Namco Museum Vol. 2

"I actually went out of my way for this one!"

OK, so I went a little out of order (I skipped over Volume 2 because I was more eager for Volume 3) but nonetheless, I was able to find it while vacationing up in New Hampshire (and at a good price too!) Sure, it may not be something that most people could relate to, but the uniquity of each game should keep players entertained.

If you don't know what the Namco Museum series is, it's basically a collection of classic (although sometimes obscure) games that are presented with exhibits like artwork, etc. in a 3D museum.


Graphics: 8/10
The museum is drawn the same way it was in the first one, only with new exhibits. As for the game rooms, they are basically 3D representations of a scene from the original game. It may not seem like much, but it will get better, although the spiraling effect in the Gaplus room will make one's head spin (excuse the bad pun! :) )

As for the games themselves, some of them aren't saying much by today's standards (Mappy, Super Pac-Man, Gaplus, and Dragon Buster.) However, Xevious (and it's sister game Grobda) are drawn much better than most classic games. Even if they still aren't up to this day's standards, they are still fun to watch because of classic graphics.


Sounds: 8/10
Catchy tunes galore, along with cool sound effects. My favorites are the remixed introduction song in Super Pac-Man, the music of Xevious, and just about every sound in Gaplus! Sadly, the Dragon Buster music gets rather repetitive, due to the fact there's little variety in the songs.


Controls: 9/10
Simple enough for beginners and experts alike. Use the control pad to move, and you have either one or two buttons to do your actions, such as opening doors, swinging a sword, firing your gun, and so forth. Purists may long for a joystick, but other than that, the controls are very responsive and excellent to use.


Games:

Super Pac-Man: In this one, your goal is to collect keys to open the doors so you can eat all the fruit within. Eating a power pellet allows you to turn the tables on those silly ghosts, while eating a green pellet makes you HUGE (like in the first intermission screen in Pac-Man!) turning you immune to ghosts, and allowing a speed boost. As if that weren't enough, you can even knock doors down!

Mappy: Play as Mappy the policemouse, and recover all of the valuables from each house before the (literal!) cat-burglars take them! Use trampolines and slamming doors to stop them, but watch out, as they're hungry for a mouse!

Xevious: Ahh, this classic brings back memories! Fly above the planet, shooting at air fighters, and bombing
ground formations. Simple but fun! Something I can relate to!

Gaplus: Known as Galaga 3 when it was released over here (Yes it was released over here! I have played it!) Gaplus lets you turn the table on those silly Galaga aliens by capturing members of their fleet and using them for your firepower!

Grobda: The tank from Xevious gets it's own game, where you must defeat other tank pilots in a deathmatch in a futuristic arena. The prize: Your life! (Sounds like an old plot, eh? Well true, but it's still fun!)

Dragon Buster: The first game to introduce the concept of a map screen and boss characters, you play a brave knight who must rescue a fair princess from an evil dragon! (Yeah yeah, same old plot, right! :) )


Replay: 7/10
OK so if you don't like classics you may go elsewhere. Then again, Xevious did get a remake a few years back for the PlayStation, as well as Dragon Buster (OK, so it's still in planning, but still!) It's all up to you.


Overall: 7/10
If you want to take a look at this, and see that games don't have to be high tech to have to be fun, then try Namco Museum Vol. 2!

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 07/30/00, Updated 07/16/01