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Pac-Man World Rally, released in Europe as Pac-Man Rally, is a racing video game starring the legendary Pac-Man and some of his friends and enemies. It was developed by Smart Bomb Interactive and published by Bandai Namco Games, and was released on the Nintendo GameCube, as well as the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PC. The GameCube copies were only distributed in North America, whilst an Xbox port was cancelled.

Gameplay[]

In Pac-Man World Rally, players race as characters from both the Pac-Man series and some characters from Namco's arcade games to be the first to reach the finish line. On the tracks, there are item boxes that players pick up to get an item and attack other players or help themselves.

When a player performs a powerslide, a mini bar will appear next to their speedometer. When it's full, players can then use a Guardian, which shields them from item attacks and course hazards. Additionally, there are Pac-Dots that, when collected, fill the Pac-Meter. When the Pac-Meter is full, players can then transform into the Pac-Mobile and turn the other racers into ghosts. When a ghost is eaten, that racer will not be able to move for a few moments.

The main game of Pac-Man World Rally has four racing modes:

  • Circuit Mode: The Grand Prix mode that can be played with up to four players for the most points.
  • Time Trial: A single-player mode where the player completes a track of their choice as fast as they can.
  • Quick Race: A single- and multiplayer mode where players race against computer-controlled karts on the track of their choice.
  • Versus: A multiplayer mode where two to four players race to be the first to cross the finish line on a chosen track. Computer drivers do not appear in this mode.

In addition to racing, Pac-Man World Rally also has a Battle mode with its own set of modes:

  • Deathmatch: Players compete to get a specified number of kills, where they gain one point for successful kills, but lose one if they are killed themselves.
  • Free For All: Players compete to get the most amount of points within the allotted time. As with Deathmatch, players gain points for defeated foes, but lose one if they are defeated themselves.
  • Last Kart Driving: Players compete to be the last one standing.
  • Binge: Players race around arenas and be the first to have enough fruit in their possession. However, if they are defeated or fall off, they lose half of the fruit in their possession.
  • Classic: Pac-Dots appear in the arena for players to collect, and the player who collects the most of them after a specified number of rounds wins. Additionally, the Pac-Mobile can be used to attack opponents, and if a player is defeated, they lose half of their Pac-Dots.

Items[]

Race[]

  • Green Pac-Bomb: A green bomb that bounces off the walls and explodes on the player it hits. Can be thrown backwards.
  • Red Pac-Bomb: A red bomb that homes in on the target ahead of the user. When it is thrown backward, it behaves like a Green Pac-Bomb.
  • Blue Pac-Bomb: A blue bomb that flies over the other racers and attacks the player in 1st place.
  • Pac-Dora's Box: A red version of the Pac-Box that spins other racers out.
  • Atomic Pellet: A winged Power Pellet that gives the user a burst of speed for a few moments. In the Time Trial mode, players start with three of this item.
  • Pac-Snowman: A snowman that throws snowballs at nearby racers. If they get hit by a snowball or bump into the Pac-Snowman itself, they must press the A Button three times to break free.
  • Storm Cloud: Makes the racers ahead of the user lose traction of their karts for a few moments.
  • Black Pac-Bomb: A black bomb that functions similarly to the Green Pac-Bomb, but has a larger blast radius.
  • Siria the Ice Dragon: A flying dragon that leaves behind ice cubes on the track that the other racers must avoid.
  • Sir Pac-a-Lot: Chases after the racer ahead of the user and flattens them.
  • Galaga Ship: Shoots the closest racer ahead.

Battle[]

  • Banana Ram: A banana weapon that allows the player to charge into their opponents, dealing heavy damage when it hits.
  • Blueberry Blaster: A missile launcher that deals heavy damage and has a medium firing rate.
  • Cherry Bombs: Bombs that, when deployed, explode when a player touches them or when they are left alone for a few moments.
  • Grape Grenade: A purple launcher weapon that fires explosive grapes that damage racers within their proximity.
  • Pac-Dot Gun: A rifle-like weapon that fires 10 Pac-Dots at a time. If the item button is released early, the Pac-Dot Gun has to reload before it can fire again.
  • Sonic Bell: A bell weapon that sends out shockwaves, damaging nearby racers.
  • Strawberry Striker: A weapon acting as a missile, dealing heavy damage to the racer it hits.
  • Watermelon Seed Spitter: A rapid-firing weapon with low damage output. It chips away an opponent's health.

Courses[]

Cherry Cup[]

  • Cloud Garden
  • Molten Mountain
  • Rolling Hills
  • Ghost Mansion

Grape Cup[]

  • Canyon Crusade
  • Arctic Iceberg
  • Jungle Safari
  • Pirate Cove

Watermelon Cup[]

  • Winding Wetland
  • Toc-Man's Factory
  • Funhouse of Terror
  • Spooky's Castle

Classic Cup[]

  • Galactic Outpost
  • King's Kourse
  • Retro Maze

Characters[]

Reception[]

The game received mixed reviews on all consoles according to review aggregator Metacritic.

External links[]

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