Despite the imperfect quality of several ports and control issues, Namco Museum manages to be fun.

User Rating: 6.5 | Namco Museum Battle Collection PSP
Judging solely by the list of titles in this collection and nothing more, you could assume that Namco Museum Battle Collection for the PSP is by far the best Namco Museum installment to date. After all, the compilation includes established classics like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig-Dug, Mappy, and Rolling Thunder. In addition to the seventeen classic games, Namco Museum Battle Collection also features four Arrangement titles, complete with updated graphics and sound.

The Arrangement titles are fun and occasionally creative twists on the original games, but the level-based format tends to limit the replayability in a way that prevents them from reaching the same "classic" status of the originals. Sadly, many of the classic arcade games haven't been smoothly translated. While the audio and visual aspect of the arcade versions have been replicated perfectly, the gameplay itself has taken a few noticeable bumps.

Ms. Pac-Man may be the most obvious example. The ghost behavior has changed severely, and the power pellets don't last nearly as long as they should. While newcomers may not notice or care about such gripes, it can be very frustrating for veteran players who are expecting a perfect translation.

Unfortunately, the problems don't end with the game mechanics. Both the directional pad and the analog nub feel awkward and clumsy, and you'll sometimes wind up moving in a direction you didn't intend to or come to a complete stop, depending on the game you're playing. This may sound like a minor issue, but it often marks the difference between life and death.

Warts aside, there's still a lot of good to be found in Namco Museum Battle Collection. The control issues aren't as prevalent in the Arrangement titles, and the multiplayer can be an absolute blast. If you're aching with nostalgia for classic Namco arcade games, and can find this for twenty bucks or less, give it a shot. Just be warned that this collection isn't entirely perfect.