Genre: Compilation
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Release Date: July 16, 2009

Classic game compilations are the sort of thing that whisk gamers back to their childhoods and the memories of the mountain of quarters they cheerfully fed into arcade cabinets while their parents were off shopping and enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet. We all had certain games that we loved more dearly than any other, that one special machine whose location we had memorized so well that we could have walked from the change machine to the token slot blindfolded and backward. Chances are that if you grew up in the early '80s, the titles in the Namco Museum Essentials collection are the very same ones you wasted your allowance on, week in and week out. With a solid game lineup and slick presentation, this is one compilation that nostalgic gamers should definitely go download right now.

Namco Museum Essentials packs five classic arcade games, as well as one modern remake, into a single $10 package. Whenever you need a dose of old-school hardcore gaming, you can jump right in and fire up Dig Dug, Dragon Spirit, Galaga, Pac-Man or Xevious. Each of those names should look familiar to most classic gamers, with the possible exception of Dragon Spirit. I personally hadn't played the game before it came with this package, but it fits in very neatly with the rest of the collection and has quickly become one that I find myself returning to again and again simply because it's so enjoyable. In addition to these classics, the package includes an HD remake of Xevious, entitled Xevious Resurrection. While merely a remake with a couple of new gameplay elements rather than a full sequel, Resurrection brings a nice dash of modernity to the mix, and the promise of something new gives gamers incentive to try out this package.

One potentially major knock against Namco Museum Essentials is that all of these games (with the exception of Resurrection) have been available for over two decades, and there's a very good chance that gamers have already played all of these titles on another console. That's a valid criticism, and one that must be weighed when considering the overall value of this particular compilation. Namco realizes this conundrum as well, so they've packed the collection to the gills with new features, challenges and prizes that make it hard to pass on this set of games even if you've already played them all.

The first thing players will notice is the online leaderboards, which not only show your rank among all other players out there but also amongst those on your friends list. It's a very similar setup to Geometry Wars, where your buddies' scores for each game in the collection is visible on the top menu so before you even start up the game, you know what score you need to beat in order to claim your rightful place as king of the mountain. Diving further into the menus, you can find a whole host of options to tweak each game to your liking, as well as a handy collection of tips and tricks to help you in your quest for a high score. This is the most user-friendly and accommodating collection there is, and even though the games are extremely tough, Namco Museum Essentials does everything it can to entice you to come on in and play.

For those looking for a more substantial benefit than simply placing their name atop the leaderboards, the compilation also features Trophy support and has a bunch of hidden collectibles that players can take into PlayStation Home. Players earn stamps by completing certain milestones in each game, and those stamps then translate into Trophies and knickknacks, which include new clothing for Home avatars or even arcade cabinets to set up in your Home apartment. This is the sort of integration we've been hoping to see implemented in Sony's online social space, and hopefully this is the start of a trend that will be cropping up in more titles. I may have to log back into Home for the first time in months just so I can check out my new threads and add a bit of decor to my sparse living space. This is exactly what Sony needs to draw the community back to their online space.

At any rate, there are a couple of shortcomings for Namco Museum Essentials, but they're fairly minor. First up, the games are direct ports, meaning they keep all of their early '80s graphics and original screen ratios. Since retro games and widescreen HD sets don't exactly play well together, that means a lot of wasted space on-screen. The extra room is filled with decent wallpapers, but there are definitely times when you'll wish the actual game screen was a bit wider and crisper so you can better keep track of all the on-screen action.

In addition, one of the compilation's greatest assets also turns out to be a pretty severe liability, as Xevious Resurrection impresses and raises questions at the same time. The game looks great, with all ship and enemy models redone in HD and crafted to display nicely in full 1080p. On top of that, the backgrounds have been retouched and the bosses upgraded to create a modern-looking game with truly classic gameplay. The experience spoiled me so much that I began wondering why the other games didn't get the same treatment. Why not an HD Galaga remake? Wouldn't Dragon Spirit be incredible if they redid the fire effects? While it was never supposed to be about the graphics in these games, the small taste of modernity that Namco provided only makes us thirsty for more, and the lack is backhandedly disappointing.

The final downside to the games is a lack of any sort of multiplayer, save Xevious Resurrection, which offers a two-player, turn-based competitive mode. One of the most satisfying things about old-school games like these has always been taking on a friend head-to-head, but now that bit of magic has been stripped away. Sure, the online scores help offset the issue a bit, but it's still not the same as having a buddy sitting next to you on the couch, each of you sweating bullets as the other dodges enemy attacks and inches ever closer to the new high score.

If you've already played all of these games before (and honestly, who hasn't) and don't have a particular affinity for them, then this compilation may not be as essential as its title suggests. On the other hand, if you're an old-school gaming junkie, or if you'd just really like to have all of these titles together in one place so you can easily access them at any time, then Namco Museum Essentials is a really nice collection. Throw in the online leaderboards and the awarding of items you can use in Home, and you've got a $10 package that's gone well out of its way to impress you. Overall, it's a very worthwhile package and one that you won't regret picking up.