arcade

Being an old-school gamer who grew up playing these games in the 80's, I was excited when Namco announced they were releasing Namco Museum for the XBOX! And for only [price], this is one of the best gaming deals you can find! The arranged Pac-Man mode is worth the cost of the game itself!

You get emulated versions of Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position 1 and 2, Galaxian, and Dig Dug. Having just these classic titles on one disc is worth the cost of the disc, but Namco also included modernized "arranged" versions of Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug which have modern graphics and even boss battles as well as two player simultaneous play! These arranged versions were originally released in the arcades back in the mid-90's and they are translated PERFECTLY here!

Guess what? Namco also included Pacmania AND Pac-Attack as unlockable titles! That's 12 games one one disc! Whether your a longtime gamer like myself or a l337 newbie who cut his teeth on nothing but modern consoles, you'll find yourself playing these games for hours! SO much variety and one final option that Namco saw fit to include....

YOUR HIGH SCORES ARE RETAINED! This may not sound like a big thing, but believe me, it's a much-needed feature and something that has been left out in past versions!

Any problems? Strictly minor...sometimes the screens look small, some sound glitches (sometimes the music seems out of tempo on some of the high score entry screens), and you may want to invest in a Controller S or joystick since these games demand some precise joypad movement. I bought this on launch day and it will forever remain a part of my XBOX library. It's truly that good!!

Wow! 12 games on one disk! This is probably the best bargain for X-Box. It includes Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position 1 and 2, Galaxian, and Dig Dug. Additionally, Namco Museum comes with modernized "arranged" versions of Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug which have sharper graphics, good sound effects, and, best of all, two player simultaneous play! I love this two player feature! Playing Pac-Man simultaneously with someone else is a lot of fun! Good teamwork is definitely needed! One important feature: the High Scores are saved!

All in all, this is a great buy. The games are good and reminiscent of the old 1980s style arcades. This game, however, requires no more quarters to be plunked down! Although cheaper to simply play these games online or on the computer, it was fun on the X-Box and on my TV. Like almost all games, it does get old after a long period of repeated play, but has greater staying power than many strategy or mission games. It is great for play with the girlfriend, sister, or even parents. My mother, uniterested in halo or Madden, loved playing Pac-Man.

This is a super edition to any X-Box library!

What more could you possibly want in hard hitting arcade action? Forget Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto, these are the games that separate the men from the boys...

Galaga - As far as I know I am the world's Galaga champ. I cannot walk past an arcade machine no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I just know that as soon as I put that quarter into the machine, I know where I'll be spending the next hour and a half. This is an incredible game, perhaps the greatest ever made. Go for 40 on the challange stage every time or you'll never catch me. And always double up your ships every chance you get. Shoot the aliens while they are forming up. By the time they start coming down, you should only have two or three left.

Dig Dug - The Holy Grail of 80's arcades. This is the game that predated Mr. Do, yet will never be forgotten. Always drop rocks, drop as many rocks as youcan. It makes the vegetables appear, you get tremendous points for kills, and they get you out of tight fixes. At the arcade when you see 999,999 on the Dig Dug machine, you know it was me.

Pac-Man - Hail the highest grossing game of all time. Though Ms. Pac-Man was the best version, Pac Man will bring you hours of enjoyment everyday. When you get the chance, purchase or download the song 'Pac Man Fever'. You can play it at your next Pac-Man elimination party.

Pole Position - I spent a fortune on this game as a kid at the Circle K. Now from the comfort of my own living room, and without bullies and hangers-on over my shoulder, I can run the gauntlet of this superior driving game. Go into low around those curves bud, and never ever tailgate.