Blast from the past
James Fryer recollects a misspent youth with a classic line-up of retro game re-releases.
Namco Museum 50th Anniversary
GBA | GameCube | PC | PS2 | Xbox
It’s sad, I know, but as a child I used to dream of having my own amusement arcade machines. But the days of darkened rooms with dirty carpets, stale smoke lingering in the air and security guards that glared at you for even leaning against the machines are largely a thing of the past. Maybe that’s a good thing in some respects, but the generation of video gamers who grew up spending Saturday afternoons grouped around large bleeping wooden boxes will truly appreciate Namco’s attempt at reviving that retro gaming magic come the end of the month. A 50th anniversary game will include no less than 12 golden oldies and two new old-school-style numbers, all accessed through your own virtual arcade machines at the start of the game, with the indisputable picks of the bunch being Pac-Man and Dig Dug. Whether you’re munching pills or digging dirt – it’s simple gaming at its best.
Space Invaders Evolution
PSP
The heavyweight of the retro games world – Space Invaders inspired generations of gamers and set the benchmark for shoot ‘em ups of the future. Modelled on the traditional shooting gallery games that were a feature of carnivals and fairgrounds, row after row of aliens march back and forth across the screen, slowly descending while you fire off bullets in a bid to pick out members of the invasion. With this new game PSP players can expect to see the iconic shooter transported into the form of a game loosely based on the original, combining new viewpoints and aliens, along with an elusive mothership. The all-new 3D graphics are superb, but if you’re still craving some 2D fun, the classic game comes as part of the package.
Pac-Man World 3
GameCube | PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox
The 1980 classic Pac-Man was supposedly inspired by a Namco employee being delivered a pizza with a slice missing. Going on to create a game involving munching down pills while monsters chase you leads us to think otherwise, but nevertheless he went on to make possibly the best game ever made (in close competition with Pong and Space Invaders). To celebrate the yellow blob’s 25-year anniversary, Pac-Man World 3 catapults him out of Pac-Village and into a strange and different land where an evil genius by the name of Erwin has created a machine to destroy the world – you know, the usual story.
It’s basically a combination of Super Mario (jumping on enemy’s heads), Sonic The Hedgehog (spinning towards enemies in a curled-up ball) and Prince Of Persia (carefully timing jumps to negotiate moving obstacles). It may not break the mould but it’s not a bad game and even if you aren’t bowled over, the 1980 classic is included in the retro-revival planned for release at the end of the month.
Atari Anthology
PS2 | Xbox
This fun-filled collection comes from one of the driving forces behind the birth of video games – Atari. The launch of Pong in 1972 and the release of the 2600 console in 1977 changed the future of teenage boy’s lives everywhere. It’s no wonder when you consider the quality of the 85 games that come with this anthology – including 18 classic arcade games, 62 Atari 2600 favourites and five bonus games all faithfully reproduced to capture all the magic of the big hair and tight trouser heydays. Okay, so some won’t keep you entertained for long (Atari Math Gran Prix, for example), but Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede and Pong all prove that old-school games are still unrivalled. Being stuck in your ways has never been so cool.
Pong clock
Dhs900 will get you your very own piece of gaming history to hang in pride of place on your bedroom wall. Designed by a Dutch company, the Pong clock will play itself at the classic game with the right-hand player scoring more frequently in order to rack the minutes up in line with the current time. Check out the www.burovormkrijgers.nl website for more details and you’ll soon be showing off your brand new retro timepiece.