Namco Bandai announced that Namco Museum DS is bringing its popular arcade games to the Nintendo DS this summer at a price of $19.99. Namco Museum DS introduces a new generation of gamers to an era of timeless games and non-stop entertainment.
Namco Museum DS allows gamers to experience a virtual arcade portal where they can choose from up to eight games: Pac-Man, Pac-Man VS, Galaga, Xevious, Dig Dug II, Galaxian, Mappy, and The Tower of Druaga.
Features that are unique to Namco Museum DS include a screen mode selection that allows the use of different screen combinations on the Nintendo DS. This will allow players the chance to fit their classic games specifically to the Nintendo DS or in the “stand-up” arcade style. Players can also enjoy wireless battles in Pac-Man VS, an addictive take on Pac-Man which was previously only available exclusively with the purchase or pre-order of previous games. This version of the game features downloadable play where up to four players can battle using only one Game Card.
Namco Museum DS includes:
Pac-Man VS.: Originally released in 2003 – For the first time in the series, you and your friends now have the chance to be the famous Ghosts from Pac-Man! With one person playing as Pac-Man, and up to 3 people playing as Ghosts, this incredibly fun multiplayer game offers endless enjoyment with just one game card.
Dig Dug II: Originally released in 1987 – Equipped with only a drill and a pump, hit weak fault line points in an attempt to sink portions of an island sending your enemies deep into the sea!
Galaga: Originally released in 1981 – Pilot a space ship, fend off frantic swarms of bee-like aliens, try your luck with “Challenging Stages,†and find the best way to deal with enemies’ powerful tractor beams!
Galaxian: Originally released in 1979 – A precursor to Galaga, destroy flying aliens as they move in from formation to attack you.
Mappy: Originally released in 1983 – Control Mappy, a police mouse. Bounce on trampolines and open or close doors to dodge chasing cats, all in an attempt to retrieve valuable items from the cats’ mansion
Pac-Man: Originally released in 1980 – Play the most popular arcade game of all time! Navigate the yellow fellow through the original Pac-Man maze, avoid ghosts while chomping pellets and fruit, and use power pellets to turn the ghosts blue and get some payback!
Xevious: Originally released in 1982 – Use a heavily armed fighter plane to destroy enemies and targets in the air and on the ground.
“Namco Museum DS is a perfect way to bridge generation gaps between all people both old and young,†Makoto Iwai , Executive Vice President and COO at Namco Bandai Games America Inc., said. “Older gamers will love the old school arcade feel, and new gamers will enjoy the addicting quality of the games on a handheld system.†— Quotes by Gamelife
This is SO mine! I loved, I repeat loved, hooking up the GBA to the GameCube (Zelda Four Swords was the only other game to do this) because Pac-Man is the only one to see the entire playfield on it and has to try to finish eating all the dots before being discovered by a Ghost-friend looking at a blacked (see above screenshot) TV screen next to you. Or the other way around on the GameCube controller that allowed you to sneak around the maze as a Ghost trying to catch a buddy who’d be the hard-to-find Pac-Man. Except of course it was hard to get the game itself. Yeah… playing with up to four players from one DS game cart will be much easier and no doubt more fun! Too bad no online Wi-Fi mode is mentioned.
By the way, incase you’re wondering what else makes Namco’s classic Pac-Man game so much fun in this Versus version. It’s that Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto designed the game and he, the creator of Mario, made sure Mario was the game’s announcer.