Both Volumes of the Namco Museum Archives are well-made packages that include a mix of strong classics and clunky fossils, though your opinions on which is which will likely vary. The rewind system is a bit on the obtuse side, but the “remade” versions of Pac-Man Championship Edition and Gaplus are great additions for any retro enthusiasts.
Namco Museum Archives Volumes 1 and 2
Developer: Bandai Namco
Price: $20 each
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed,) Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 code for review
It’s hard to dispute that Bandai Namco is good at keeping their past alive with their various rereleases of classic arcade and home console titles. The newest collection of these classics comes in the form of the Namco Museum Archive, split into two separate volumes. While there are some issues with the rewind feature and a disappointing lack of the original Splatterhouse, these new-old releases are overall worth checking out if you’re in the mood for old-school arcade titles.
The first volume of the Namco Museum Archive contains Galaxian, Xevious, Mappy, Dragon Buster, Pac-Man, Dig-Dug, The Tower of Druaga, Sky Kid, Dragon Spirit: The New Legend, Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti, and an 8-bit remake of Pac-Man Championship Edition. Most of these are titles that are fun for short periods of time, but lacking in long-term excitement or variation. Dig-Dug, Mappy, The Tower of Druaga, and Pac-Man feel like the most consistently enjoyable titles of the usual suspects on the list, though I respect how strange Dragon Spirit is.
The most notable entries are Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti and Pac-Man Championship Edition. Wanpaku Graffiti is a parody platformer of Splatterhouse, filled with references to classic horror films and even Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. Its chibi aesthetic and jumpy music are very charming, and the gameplay is like a simpler version of the original Splatterhouse as a light beat-em-up platformer. I do wish the original Splatterhouse was part of the collection as well, as it’s one of the more robust Namco classics, and it would contrast well with the inclusion of Wanpaku Graffiti. On the other hand, the remade Pac-Man Championship Edition is an excellent inclusion, as it takes the fun twists of the original Championship Edition and repackages them to look like the original Pac-Man. The increasingly exciting audio and speedy gameplay make this the best part of the package, and the most recommendable part of Volume 1.
“If you can only pick one volume, I’d say Volume 2 may give you more bang for your buck, though if you prefer simpler classics, Volume 1 is the way to go.“
The second volume of the Namco Museum Archive contains Battle City, Pac-Land, Dig Dug II, Super Xevious, Galaga, Rolling Thunder, Mappy-Land, Legacy of the Wizard, Dragon Buster II, Mendel Palace, and a home console version of Gaplus. The titles included with Volume 2 are better when it comes to consistent entertainment, as they feel more experimental and refined. They’re obviously still fairly simple, but games like Rolling Thunder and Dragon Buster II are ambitious enough to stand out. Galaga is always an excellent experience to play, and the remade Gaplus, while not as much of a stand-out as Volume 1’s Pac-Man Championship Edition, is a new and fun way to play the Galaga sequel. If you can only pick one volume, I’d say Volume 2 may give you more bang for your buck, though if you prefer simpler classics, Volume 1 is the way to go.
Both volumes feature a rewind function that is meant to bring you back to a point before you died or made a decision in each game that you would like to undo. Unlike with most games that use this feature, the Namco Museum Archives just drop you backwards without letting you alter the length of a rewind. You can rewind repeatedly to go further back, so I don’t see why the rewind function couldn’t be more user-friendly when it comes to customizing length.
The Final Word
Both volumes of the Namco Museum Archives have their own strong points, despite the mediocre rewind feature. If you’ve never played some of these classic games and they appeal to you, this is an overall good collection with which to experience them. If you’ve played one of the recent collections though, the few new titles may make this one worth waiting for a sale on, as there isn’t much difference in the often-included titles.
MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
