العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolNAMCO MUSEUM
'''Namco Museum''' refers to the series of compilations released by Namco for various 32-bit and above consoles, containing releases of their games from the 1980s. The titles have been met with mixed reaction from the gaming press, but their apparent success has led to the series continuing for almost a decade.
The series began on the Sony PlayStation with the tentatively named ''Namco Museum Volume 1'', indicating Namco's intent to make further instalments of the series. Indeed, the series ran until Volume 5 on the PlayStation 1, covering various games from the late 1980s, before moving onto the Nintendo 64, Wii, Nintendo DS and all sixth generation systems.
This was the first in the long series for the PlayStation and contained ''Pac-Man'' (1980), ''Rally-X'' (1980), ''New Rally-X'' (1981), ''Galaga'' (1981), ''Pole Position'' (1982), ''Bosconian'' (1981) and ''Toy Pop'' (1986). ''Toy Pop'' was relatively unknown.
All of the games were faithful to the arcade originals - ''Galaga'' allowed for an alternative screenmode to compensate for the lack of vertical monitor, whereby the scoreboard was located on the left of the screen, or rotated the image 90 degrees if the user possessed a vertical monitor or was willing to risk placing the television/monitor on its side. ''Pac-Man'' allowed the same. Nonetheless, all of the games in this and other collections were "recreated" using the original source code. The games in ''Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Arcade Collection'' were emulated using the original game ROMs.
While the control systems of six of the games were well preserved, ''Pole Position'' suffered in transition. At the time, the PlayStation's analog controller was not available and analog control was only possible by Namco's unpopular neGcon joypad.
The package also featured a "museum" mode where the player could walk through a virtual museum containing various curiosities surrounding the games including images of the mainboards, marketing material and conceptual artwork (all from the Japanese releases; neither this nor the others contain any American materials). For this reason, the games themselves are based on the Japanese releases, although for the U.S. the games retain their U.S. changes (i.e., Pac-Man is still "Pac-Man", as opposed to "Puckman"; the ghosts still have their U.S. names, etc).
Microsoft had already produced a similar product in 1996 under the title ''Microsoft Return of the Arcade'' for Windows 95 which was practically identical in contents and concept[1], also containing versions of ''Pac-Man'', ''Pole Position'', ''Galaga'' and ''Dig Dug'', albeit recreated as opposed to emulated.
The second installment of the PlayStation series featured ''Mappy'' (1983), ''Xevious'' (1982), ''Galaga'' sequel ''Gaplus'' (1984), ''Grobda'' (1984) (a Xevious "spinoff"), ''Dragon Buster'' (1984) and ''Super Pac-Man'' (1982) (''Cutie Q'' (1979) in the Japanese version). It enjoyed similar success to the original, and contained a similar "museum" mode. The Japanese version also features ''Bomb Bee'' (1979) as a hidden game.
The third PlayStation volume contained ''Galaxian'' (1979), ''Dig Dug'' (1982), ''Pac-Man'' sequel ''Ms. Pac-Man'' (1981), ''Pole Position II'' (1983), ''The Tower of Druaga'' (1984) and ''Phozon'' (1983). The first four were well-known in the U.S., but the latter two were relatively unknown. It contained the now-customary museum mode. This was the first in the series to receive general criticism from the gaming press, with serious questions being raised about the inclusion of the rather intensely difficult ''Tower of Druaga'', even though copies of the compilation enclosed a separate hint book for the game inside the case.
''Volume 4'' for the PlayStation featured ''Pac-Land'' (1984), ''Assault'' (1988), ''Ordyne'' (1988), the sequel to The ''Tower of Druaga'' known as ''The Return of Ishtar'' (1986) ''Genpei ToumaDen'' (1986), and ''Assault Plus'' (1989) as a hidden game. The usual museum mode was included. It was not well-received.
''Volume 5'' for the PlayStation featured ''Pac-Mania'' (1987), ''Dragon Spirit'' (1987), ''Metro-Cross'' (1985), ''Baraduke'' (1985) and ''Valkyrie No Densetsu'' (1989), as well as the standard museum mode.
This title was the only one that was not planned in advance for the PlayStation, hence the name. It was also the only one not to contain a game featuring Pac-Man. It featured seven titles: ''Dragon Saber'' (1990), ''Wonder Momo'' (1987), ''Rompers'' (1989), ''Motos'' (1985), ''Sky Kid'' (1985), ''King and Balloon'' (1980), and ''Rolling Thunder'' (1986). This was the only title never to be released outside Japan.
Namco's foray onto the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast featured six games. Although the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast didn't get multiple volumes of Namco Museum like the PlayStation did, Namco picked out the most popular games (mostly those deemed to be "classics" from the Golden Age of Arcade Games) from the PlayStation versions and including them in a single compilation. The Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast versions featured ''Pac-Man'', ''Ms. Pac-Man'', ''Galaga'', ''Galaxian'', ''Dig Dug'', and ''Pole Position'', but no museum mode as with the PlayStation versions.
The Game Boy Advance version featured the games: ''Ms. Pac-Man'', ''Galaga'', ''Galaxian'', ''Dig Dug'', and ''Pole Position''. Hardware limitations, however, meant that the accuracy of the games suffered somewhat, especially with the horizontal Game Boy Advance screen. This compilation did not save high scores, leading to some criticism. It has a sister game, ''Pac-Man Collection'', which was released a month after.
Allowing high score saves on either of these cartridges would have required the inclusion of non-volatile RAM, adding significantly to the cost of each cartridge. As these were aimed at the budget market, Namco decided not to include high score saving so that they could keep the price low.
The PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube were host to yet another version of the series. The version on these consoles included all the games from the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast version plus ''Pac-Man Arrangement'', ''Galaga Arrangement'', ''Dig Dug Arrangement'', ''Pac-Attack'', ''Pac-Mania'', and ''Pole Position II''. ''Pac-Attack'' and ''Pac-Mania'' must be unlocked by attaining a certain score in ''Pac-Man'' and ''Ms. Pac-Man''. This version of Namco Museum marks the first and, currently, only version in the series to include a non-arcade game (''Pac-Attack'').
This title refers to Namco's 50 years as a company which originally manufactured toys. It was released on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and PC and includes sixteen games: ''Pac-Man'' (1980), ''Ms. Pac-Man'' (1981), ''Galaga'' (1981), ''Galaxian'' (1979), ''Dig Dug'' (1982), ''Pole Position'' (1982), ''Pole Position II'' (1983), ''Rolling Thunder'' (1986), ''Rally-X'' (1980), ''Bosconian'' (1981), ''Dragon Spirit'' (1987), ''Sky Kid'' (1985), ''Xevious'' (1982), ''Mappy'' (1983), ''Pac-Mania'' (1987), and ''Galaga '88'' (1987). Both ''Pac-Mania'' and ''Galaga '88'' are locked initially and require minimum high scores in their prequel games to unlock. Because this museum was developed by Digital Eclipse rather than Mass Media, it features "true" arcade game emulation, retains most correct sounds, and eliminates the Japanese ''Pac-Man''/''Ms. Pac-Man'' side art. Additionally, this game features five songs from the 1980s: "Come on Eileen," "Working for the Weekend," "She Drives Me Crazy," "Talking in Your Sleep," and "Joystick," which are played in the game selection menu. As in the previous collection, there is no actual museum content.
There is also a scaled down version for the Game Boy Advance which includes five games: ''Pac-Man'' (1980), ''Ms. Pac-Man'' (1981), ''Rally-X'' (1980), ''Galaga'' (1981), and ''Dig Dug'' (1982). Unfortunately, this version didn't save high-scores.
Main articles: Namco Museum Battle Collection
This title was released on the PlayStation Portable. It contains over ten of Namco's best-known games such as ''Pac-Man'' (1980) and ''Galaga'' (1981), though the U.S. version includes more games than the Japanese version. In addition, "Arrangement" variants are available for ''Pac-Man'', ''Galaga'', ''New Rally-X'' (1981), and ''Dig Dug'' (1982), which have updated gameplay, graphics and can be played in a versus or cooperative mode using the PSP's ad hoc feature. Game Sharing, a feature that had not yet been used on the PSP, was introduced in this game. This allowed others PSPs in the area to download the first few levels of some of the classic games.
Main articles: Namco Museum Remix
According to http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/wii/data/939606.html this game will come to the Wii on October 26, 2007.
This compilation will feature the original arcade versions of Cutie Q, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Gaplus, Mappy, Pac & Pal, Pac Mania, Super Pac Man and Xevious. It will also feature re-vamped versions of Pac n Roll, Galaga, Pac Motos, Rally X and Gator Panic.
A release of the series for the Nintendo DS is slated for release in late 2007. As well as the original ''Pac-Man'' it also features a port of ''Pac-Man Vs.'', the well-received multi-player version that was only previously available on the Nintendo GameCube. Namco has listed 6 other games which will be on this cartridge: Galaga, Xevious, Dig Dug II, Galaxian, Mappy, and The Tower of Druaga.
★
The series began on the Sony PlayStation with the tentatively named ''Namco Museum Volume 1'', indicating Namco's intent to make further instalments of the series. Indeed, the series ran until Volume 5 on the PlayStation 1, covering various games from the late 1980s, before moving onto the Nintendo 64, Wii, Nintendo DS and all sixth generation systems.
''Namco Museum Volume 1''
This was the first in the long series for the PlayStation and contained ''Pac-Man'' (1980), ''Rally-X'' (1980), ''New Rally-X'' (1981), ''Galaga'' (1981), ''Pole Position'' (1982), ''Bosconian'' (1981) and ''Toy Pop'' (1986). ''Toy Pop'' was relatively unknown.
All of the games were faithful to the arcade originals - ''Galaga'' allowed for an alternative screenmode to compensate for the lack of vertical monitor, whereby the scoreboard was located on the left of the screen, or rotated the image 90 degrees if the user possessed a vertical monitor or was willing to risk placing the television/monitor on its side. ''Pac-Man'' allowed the same. Nonetheless, all of the games in this and other collections were "recreated" using the original source code. The games in ''Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Arcade Collection'' were emulated using the original game ROMs.
While the control systems of six of the games were well preserved, ''Pole Position'' suffered in transition. At the time, the PlayStation's analog controller was not available and analog control was only possible by Namco's unpopular neGcon joypad.
The package also featured a "museum" mode where the player could walk through a virtual museum containing various curiosities surrounding the games including images of the mainboards, marketing material and conceptual artwork (all from the Japanese releases; neither this nor the others contain any American materials). For this reason, the games themselves are based on the Japanese releases, although for the U.S. the games retain their U.S. changes (i.e., Pac-Man is still "Pac-Man", as opposed to "Puckman"; the ghosts still have their U.S. names, etc).
Microsoft had already produced a similar product in 1996 under the title ''Microsoft Return of the Arcade'' for Windows 95 which was practically identical in contents and concept[1], also containing versions of ''Pac-Man'', ''Pole Position'', ''Galaga'' and ''Dig Dug'', albeit recreated as opposed to emulated.
''Namco Museum Volume 2''
The second installment of the PlayStation series featured ''Mappy'' (1983), ''Xevious'' (1982), ''Galaga'' sequel ''Gaplus'' (1984), ''Grobda'' (1984) (a Xevious "spinoff"), ''Dragon Buster'' (1984) and ''Super Pac-Man'' (1982) (''Cutie Q'' (1979) in the Japanese version). It enjoyed similar success to the original, and contained a similar "museum" mode. The Japanese version also features ''Bomb Bee'' (1979) as a hidden game.
''Namco Museum Volume 3''
The third PlayStation volume contained ''Galaxian'' (1979), ''Dig Dug'' (1982), ''Pac-Man'' sequel ''Ms. Pac-Man'' (1981), ''Pole Position II'' (1983), ''The Tower of Druaga'' (1984) and ''Phozon'' (1983). The first four were well-known in the U.S., but the latter two were relatively unknown. It contained the now-customary museum mode. This was the first in the series to receive general criticism from the gaming press, with serious questions being raised about the inclusion of the rather intensely difficult ''Tower of Druaga'', even though copies of the compilation enclosed a separate hint book for the game inside the case.
''Namco Museum Volume 4''
''Volume 4'' for the PlayStation featured ''Pac-Land'' (1984), ''Assault'' (1988), ''Ordyne'' (1988), the sequel to The ''Tower of Druaga'' known as ''The Return of Ishtar'' (1986) ''Genpei ToumaDen'' (1986), and ''Assault Plus'' (1989) as a hidden game. The usual museum mode was included. It was not well-received.
''Namco Museum Volume 5''
''Volume 5'' for the PlayStation featured ''Pac-Mania'' (1987), ''Dragon Spirit'' (1987), ''Metro-Cross'' (1985), ''Baraduke'' (1985) and ''Valkyrie No Densetsu'' (1989), as well as the standard museum mode.
''Namco Museum Encore''
This title was the only one that was not planned in advance for the PlayStation, hence the name. It was also the only one not to contain a game featuring Pac-Man. It featured seven titles: ''Dragon Saber'' (1990), ''Wonder Momo'' (1987), ''Rompers'' (1989), ''Motos'' (1985), ''Sky Kid'' (1985), ''King and Balloon'' (1980), and ''Rolling Thunder'' (1986). This was the only title never to be released outside Japan.
''Namco Museum 64''/''DC''
Namco's foray onto the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast featured six games. Although the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast didn't get multiple volumes of Namco Museum like the PlayStation did, Namco picked out the most popular games (mostly those deemed to be "classics" from the Golden Age of Arcade Games) from the PlayStation versions and including them in a single compilation. The Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast versions featured ''Pac-Man'', ''Ms. Pac-Man'', ''Galaga'', ''Galaxian'', ''Dig Dug'', and ''Pole Position'', but no museum mode as with the PlayStation versions.
''Namco Museum Advance''
The Game Boy Advance version featured the games: ''Ms. Pac-Man'', ''Galaga'', ''Galaxian'', ''Dig Dug'', and ''Pole Position''. Hardware limitations, however, meant that the accuracy of the games suffered somewhat, especially with the horizontal Game Boy Advance screen. This compilation did not save high scores, leading to some criticism. It has a sister game, ''Pac-Man Collection'', which was released a month after.
Allowing high score saves on either of these cartridges would have required the inclusion of non-volatile RAM, adding significantly to the cost of each cartridge. As these were aimed at the budget market, Namco decided not to include high score saving so that they could keep the price low.
''Namco Museum PS2/Xbox/GC''
The PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube were host to yet another version of the series. The version on these consoles included all the games from the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast version plus ''Pac-Man Arrangement'', ''Galaga Arrangement'', ''Dig Dug Arrangement'', ''Pac-Attack'', ''Pac-Mania'', and ''Pole Position II''. ''Pac-Attack'' and ''Pac-Mania'' must be unlocked by attaining a certain score in ''Pac-Man'' and ''Ms. Pac-Man''. This version of Namco Museum marks the first and, currently, only version in the series to include a non-arcade game (''Pac-Attack'').
''Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary Arcade Collection''
This title refers to Namco's 50 years as a company which originally manufactured toys. It was released on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and PC and includes sixteen games: ''Pac-Man'' (1980), ''Ms. Pac-Man'' (1981), ''Galaga'' (1981), ''Galaxian'' (1979), ''Dig Dug'' (1982), ''Pole Position'' (1982), ''Pole Position II'' (1983), ''Rolling Thunder'' (1986), ''Rally-X'' (1980), ''Bosconian'' (1981), ''Dragon Spirit'' (1987), ''Sky Kid'' (1985), ''Xevious'' (1982), ''Mappy'' (1983), ''Pac-Mania'' (1987), and ''Galaga '88'' (1987). Both ''Pac-Mania'' and ''Galaga '88'' are locked initially and require minimum high scores in their prequel games to unlock. Because this museum was developed by Digital Eclipse rather than Mass Media, it features "true" arcade game emulation, retains most correct sounds, and eliminates the Japanese ''Pac-Man''/''Ms. Pac-Man'' side art. Additionally, this game features five songs from the 1980s: "Come on Eileen," "Working for the Weekend," "She Drives Me Crazy," "Talking in Your Sleep," and "Joystick," which are played in the game selection menu. As in the previous collection, there is no actual museum content.
There is also a scaled down version for the Game Boy Advance which includes five games: ''Pac-Man'' (1980), ''Ms. Pac-Man'' (1981), ''Rally-X'' (1980), ''Galaga'' (1981), and ''Dig Dug'' (1982). Unfortunately, this version didn't save high-scores.
''Namco Museum Battle Collection''
Main articles: Namco Museum Battle Collection
This title was released on the PlayStation Portable. It contains over ten of Namco's best-known games such as ''Pac-Man'' (1980) and ''Galaga'' (1981), though the U.S. version includes more games than the Japanese version. In addition, "Arrangement" variants are available for ''Pac-Man'', ''Galaga'', ''New Rally-X'' (1981), and ''Dig Dug'' (1982), which have updated gameplay, graphics and can be played in a versus or cooperative mode using the PSP's ad hoc feature. Game Sharing, a feature that had not yet been used on the PSP, was introduced in this game. This allowed others PSPs in the area to download the first few levels of some of the classic games.
''Namco Museum Remix''
Main articles: Namco Museum Remix
According to http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/wii/data/939606.html this game will come to the Wii on October 26, 2007.
This compilation will feature the original arcade versions of Cutie Q, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Gaplus, Mappy, Pac & Pal, Pac Mania, Super Pac Man and Xevious. It will also feature re-vamped versions of Pac n Roll, Galaga, Pac Motos, Rally X and Gator Panic.
''Namco Museum DS''
A release of the series for the Nintendo DS is slated for release in late 2007. As well as the original ''Pac-Man'' it also features a port of ''Pac-Man Vs.'', the well-received multi-player version that was only previously available on the Nintendo GameCube. Namco has listed 6 other games which will be on this cartridge: Galaga, Xevious, Dig Dug II, Galaxian, Mappy, and The Tower of Druaga.
External link
★
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
