Top 5 Namco Arcade Classics You NEED to Play

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Bandai Namco Entertainment continues to be a significant player in the video game industry, producing and distributing popular titles like Tekken, Klonoa, and the Tales series. While it’s debatable when Namco reached its pinnacle of cultural impact, some might say it was during the era before its merger with Bandai, when their arcade games could be found in a variety of establishments, from bars to restaurants.

Decades after they were initially introduced, traces of these classic games’ DNA persist in numerous forms of entertainment today. Remakes, follow-ups, and adaptations for modern consoles are abundant from this period, showcasing their lasting impact. These original Namco arcade games stand out as the most influential.

5. Rally X

An A-Maze-Ing Race

  • Developer: Namco
  • Genre: Maze
  • Release: October 3, 1980 (JP), February 1981 (NA), 1981 (EU)

Launched concurrently with Pac-Man, this vintage arcade game puts you in charge of a blue Formula One vehicle navigating through mazes and gathering flags while avoiding obstacles like rocks and competing red racers. To hinder your opponents, you can expend some fuel to create a smokescreen. Notably, one flag is the “Special Flag,” which may be familiar to observant viewers from its appearances in the Super Smash Bros series, as it multiplies the collected flags remaining.

Rally X was significantly impacted by Sega’s game, Head On. While they share a similar concept, Head On‘s graphics were not as impressive. Instead of being categorized as a traditional racing game, titles like Rally X are better known as maze games, similar to the style of Pac-Man. For many years, it was considered a lesser-known gem, but its popularity grew through re-releases. The latest re-release happened in 2021 via Arcade Archives. There have been several remakes as well, including New Rally X and an updated version for Namco Museum Remix. In this remake, the driver of the blue Formula One car is revealed to be none other than Pac-Man himself.

4. Dig Dug

Breaking New Ground

  • Genre: Maze
  • Developer: Namco
  • Released: February 20th 1982 (JP), April 1982 (NA/EU)

Dig Dug centers around a character named Taizo Hori, who journeys beneath the earth to confront creatures called Pookas and Frygars, the latter of which exhale lethal flames. Taizo vanquishes these beings by inflating them with his excavation tool until they burst. Players can also destroy enemies using rocks scattered throughout the subterranean landscape.

Instead of typical Namco arcade games that confine players within pre-made mazes, Dig Dug offers a unique twist where players can construct their own mazes, although it often includes paths tailored for the characters’ maneuverability. This game stands out by assigning a short tune (composed by Yuriko Keino) to each step instead of traditional stepping sounds.

The classic arcade game Dig Dug had an impact on other titles like Taito’s Mr. Do!, which shares a similar theme and mechanics. It’s worth noting that Dig Dug is closely related to various Namco franchises thanks to Taizo, as the Mr. Driller series – originally a spin-off – features Susumu, Taizo’s son, as its main character. Furthermore, it’s suggested that Taizo was once married to Masuyo Tobi, the leading character in Baraduke.

3. Galaga

The Sort-of Sequel to Galaxian

Galaga, much like other space shooter games, became popular in arcades following the release of Space Invaders in 1978. However, it wasn’t Namco’s first venture into this genre. The game that paved the way for this competition was actually a title called Galaxian, which emerged as a response to the success of Space Invaders. This game enjoyed initial success and led to numerous imitations in the market.

Galaga, developed along similar lines, is a game that followed Galaxian. While they share the same hardware, it’s the unique features of Galaga that made it stand out and become more popular than its predecessor. The concept of saving abducted spaceships, which could be combined into “twin fighters”, was inspired by a movie where aliens performed abductions using beams. Initially, Shigeru Yokoyama considered salvaged ships granting the player an extra life, but found the idea of “twin fighters” more intriguing instead.

In these subsequent games, like Galaga Arrangement for instance, they further explored this concept. Instead of maintaining identical dual fighters, they crafted distinct, individually styled spaceships based on the liberated boss Galaga. The design of each ship varied according to which Galaga the abducted one was saved from.

2. Mappy

A Game of Cat and Mouse

  • Genre: Platformer
  • Developer: Namco
  • Released: March 1983 (JP), April 1983 (NA), 1983 (EU)

In this game, a mouse detective named Mappy, who is the main character, navigates through a burglar’s mansion inhabited by feline thieves called Meowkies, with their leader being a large red cat named Goro. Mappy searches the house for stolen items while dodging the cats. The mansion has trampolines that both Mappy and the cats can utilize, but if bounced on excessively in rapid succession, they will be destroyed. Additionally, there are doors that the cats cannot open, which release blasts to temporarily stun them for points.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, not all Namco arcade games from the era are as straightforward or popular as some others. But what sets Mappy and its sequel, Hopping Mappy, apart is their unique, intriguing mechanics. These classic games were revitalized under Hamster Corporation’s Arcade Archives, a collection of emulated arcade titles that have found their way onto multiple platforms.

1. Pac-Man

The Iconic Arcade Game

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to share some history about one of my favorites – Pac-Man. Contrary to what you might think, it wasn’t Namco’s first successful arcade game or machine. However, its incredible success played a significant role in establishing Namco as a major player in the gaming industry.

In this game, I, as Pac-Man, am tasked with collecting pellets and fruit while evading four ghostly characters: Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde. Each of these ghosts has its unique artificial intelligence, making them distinct in their roles during the gameplay. If I manage to clear a maze, it’s on to the next level for me!

Similar to Rally-X, there have been rumors that Pac-Man shares some similarities with Head On, given their shared maze-style gameplay. However, there is no definitive proof supporting this claim. Nevertheless, Pac-Man has surpassed any potential twin games in terms of popularity and cultural impact, earning its place as a renowned figure in gaming history. Pac-Man frequently appears as the symbol of Namco, featuring prominently across multiple video games and various media outlets.

Many different versions of the original game, such as Ms. Pac-Man, Pac & Pal, and Pac Mania, were also developed due to its lasting popularity. These spin-offs are not just limited to these three titles but encompass other variations as well.

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2025-02-05 11:34