better all-around gameplay experience. I found this makes the game easier to play than others that attempt to have the camera follow you since you can actually see what’s going on around you at any given time with the camera positioned this way.

The camera in this game strafes alongside Pac-Man for the most part. I found that depending on the situation, sometimes the analog stick works better and sometimes the D-pad works better. The analog allows you to walk slow or run depending on how hard it’s pressed. You can use the D-pad, or if using a dual-shock controller, you can use either stick to control Pac-Man. The bosses themselves are challenging, but not impossible to beat. The boss levels are interesting, as each one is unique. There are three or four levels per scenario including a boss level. The scenarios are varied nicely and consist of Pirate, Ruins, Space, Funhouse, Factory, and a Mansion.


At the end of each level you are taken to Ghost Island from there you can go to and play any level to which you have previously gained access. The end of each level will give you some chances at extra lives by trying your hand at matching fruit on a slot machine. Grabbing these items will give you access to bonus levels and extra mazes. There are lots of items to pick up along the way such as various fruits (which will allow you access through certain fruit doors), dots, and power pills (of course), extra health or lives, the letters spelling PACMAN, and keys to free your friends and family. Most of these enemies are easily dispatched by a butt bounce, a dot being thrown, or by rolling into them. For instance, in Pirate levels you need to look out for walking skeletons whereas in space you may have electrical aliens trying to fry you. In addition to ghosts attacking him, there are all sorts of other baddies that change depending on the particular level that is being played. Pac-Man has evolved a bit since his two-dimensional days as he can now jump, dash, swim, roll, throw dots, and butt-bounce his way through any obstacles in his path. It is played as a 3D-platform style game. Quest mode makes up the bulk of the game. The Maze and Quest modes go hand in hand as you can find and unlock new mazes in Quest mode which then become available in Maze mode. The various scenarios include different hazards also, such as blocking laser beams or dropping rocks in set locations. Maze mode allows you to play in the same style as the original game, but in many different maze scenarios that reflect the levels in the Quest mode. Classic allows you to play (you guessed it) the classic original version from the arcade. Pac-Man World’s gameplay is broken up into three different parts: Quest, Mazes, and Classic.
