A Namco retro collection for the DS doesn’t sound like something to be excited about – they turf out their back catalogue about once a year on whatever formats are doing the rounds. So why is Namco Museum DS shaping up to be a must have? Clue: Pac-Man Vs.
First released on GameCube in 2003, it’s a gem that few people have had the chance to experience. Foremostly as the only way to get it in Europe was to buy the dull R: Racing, but also because you needed a GameCube, a Game Boy Advance and a GBA-to-GC link cable to play it. The idea was simple but brilliant – one player controls Pac-Man on the GBA while the others control the ghosts on the TV with GameCube pads with only a limited field of vision. Mario provided a running commentary, which is probably down to Shigeru Miyamoto having a hand in development. Now here’s the best bit: up to four players will be able to play with only one DS cart. And it’s only going to be $19.99.
The rest of the collection is made up of Dig Dug II, Galaga, Galaxian, Mappy, Pac-Man and Xevious. A bit stingy, really. Where are Pole Position, Rolling Thunder and the rest?