Namco MuseumTM Battle Collection - The games that shaped a generation

[Zeus]

- 20 Arcade Classics on one PSPTM UMD
- 16 old school favourites including Pac-Man, Galaga, New Rally-X and Dig Dug
- 4 new specially arranged versions exclusive to PSP
- Vs, Co-op, GameShare & wireless multiplayer modes for gaming with your mates

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is pleased to announce the November release of Namco Museum Battle Collection exclusive to the PSPTM. Developed by Namco, this collection is a real bonanza for all arcade lovers. From arguably the most famous game icon in the world, Pac-Man, to gamers' favourite Galaga, there are a whole host of other true arcade legends in between. This is a true gaming classic, offering brilliant value and great fun.

In Namco Museum Battle Collection, Namco brings together a classic collection of its greatest arcade titles as they debut for the ultimate gaming-on-the-go device, the PSP. As well as including 16 of the original arcade titles, Namco Museum Battle Collection also includes 4 brand new updated versions of Pac-Man, Galaga, New Rally-X and Dig Dug.

Bringing together these classic 1980s titles, and taking full advantage of the PSP's wireless connectivity, Namco Museum Battle Collection allows gamers to battle it out in a number of different gaming scenarios, from rally driving to space age alien blasting. Gamers are given plenty of opportunity to see who earns the bragging rights in the ultimate arcade compilation. Namco Museum Battle Collection also takes advantage of the exciting new GameShare technology that the PSP boasts, allowing gamers to send levels from Namco Museum Battle Collection games to other PSPs, for friends to compete on and try out.

Despite the title, games like this don't deserve to be in a gaming museum (what's the fun in looking but not touching?), they've been let out of their (arcade)-cabinets and ready to play on the PSP. This is a must have game title for all gaming aficionados.

Key game stats:

- Genre: Arcade
- Developer: Namco
- Players: 1-4 multiplayer
- Platform: PSP handheld entertainment system
- Game titles include: Pac-Man, Galaga, Galaxian, Rally-X, New Rally-X, Dig Dug, Xevious, Bosconian, Rolling Thunder, Mappy, Tower of Druaga, Dragon Buster, Grobda, Motos, Dig Dug 2 and King & Balloon
- 4 exclusive new arrangements for Pac-Man, Galaga, New Rally X and Dig-Dug
- Wireless multiplayer matches
- Co-op mode
- Game sharing

So if you fancy going back to a time of misspent youth without the need for a pocket full of change Namco Museum Battle Collection is the title for you. Perfect for bite-sized gaming, between bus stops or waiting for a train, through to when you have hours to kill and you need a good variety of games without having to take all of your UMDs out with you. These titles helped shape the first generation of gamers, so don't miss this opportunity to re-live the 1980s part of PSP's new gaming revolution!

[TheBoyEclectic]

I'd like to add my voice to this. I've had a chance to play the Japanese release (that doesn't have as many titles) and I was delighted to play the new Galaga Arrangement. I am looking forward to picking this up when it's released domestically.

I love the classics. I am one of those who was shaped by these games. My first home system was a Super Pong and I played Pong and Nightrider in the arcades. I remember the first time I saw Atari Football (with the big trackballs) and Space Invaders. As for the Namco titles, PacMan, Ms. PacMan, Galaga, Galaxian, Dig-Dug, and Xevious are among my top 100 arcade games. This collection is a treat. However, what makes it a must-buy for me is the new Galaga Arrangement.

In the new version there are updated graphics and sound (with respect to the original scores and sound effects - really - they did it well!). It also is much more involved. There are interesting boss battles and evolving scrolling backgrounds as you progress through the levels. Like the original, you can have one ship captured and then returned to you for dual shots. However, there are more variations because depending on which enemy takes your ship, you have a different upgrade when it's returned. Furthermore, you can have two ships taken, thus doubling the power of the upgrade or combining 2 of the 3 upgrades.

Trust me when I say that this is a treat. As an old-schooler that still enjoys contemporary titles, I think that they updated this one very well while maintaining the spirit of the original.

Enjoy! :)

[TheBoyEclectic]

Well I just got home from purchasing the Namco Museum Battle Collection from my local Best Buy. I popped in the UMD and guess what? It REQUIRES the 1.52 upgrade which it includes on the disc!

HOWEVER, I have good news. I was planning to play it from my Memory Stick anyway (it's under 200Mb) and Fastloader successfully launches it no problem! This way I can keep my disc pristine and my Firmware completely homebrew-friendly.

Oh, I still am absolutely delighted with this purchase. I want to support our developers. It's just that I also want to be able to run my old systems via emulation too. This gives me the ability to support them and still play the game without having to upgrade. Good stuff!

As a closing note, I think that this release is awesome! I would have preferred 2 things:
1. A $29.99 USD price point instead of $39.99. I think that $40 is pretty steep considering that I own the Namco Collections for the PS1 (all 5), the PS2, the GBA, and the Dreamcast.
2. The game sharing function seems limited. I believe that people only get a limited version of any game that you send them. I understand that it should be eliminated when they power down the PSP (that only makes sense for copyright purposes). However, I can't help but think that this factor would have been enough. As it is, they have further crippled the individual games beyond that. Ouch!

Still worth buying. As I said on my previous post, the Arrangement version of Galaga is quite a piece of work.

Enjoy! :)