Namcot Collection (ナムコットコレクション Namukotto Korekushon) is a Japan-exclusive game compilation/download service featuring "Namcot" Family Computer games. It was developed by M2 and B.B. Studio, and was published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. The digital release of the game is free to download, with one game (Wagan Land) included; a paid physical version was also released with twelve bundled games.
Namcot Collection was concurrently released alongside two additional compilations: Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, which were predominantly designed for the U.S. market. While all three titles are similar conceptually, Namcot Collection focuses on paid DLC packs for accessing most of its games, whereas the Namco Museum Archives titles are more straightforward compilations.
Overview
Namcot Collection features a selection of emulated versions of Family Computer (Famicom) titles that were originally released under the "Namcot" brand label. Additionally, the compilation features two newly-released ports based on Famicom/NES hardware: Pac-Man Championship Edition and Gaplus, with the former being adapted from a previously-unreleased, fan-made port from 2008. Each game features save/load states, as well as the ability to "rewind" games backwards (in roughly second-long intervals). Each game also includes a scan of its original instruction manual.
The game's menu interface is designed to look like a wooden shelf, housing the Famicom cartridges (in modeled boxes/cases) and decorative acrylic stands based on the games. On the righthand side of the top of the shelf are faux-magazines labeled "NC - Namcot Collection Catalog"; clicking on a magazine will open the store to purchase game DLC packs (hotlinked to the Nintendo eShop). The positions of games and cartridges on the shelf can be reorganized by the player, including displaying three games/stands on the top of the shelf.
Games
Digital version
The free downloadable version of Namcot Collection is bundled with one game: Wagan Land (1989). Other games can be purchased separately for 300 yen each; full DLC packs (which are comprised of 10 games each) can be purchased for 2400 yen. Pac-Man Championship Edition can only obtained by purchasing 10 games, while Gaplus is obtained by purchasing 20 games.
DLC Pack 1
The first DLC pack was released on June 18, 2020 (alongside the game's launch), and includes the following titles:
- Pac-Man (1980/84)
- Galaga (1981/85)
- The Tower of Druaga (1984/85)
- Battle City (1985)
- Star Luster (1985)
- Family Jockey (1987)
- Yokai Dochuki (1987/88)
- Dragon Spirit: The New Legend (1989)
- Quinty (1989) - released in the U.S. as Mendel Palace
- Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti (1989)
DLC Pack 2
The second DLC pack was released on August 20, 2020 (alongside the third pack), and features the following games:
- Pac-Land (1984/85)
- Galaxian (1979/84)
- Mappy (1983/84)
- Warpman (1985)
- Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu (1986)
- Dragon Buster (1987)
- Family Circuit (1988)
- Kaijū Monogatari (1988)
- Rolling Thunder (1986/89)
- Tenkaichi Bushi Keru Nagūru (1989)
DLC Pack 3
The third DLC pack was released on August 20, 2020 (alongside the second pack), and features the following games:
- Family Pinball (1989)
- Xevious (1983/84)
- Dig Dug (1982/85)
- The Tower of Babel (1986) - originally titled Babel no Tou, presented with an altered box cover
- Sky Kid (1985/86)
- Metro-Cross (1985/86)
- Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (1987)
- The Quest of Ki (1988)
- King of Kings (1988)
- Namco Classic II (1992)
Physical version
The physical version of the game comes bundled with the ten games from the first DLC set; due to passing the ten-game threshold, it also includes Pac-Man Championship Edition. As such, its game list includes the following:
- Pac-Man (1980/84)
- Pac-Man Championship Edition (2007/08, 2020)
- Galaga (1981/85)
- The Tower of Druaga (1984/85)
- Battle City (1985)
- Star Luster (1985)
- Family Jockey (1987)
- Yokai Dochuki (1987/88)
- Wagan Land (1989)
- Dragon Spirit: The New Legend (1989)
- Quinty (1989) - released in the U.S. as Mendel Palace
- Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti (1989)
The later DLC packs can also be purchased in the physical release.
Trivia
- Every game's copyright information is altered to only feature one year listed, and is credited to "BNEI" (Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.); though Namcot logos are retained. An exception to this is Quinty, which still credits Game Freak from the original notation.
- The "NC - Namcot Collection Catalog" covers are designed to resemble "NG - Namco Community Magazine", a magazine publication published by Namco during the Famicom/NES era.
- Pac-Man's acrylic stand uses a sprite of Blinky from the original arcade version, rather than the Famicom/NES port featured in the collection.
- When switching between certain menus, the background music plays with different instrumentation. This may be in reference to the swapped duty cycles commonly seen in Famiclone systems.
- Upon Namcot Collection's launch, a promotional giveaway was held for a set of 12 decorative, miniature Famicom cartridges of the collection's titles. These were designed in reference to the "Famicom erasers" that were commonly seen in toy machines in the mid-1980s (though the Namcot Collection models are not actually made of eraser material).[1]
- Namcot Collection does not feature any of the Data East Famicom titles that were released under the Namcot brand (e.g., BurgerTime). Despite this, Quinty/Mendel Palace and Legacy of the Wizard (as seen in Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2) are licensed from third parties (Game Freak and Nihon Falcom, respectively).
Gallery
References
External links
- Official website (Japanese)