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Namco Museum Essentials Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Namco Museum Essentials Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Chomp, Shoot, Pump

Namco Museum Essentials brings together five classic arcade titles and remakes one of them with quality HD visuals for the PS3. While we love all these games and are glad to have them in our PS3 hard drive, we’re not sure this game is as essential as the title seems to suggest. Effectively, what gamers get with this download are four shooters (three of which feature little more than cosmetic changes), Pac-Man, and Dig Dug. Still, for only $9.99, old-school gaming aficionados will get their money’s worth.

Namco Museum Essentials screenshot

The games included in this compilation are Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Xevious, Dragon Spirit, Galaga, and the remake of Xevious: Xevious Resurrection. Without a doubt, Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Xevious, and Galaga are titles all gamers can agree are of the highest quality. That being said, these games have re-released countless times for home consoles over the last couple of decades. As such, they’ve lost some of their luster, if not their cachet. For those of you who haven’t played these games before, you probably just learned how to read. For everyone else, gameplay is exactly what you’ve grown up with, as the code has been ripped directly from the arcade and has been ported to the PS3. That being said, I did experience a glitch while playing Pac-Man that I never have experienced in my 30+ years: I floated through a ghost unscathed whilst cornered in a phantasm sandwich. While this only happened once during testing, it hints at possible stability issues.

While Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Xevious, and Galaga are games nearly every gamer knows inside and out, there are two other games included in this compilation that are fresh. I’m fairly confident in stating that the vast majority of players have likely never played Dragon Spirit. This game has players take on the role of a knight that can transmute himself into a dragon. Flying through vertical levels, Dragon Spirit is a shooter that does little to improve the genre’s conventions. Players have a couple different breath-weapon attacks and can also drop fiery bombs which I can only assume is dragon scat. In this way, players advance through zones, blasting all enemies in their path. Despite being a decidedly unoriginal concept, Dragon Spirit does what it sets out to competently. However, at least for me, it didn’t have the nostalgia attached to it that the other four classic titles have – and it therefore won’t likely get much play time in my living room.

Namco Museum Essentials screenshot

Players will also be treated to a remade Xevious. Xevious Resurrection captures everything you love about the original space shooter and gives it a 1080p facelift. Additionally, new enemies and a regenerating shield system have been added to make the make the game feel fresh. While I really enjoyed the stunning new presentation, I didn’t find gameplay to be substantially better than what is on offer in the original title. After all, Resurrection is little more than a pretty new face – it is a remake of the original game rather than a full-fledged sequel. I would have liked to have seen a completely new entry developed for this release. Nevertheless, the retro-shooter gameplay mixed with the HD polish makes this a solid entry in the compilation.

Menu presentation and navigation in Essentials is top-notch. Additionally, players have a host of options – such as BGM variety – that are nice touches if not completely necessary. Along that same line, players can also open up in-game trophies called NM Stamps. These stamps track your progress and achievements throughout the games. While these aren’t really enough to keep you playing, I suppose it’s rewarding, nonetheless.

Namco Museum Essentials screenshot

My biggest complaint with this title is that the controls are woefully inadequate. Frankly, the PS3 controllers’ analog sticks and D-pads simply aren’t made for this kind of gaming. As such, don’t expect to be setting solid high scores until you’ve invested several hours getting used to the gummy, inaccurate directional controls. In fact, old-school gamers would be best served investing money into a quality fight stick rather than sinking time into adjusting to the controls. Besides, doing so will serve you well for future retro titles and the pantheon of must-have arcade fighters out there.

Namco Museum Essentials screenshot

Sounds in the game are nearly perfect. The old tunes from yesteryear are of good fidelity, and the ability to collect and change the musical themes is nice. Visually, Essentials is also very well done. Naturally, the HD remake of Xevious is sterling, and the variable backgrounds behind the classic titles do a great job of enhancing the arcade cabinet feel. Of course, most of these games are simply ports of 80’s titles, so don’t expect to have your socks knocked off. Then again, the quality gameplay on offer in these Namco classics isn’t really in need of fancy graphics (this holds true for Xevious Resurrection too).

Namco Museum Essentials is a quality title for old-school gaming aficionados anxious to have access to a few classic arcade titles on their PS3. That being said, those same gamers have likely purchased these games on a previous console. The inclusion of Dragon Spirit and Xevious Resurrection keep things feeling fresh, but they’re not substantial enough to get gamers excited. Of course, at just $10, it’s nice to have ready access to these classic Namco titles.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.2 Graphics
Everything here is just how you remember it. The ability to switch out arcade backgrounds and the new HD scheme featured in Xevious Resurrection are nice touches. 2.0 Control
Using a SIXAXIS or DUALSHOCK 3 is inadequate. Players who want to get the true experience may want to invest in a fight stick. 4.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Again, themes are taken straight from the arcade. The fidelity is of very high quality. 3.5 Play Value
These are games you’ve been playing for years and they still resonate. Dragon Spirit doesn’t seem to be of the same ilk, and Xevious Resurrection is a bit superfluous. 3.4 Overall Rating – Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Namco Museum Essentials brings the arcades to your living room with five classic games and a brand new arranged Xevious title.
  • Challenge your friends’ high scores and unlock NM Stamps, PlayStation Home rewards and trophies as you re-live the sights and sounds of the 80’s.

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