Namco Museum

With its excellent PSP launch game, Ridge Racer, Namco has shown us just how powerful Sony's new hardware is when it comes to 3D graphics. But just to show that it's nothing if not versatile, the company is also preparing a collection of some of its old fashioned, 2D classics for the handheld device as well. Namco Museum boasts seven Namco arcade hits as well as four "arrangements" that take the old favorites and enhance them with updated graphics, remixed music, and new gameplay elements.

Since the old arcade games were played on a vertical screen, you have the option to rotate the screen and adjust the ratio so that you can play in a resolution that stays true to the original. It's slightly awkward holding the PSP on its side while you play, but it's nothing that you can't adjust to after a few minutes. If you have a tolerance for ugly, stretched graphics, you can even play the games full screen, but I really wouldn't recommend it. Here's what you can expect to play in this compilation (surely you've played most of these before):

The Classics

Dig Dug

Witness the father of Mr. Driller's early days with this popular game from 1982. Burrow beneath the ground, using your air pump to inflate and pop the legions of Pookas and fire breathing Fygars that live underground. You can also drop rocks on your foes and collect vegetables for bonus points.


Galaga

This 1981 game is quite possibly the best of the old school space shooters. Aliens swoop in from the sides of the screen and fall into formation above your ship. Of these invaders, the Galagas at the top of the screen are the toughest (they require two shots to destroy!). In between shots, the aliens will swoop down to attack, and the Galagas will attempt to capture your ship with their tractor beams. The trick is to let them capture your ship (make sure you have one in reserve), and destroy the Galaga as it dive-bombs you with your captured ship in tow. Your first ship will be freed, allowing it to attach to your current ship giving you double the firepower. Awesome. Bonus rounds dubbed "Challenging Stages" break up the action.

Galaxian

As the oldest game in this collection (it's from 1979), Galaxian is the forerunner to Galaga, and it shows. It plays much like the Space Invaders clone that it is, except with more colorful graphics and aliens that will fly down towards your ship to attack instead of simply shooting at it. Namco fans will note that the Galaxian flagship shows up in several other games from the company as a bonus item.