PlayStation

Namco Museum Vol. 1

The virtual museum feature is interesting at first, but the actual content is disappointing, consisting mainly of instructions, tips, and Japanese ads. Even so, this is one of the better editions of the Namco Museum series.

Of all the classic packages out now, this is the one to get if you own a PlayStation. Experience the thrill all over again.

These games really have stood the test of time. It's interesting to note that even though these games are graphically primitive when compared to anything we have today, they're still incredibly fun. Programmers take note: gameplay will always be more important than graphics, no matter how cool they look. Damn straight.

Greater than the sum of its parts. High novelty and interest value, but not recommended for those who have been brought up on the hi-techs likes of Doom and Tekken.

The best part of this disc is the fact that seven games - even if they're not all that great - are still better than just one game on a disc. Unfortunately, only four of the seven games here are worth coming back for. Oh well, Pac-Man is still fun.

As a revisitation of past obsessions (what does lie beyond Pac-Man's ninth key?), these titles excite the forgotten Dee Snyder and Cyndi Lauper of the soul. To the uninitiated, however, Namco's encyclopedic offering may be little more than the Big Chill of the first video game generation.