Namco Museum Reviews
Namco Museum for the Switch is a great attempt at a collection of classic arcade games. Fighting to become the top score on the leaderboard is fun, even if the other challenges often come off as shallow. With the detailed manuals and the great display options, adding a few more games, or even more challenges could have made this the definitive Namco Museum.
While this latest collection of Namco classics may seem pricey at first given the amount of content, it’s the options, presentation, emulation, the inclusion of an HD remaster of Pac-Man Vs., and portability that make it worth Switch owners’ attention.
Overall, Bandai Namco Entertainment's Namco Museum for the Nintendo Switch is a well thought through collection that touches the older gamers' heartstrings and those 90s/2000s gamers who believe they grew up in the best video game times. In other words, it's got a bit of everything, nearly all good, for every type of gamer out there.
A high price point and some subjective duds make Namco Museum a stretch in terms of outright value, but the influence these games had on the industry makes them worth at least a cursory glance in the rearview mirror.
The Namco Museum successfully ports these classic games onto a modern console that allows both new and veteran gamers the chance to experience these historic titles or relive them again.
Namco Museum offers gamers 11 classic games, some newer than others, some better than others. There are great features that make playing some of these older, more difficult games, easier.
But if not, don’t sleep on Namco Museum Remix; it’s a great example of Namco paying tribute to some of its lesser-known games — and an even better example of the Wii playing host to a number of experiences you simply can’t get anywhere else!
It might not offer enough incentive for fans that have revisited these games ad nauseam, and some offerings holdup a lot better than others, but the compilation offers perhaps the best way for passionate fans to revisit a handful of classics.
Other titles are probably best left as distant memories. The presentation of the collection is great, however, and the inclusion of save states, game settings, and online leaderboards make it feel like a fresh, modern day compilation. I think better games could have been included in a collection such as this, but for now, Namco Museum suffices as a decent, but flawed collection of titles.
It's nice to know that I have a package like this on the console for when I'm feeling nostalgic. And the inclusion of Pac-Man Vs. is an absolute masterstroke of brilliance. That is a rare retro game, and finally having it readily available on a modern console is something that anyone who enjoys local multiplayer should get excited about.
Namco Museum doesn't have a new hidden gem to offer or gimmicks to reinvent classic titles, but what it does offer is an experience that brings the arcade home. Quality of life features like save states and hints have been added to negate archaic design frustrations, and an option to rotate the screen to look like an arcade cabinet is an ingenious addition bursting with charm. Pac-Man Vs.'s lack of online does stand out as a disappointment, but the collection's roster is strong enough to make up for it. With so many unique ways to interact with the Nintendo Switch, the arcade hasn't felt this alive in years.
The $30 price tag might scare away a few people, but there's no denying that Namco Museum is a bundle of fun. Just about every game is a classic, and while the overall collection could stand to be bigger, the fact that three games are new to the series shows that there's hope for some newer titles in the future, as opposed to the same library of classics. If you're a fan of retro gaming, Namco Museum is an easy purchase to make.
This latest Namco Museum features enough fantastic games to delight both long-time gamers and the retro-curious.
Namco Museum is a solid collection of arcade titles and, of course, its value is inherently tied into the nostalgia (or curiosity) you have for the games of yesteryear.
An excellent collection of some classics, but some odd choices and the sheer amount of times the cream of the crop has been collected make it a hard choice.
Namco Museum is a compelling throwback to the glorious coin-op era, boasting a library that presents many shared experiences that are a perfect fit with the Nintendo Switch mantra to let you play anywhere, at anytime, and with anyone. Some duds detract and, maybe, the price is slightly too high, but Pac-Man Vs. alone soon easily makes this a retro collection that you won't want to miss out on.
If you're a fan of the old retro Namco Bandai games, or are too young to have even played these games, then Namco Museum is for you. With 11 games, and an affordable price, on top of the portability of the Nintendo Switch, this compilation is a great way to relax alone or play with friends.
Namco Museum does a lot of things right - but despite the wonderful presentation, it’s still only focused on a limited audience. Putting a value on retro games can often be difficult given how easy it is to obtain and play these titles elsewhere; that said, Namco have put together an extremely desirable package that fits very nicely on the Switch. If it was cheaper it would be easier to recommend to everyone, but as it stands you’re only likely to pick this one up if you’ve got some retro-tinted specs like me. For those of us who do though, it’s a fantastic trip down memory lane.
With classic IP at the heart of Namco Museum, all well ported, it’s difficult not to fall in love all over again.
Namco Museum is a well produced package, but it's also a missed opportunity. If you played – and loved – these games as a kid, dive in. However, if you’re an enthusiast of retro games, and games preservation, Namco Museum – at its recommended list price – lacks the supporting content that would make it an essential purchase.”