A trip down memory lane…
This review originally posted at MentalGamers – www.mentalgamers.com/game_reviews.php?r=12
Namco Museum 50th Anniversary is a boasts of 14 classic arcade hits, including a further 2 unlockable games, to celebrate 50 years of Namco. With the scoring system used here this is going to be a hard game to review due to an unfair comparison on graphics and sound, but even though it may seem harsh to judge it by today’s standards we’re living in “today” so that’s just how it has to be.
Included on a single CD are:
Pac-Man
Ms. Pac-Man
Galaga
Galaxian
Dig-Dug
Rally-X
Pole Position
Pole Position II
Xevious
Dragon Spirit
Bosconian
Rolling Thunder
Mappy
Sky Kid
Plus two unlockable games: Pac-Mania and Galaga ’88 – Both unlockable by attaining a certain score in their respective fore-runners.
I don’t really see much point in reviewing each of these games individually as let?s face it, they’ve been out a while, and more to the point it would end up being my longest review yet… So to cut to the chase, this collection is all about nostalgia. If you didn’t grow up in the right era and never visited the arcades to pump them full of all your pocket money then I wouldn’t even go near this.
On loading the game up I was pleasantly surprised to hear Fine Young Cannibals singing “She Drives Me Crazy” while I was presented with the only 3D part you’re going to see – the virtual arcade. Basically you will see a “carousel” of arcade machines each playing one of the games in the collection on it, and you which one you want to play by pressing left or right. After sitting back and listening to FYC a bit longer I loaded up Pac-Man. Yep, just as I remembered it. Next was Ms. Pac-Man. Funnily enough it was like I remember too – same as Pac-Man but with a ribbon.
There were some games I’d played before and some I hadn’t, but the common theme is bad graphics and horrible arcade sounds. Sure it takes you back down memory lane but it also grates on your nerves after about 5 minutes. The ion of 80’s music that plays on the menu would have been nice to listen to while playing but unfortunately you are unable to do that, which seems a bit pointless. I mean how long are you really going to spend on the menu ing your game?
There’s not really much more I can say about this other than don’t just look at the final score… The graphics and sound are not going to get good marks because I have to score based on modern games. Sure Namco could have done up the graphics but then it wouldn’t be a “museum” would it? Also while some of the games are more fun to play than others, none of these games will keep you occupied for long. As I said this is all about nostalgia, if you’re not after a trip down memory lane then this isn’t for you.
The Bad: Very dated
