Namco ships three baffling new compilations for PS2

By Stephen Munn | September 17, 2008

OK, let me make it clear that I’m a big fan of Namco. Dig-Dug is one of my favorite arcade games ever, and I really liked Soul Calibur II. I understand that the Tekken games are big with people who are into such technically precise fighters, and I completely respect that. This complaint is not really about Namco, it’s more about compilations that don’t make a lot of sense, and that’s an issue that’s much larger than Namco.

Namco has announced three new discs for PlayStation 2, and they’re all compilations. The first is Namco Classic Fighter Collection, which has Tekken Tag Tournament, Tekken 4, and the PS2 version of Soul Calibur II. What I don’t really get here is why they didn’t instead go with a Tekken compilation or a Soul Calibur compilation. I mean, why not put Soul Calibur I, II, and III in a compilation and sell them on the coattails of SoulCalibur IV? That would sell a lot of copies, especially with Soul Calibur never having appeared on the system. Heck, I would buy it. Why not smoosh all the Tekken games into one box, even if it’s something like the Metal Gear Solid collection where it’s just re-releases? I might buy that too, just to see what my brother is so crazy about in that franchise.

Then there’s Naruto: Ultimate Collection. This is Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 1 and 2 and Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2. The obviously missing Uzumaki Chronicles doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, even as someone who doesn’t give two shakes about Naruto anything.

Finally, try to make sense of Pac-Man Power Pack. Pac-Man World 2 and 3, along with Pac-Man World Rally. Once again, a key episode here is simply omitted. Where’s Pac-Man World? While it contains three Pac-Man games, none of them are actually Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man, which are still the only Pac-Man games I’ve tried that are actually worth playing. That last argument is perhaps being a little too gripey, but seriously, the lack of the original Pac-Man World is really strange to me.

At any rate, the Tekken and Soul Calibur one is a pretty good deal. Come to think of it, didn’t Tekken 5 have Tekken 1 through 3 on the disc as well? That would make that one an exceptional deal if you already had Tekken 5, I suppose. You could pick up the collection and Tekken 5 and have a complete set.

Source: Namco-Bandai, see press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES SHIPS NAMCO CLASSIC FIGHTER COLLECTION, NARUTO(tm): ULTIMATE COLLECTION AND PAC-MAN POWER PACK(tm) FOR PLAYSTATION(r)2 SYSTEM

The Best Comes Together in Three Action-Packed Box Sets

Santa Clara, Calif., (September 17, 2008) - Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced todaythat it has shipped a trifecta of renowned franchises with Namco Classic Fighter Collection(tm), NARUTO(tm): Ultimate Collection and PAC-MAN Power Pack(tm) to North American retailers for the PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system. Each box set comes with three excitingtitles from Namco Bandai’s PlayStation 2 system library and carries a MSRP of $29.99.

“Namco Classic Fighter Collection, NARUTO: Ultimate Collection and PAC-MAN Power Pack feature some of Namco Bandai’s most successful games in recent years,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations at NAMCO BANDAI Games. “Each set is packed with top quality entertainment that no PlayStation 2 system owner should be without. It’s a fantastic opportunity for anyone who missed out on these great titles the first time around.”

Namco Classic Fighter Collection

Relive two classic King of the Iron Fist Tournaments and the sequel to the highest rated fighting game ever with Tekken(r) Tag Tournament(tm), Tekken(r) 4 and Soulcalibur(r) II.

* Tekken Tag Tournament - One of the hottest PlayStation 2 system launch titles, Tekken Tag Tournament brings frenzied tag team battles to the Tekken universe. Pair up your favorite characters and battle it out against friends. After the dust has been settled, take in a quick 10 frames with the popular Tekken Bowl mini-game.

* Tekken 4 - The true sequel in the Iron Fist Tournament saga, Tekken 4 introduces eager new contestants and environmental hazards for bone-snapping strategies. In the Tekken Force beat ‘em up mini-game, players fight through waves of enemies across four stages until they reach the final boss.

* Soulcalibur II - Fight against world-class warriors in the follow up to the universally acclaimed original. Test your skills in Weapon Master Mode as you travel the land as a lone swordsman searching for the fabled Soul Edge. Making a special appearance as a guest character is Heihachi of Tekken 4 fame.

NARUTO: Ultimate Collection

Take part in epic fights straight out of the NARUTO(tm) animated television series, from VIZ Media, with NARUTO(tm): Ultimate Ninja(r), NARUTO(tm): Ultimate Ninja(r) 2 and NARUTO(tm): Uzumaki Chronicles(tm) 2.

* NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja - Battle against Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and other beloved NARUTO characters in stages inspired from the animated show and manga. Unleash fantastic character specific attacks as the best of the best duke it out.

* NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 2 - Unleash your inner Jutsu with over 30 playable characters and 16 unique stages in intense head-to-head ninja action. Play through over 60 unique missions, test your skills with challenging mini-games and experience an original storyline in Ultimate Road mode.

* NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles 2 - Follow Naruto and his friends through an original story line that leaves the fate of the ninja clans in your hands. Drop-in cooperative gameplay lets a friend join in on the fun at any time. Multiple modes of play including Head-to-Head mode, Mission Mode and Survival Mode will have ninja in training coming back for more.

PAC-MAN Power Pack

Chomp through three exciting PAC-MAN(r) titles that the whole family can enjoy with Pac-Man World 2(tm), Pac-Man World 3(tm) and Pac-Man World Rally(tm).

* Pac-Man World 2 - Explore six vast worlds with Pac-Man as he gains new abilities in this action-adventure game.

* Pac-Man World 3 - Pac-Man must team up with his old nemeses Pinky and Clyde as they try to foil an evil scheme and find their friends Inky and Blinky. Use Pinky and Clyde’s ghostly special abilities along with Pac-Man’s new moves to traverse classic platforming levels.

* Pac-Man World Rally - Race as one of 12 Pac-Man World characters in this zany kart-racing classic. Use top notch racing skills and power-ups scattered throughout the tracks and battle arenas to finish in first place.

Namco Classic Fighter Collection and NARUTO: Ultimate Collection are rated “T” for teen by the ESRB. PAC-MAN Power Pack will carry an ESRB rating of “E” for everyone. For more information about these titles, please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.com. For more information on NARUTO go to www.NARUTO.com

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