Pac-Man World 3

"Same Pac-Man, new adventure!"

The whole Pac-Man World series is a 3-D alternative to the old and boring 2-D Pac-Man. The PMW games all had storylines, more puzzles, and more fun and originality than the old Pac-Mans before it. PMW3 is great because it has more depth to it.

Storyline: 10/10

In a mad search for power, evil genius Erwin creates a machine that can penetrate into the world of the Ghosts...the Spectral Realm. But then the Spectral Realm is starting to collapse. Pac-Man is transported out of his home and into the Spectral Realm. Pac-Man has to get out of the Realm he is trapped in, and get rid of Erwin for good! Whew! Ever seen a non-PMW Pac-Man game to have a storyline? I think not.

Graphics: 8/10

Just like the storyline, the graphics for Pac-Man are getting better and better as time goes by. Pac-Man and the levels both look very detailed and vivid. The cutscenes are ultra-sharp and crisp, almost at the quality level as the computer-animated cartoon movies.

Sound/Music: 8/10

The sound is realistic and not over-done. Pac-Man actually talks during the cutscenes, which you might be surprised to hear. There is never really loud music with a fast rhythm that plays. Only slow music during, say, puzzles, or when you discover a secret path will play.

Gameplay: 9/10

PMW 1, 2, and 3 are nothing like the traditional Pac-man games. There is more to PMW3 than just walking around a 2-D black stage eating dots and getting eaten by ghosts. The stages and graphics are now fully 3-D, and you can perform new moves like jumps, punches, and you can solve puzzles. This game starts out very easy, and then the agonizingly frustrating moments will start appearing from the middle to the end.

Overall: 9/10

Pac-Man World 3 is a great pick for an long-time Pac-Man fan or someone just getting introduced to him. You should get this if you have not already gotten Pac-Man World 2 or 1. All 3 Pac-Man Worlds are pretty much the same, so you really only need one. A very good and original game.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/31/06