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Release Date: August 22, 2006
Developers: Smart Bomb Interactive
Publishers: Namco Bandai Games
Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo GameCube, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Racing
Players: 1
Rating:3+

Pac-Man World Rally, (known in Europe as Pac-Man Rally) is a kart racing game in the Pac-Man's series. It is developed by Namco Bandai Games, and released in August 2006 for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation Portable, and Microsoft Windows. An Xbox version of the game was canceled, even though there is a preview of it included in Pac-Man World 3. The game has 15 race tracks and a battle mode similar to other kart racing games. In addition, there are four battle arenas for multiplayer action. You will also be able to collect power-ups to attack opponents or gain an edge in the race, as well as Pac-Man's signature fruit pickups, which in Pac-Man World Rally unlock secret shortcuts. There are 16 characters for the player to choose from.

Pac-Man World rally is set in a make belief world designed by Smart Bomb Interactive. Although it doesn't really go into any detail about the world, its just purely based on race tracks scattered across this make-belief world as it is a racing game. It is full of jumps, shortcuts, and things you will need quick maneuvers for. Overall the setting was pretty good and i enjoyed this old classic.

The gamplay for this revolved around the player 'Pac-Man' in a Kart type racing game similar to 'Mario Kart'. It takes you to 15 different race tracks in battle type races to see if you got what it takes to become number one. First off the collectibles. Pac Boxes these boxes allow Pac-Man to have one power to be able to use to his advantage. This could consist of speed boosts to things you can use to attack another opponent. Also there are Fruit Pads placed on every racetrack, once these have been run over they release fruit onto the racetrack. Once one of these fruits have been collected it opens a shortcut in the map giving you a time advantage against over players. And there are Pac-Dots scattered around the racetrack, similar to the original Pac-Man game that every child has played growing up, where you have to eat all of the yellow dots and stay clear of the ghosts. Anyway with each Dot you collect Pac-Man is one step closer to filling his meter up. Once this meter has been filled up you can turn into Pac-Man(as you have a selection of characters you can be at the beginning of the game) and turn everyone else into the Blue ghosts which are defenceless against Pac-Man. If you then drive into these ghosts and eat them, they will be stopped on the spot, leaving them very far behind everyone else in the race. I liked this as it came in handy when i was close 2nd and i would collect enough dots to be able to eat the character infront of me and it would insure my 1st place, made me feel like i was amazing at the game. Overall i would have to say the gameplay was really enjoyable and would love to see more to this franchise.

Well i would say the graphics worked out rather well, the visuals were good, also the combat between player and the openings of shortcuts look smooth and didn't cause any glitching of some sort so i would have to give credit to the developers on this games graphics as i thought they wouldn't live up to the standards of previous games in the Pac-Man Series. Overall the graphics were a good follow on from previous games, kept the series looking fresh.

The controls were pretty basic, the same as any other Series spinoff racegame to be honest. There was no need for most controls as the handling was very unrealistic as you could speed round a corner without braking and you wouldn't spin off or crash into your surroundings. Overall i would say the controls were easy but unrealistic.

The game has received mixed to negative reviews with half of the comments coming from critics saying that this game was "a rip-off of Mario Kart." On IGN, Pac Man World Rally holds a 5.7 rating average among several websites. Pac-Man World Rally, along with Pac-Man World 2, and Pac-Man World 3 were released in the Pac-Man Power Pack collection for PlayStation 2 in 2008.

Overall i would say the game was about average, didn't really amuse me too well and just reminded me of Mario Kart, and since Mario Kart is better, i would go and play that instead. This came could have been better if they changed a few features so it didn't seem like a rip off of Mario Kart, but in all a pretty average game, worth the money.