Software:Pac-Man World 3

Short description: 2005 video game

Pac-Man World 3
Packaging artwork
Developer(s)	Blitz Games
Publisher(s)	NA: Namco Hometek EU: Electronic Arts
Director(s)	Phil Drinkwater John Jarvis
Producer(s)	Team Paku
Designer(s)	Adam Breeden Mark Neesam Alex Johnson Paul Stockley Aron Tomlin Mark Witts
Programmer(s)	Fred Williams
Artist(s)	Stephen Thomson Duncan Nimmo
Writer(s)	Richard Boon
Composer(s)	John Guscott Matt Black
Series	Pac-Man
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2 GameCube Windows Xbox PlayStation Portable Nintendo DS
Release	November 15, 2005 PlayStation 2, Xbox NA: November 15, 2005 AU: February 6, 2006 EU: May 5, 2006 GameCube NA: November 15, 2005 EU: June 23, 2006 Windows NA: November 15, 2005 EU: July 28, 2006 PlayStation Portable NA: December 6, 2005 EU: June 9, 2006 Nintendo DS NA: December 7, 2005 EU: May 5, 2006
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player

Pac-Man World 3 is a platform video game developed by Blitz Games and published by Namco Hometek. It was released in 2005 for multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and Microsoft Windows. The Nintendo DS version was ported by Human Soft. Pac-Man World 3 is the third and final entry in the Pac-Man World series, and it is notable for being the only game in the trilogy not released in Japan. This installment also features Pac-Man as a fully voiced character, marking the first time he speaks in a video game outside of the cartoon series.

Story

In pursuit of greater power, Erwin, a short and malicious genius, discovered a method to siphon raw energy from the Spectral Realm, the dimension inhabited by the Ghosts. He created a syphon capable of penetrating this realm, destabilizing the boundary between the Spectral Realm and Pac-Land, causing the two worlds to merge. This resulted in an environmental catastrophe, threatening the stability of both realms. During Pac-Man's 25th birthday celebration, he was unexpectedly teleported by Orson, a former adversary from the original Pac-Man World. Orson informed Pac-Man of Erwin's actions and the resulting danger to both the Spectral Realm and Pac-Land. Shortly thereafter, Pac-Man was attacked by hostile Spectral monsters, including fiery orange, green, and purple varieties, all of whom had been manipulated by Erwin's influence. Meanwhile, Inky and Blinky (Clyde) were kidnapped as part of Erwin’s plan, while Pinky and Clyde (Blinky) managed to escape.

In response, Pac-Man joined forces with his allies and Orson, Pinky, and Clyde (Blinky), to stop Erwin’s plans and prevent the collapse of both worlds. The group had to face numerous challenges and enemies manipulated by Erwin’s power as they raced to restore balance and save both the real and Spectral realms from destruction.

Gameplay

The game introduces several notable changes compared to previous Pac-Man World titles, placing a greater emphasis on action and combat elements while retaining the traditional platforming mechanics that have defined the series. In this installment, the gameplay retains familiar elements, such as the collection of pellets and fruit, which continue to grant points. A new feature has been added to each level, where players can find five 25th Anniversary Pac-Man Statues. Collecting all five statues within a level rewards the player with 2500 points and unlocks a bonus, encouraging players to fully explore the levels.

The Butt-Bounce move has been modified from previous versions, now limiting Pac-Man to a maximum of three consecutive bounces. The third bounce creates a small shockwave that extends the attack’s radius, providing players with a strategic advantage in combat. Similarly, the Rev-Roll move, which was first introduced in earlier titles, functions similarly but with added flexibility. Players can now stop the Rev-Roll before it launches by pressing the jump button, allowing for more precise control. This move also has expanded utility, as it can activate certain machines and summon Pinky and Clyde through specific Summon Points scattered throughout the levels.

New gameplay mechanics further diversify the player's actions. A punching mechanic has been added, allowing Pac-Man to engage in direct combat with enemies. The game also features acrobatic pole maneuvers, such as swinging and climbing, adding new platforming challenges and increasing the complexity of navigation. B-Doings, a recurring feature in the Pac-Man series, return but now launch Pac-Man in a fixed direction, rather than allowing player control over the trajectory. Another addition is the Pac-Dot Chains, generated by machines activated with colored crystals. These chains offer both aesthetic appeal and gameplay advantages, unlocking rewards and enhancing the experience.

A key element of the gameplay involves the power pellet, now reserved exclusively for specific sequences where Pac-Man must consume them to defeat Spectral Monsters—hostile creatures from the Spectral Realm. These monsters emerge from portals and attempt to attack Pac-Man, with the power pellet’s function tied to story progression. Alongside this, several new pellet types have been introduced, each offering unique benefits. The Electro-Shock Pellet replaces the punch attack with an ability to generate electricity from Pac-Man’s hands, stunning nearby enemies. The Ribbon Loop Pellet leaves a damaging trail when enclosed, allowing players to trap and damage enemies within its path.

In certain segments, players control Pac-Man as he pilots Toc-Man, a reimagined mecha character first introduced in the Pac-Man World series. These sequences involve defending against Erwin’s forces, with Toc-Man equipped for both punching and spin-based attacks, introducing new combat dynamics. In another sequence, Clyde pilots a blaster, adding further variety to the gameplay.

The game also features a museum, accessible from the main menu, where players can explore the history of the Pac-Manfranchise. The museum showcases key moments and milestones in the series’ development and includes a playable port of the original Pac-Man arcade game. Furthermore, an interview with Pac-Man creator Toru Iwatani offers valuable insight into the creation and legacy of the series.

Development and release

The game was originally developed under the title Pac-Man Adventures, with animator Don Bluth contributing to the project. Bluth, who had previously worked on I-Ninja, created concept art featuring various alien and creature designs, as well as a version of the protagonist from Dig Dug . Some concept art also depicted Pac-Man with expressions suggesting a potential gameplay mechanic involving a loss of control, which ultimately did not appear in Pac-Man World 3. The project was eventually canceled and reworked into Pac-Man World 3, with Bluth's involvement ending.

Release

Pac-Man World 3 was released by Namco Hometek on November 15, 2005 for Windows, GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, with versions for PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS following on December 6 and December 7, respectively.

In Europe, Electronic Arts, under an existing deal with Namco Europe, announced plans to co-publish and distribute the game in early 2006. The game was released on May 5, for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and DS, for GameCube on June 23, and for Windows on July 28.

In 2008 for North America only, the PlayStation 2 versions of Pac-Man World 3, Pac-Man World 2, and Pac-Man World Rally were released in a 3-pack called Pac-Man Power Pack.

On October 30, 2012, the Nintendo DS version of Pac-Man World 3 was re-released in North America as part of a Dual Pack bundle with Namco Museum DS.

Reception

Reception
Review scores Publication Score DS GC PC PS2 PSP Xbox Eurogamer N/A N/A N/A 4/10 N/A N/A Game Informer N/A 6.3/10 N/A 6.3/10 N/A 6.3/10 GameSpot N/A 6.9/10 6.3/10 6.9/10 N/A 6.9/10 GameZone N/A N/A N/A N/A 7.0/10 N/A IGN 4/10 6.9/10 N/A 6.9/10 6.9/10 6.9/10 Aggregate scores GameRankings 41.38% 65.83% 71.20% 62.21% 65.08% 64.23% Metacritic 44/100 66/100 74/100 63/100 61/100 65/100

The game received generally mixed reviews from critics. While elements retained from previous entries were generally well received, the game was criticized for repetitive gameplay and lower difficulty.

The Nintendo DS release, in particular, received criticism for technical issues, including glitches.

External links

• MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms. Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers". This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months. The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing. A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school. Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information. In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount. This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign. A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art). Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel, and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million. The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager. Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface. This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue. Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.

See also

• IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

External links

• Pac-Man World 3 on Gamespot