Bandai Namco has brought their first game to the Switch, and what better way to start than with a collection of their classics. Namco Museum brings classics like Pac-Man, The Tower of Druaga, Splatterhouse, Rolling Thunder and more, along with Pac-Man VS as well. This is not just another collection however, as numerous additions have been made to enhance the experience.
The games included in this collection are:
- Pac-Man (1980)
- Galaga (1981)
- Dig Dug (1982)
- The Tower of Druaga (1984)
- Sky Kid (1985)
- Rolling Thunder (1986)
- Galaga ’88 (1987)
- Splatterhouse (1988)
- Rolling Thunder 2 (1990)
- Tank Force (1991)
- Pac-Man Vs. (2003)
Among the changes made to the games in this collection, include a challenge mode for the games that help provide additional replay value and help give more fun to the experience. In addition, Namco Museum on Switch takes full advantage of the system’s HD rumble. This is excellent with games like Splatterhouse, with the HD Rumble giving more of a sense of immersion to the game. This is not always for the best though, as some games like The Tower of Druaga do not really need HD rumble and it ends up taking away from the experience.
But aside from these additions, is the game worth getting? Well that depends on how much you like retro games. If you do not like the older era which could be more simplistic, then you will not like this collection all that much. That said, these are excellent games, and the addition of Pac-Man VS. is a great one, even with the need for multiple systems to use the multiplayer to its full effect. With the games included, it comes out to a reasonably priced package and could be a great introduction to the retro scene. HD Rumble and challenge mode may not appeal much to some, but if you are curious about the older games but need just a little more to push you into buying them, you could do a lot worse.
For retro fans, I would definitely recommend this collection. For fans of modern gaming, I would say take a look before you buy. These aren’t the 90’s era bombastic arcade games but a more simplistic style. That said, I think I for my money’s worth with games like Splatterhouse, Sky Kid, The Tower of Druaga, and Rolling Thunder. It is worth checking out, but be aware it may not be to your liking.