Popular Games by Namco
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 DS
- 27th Jul 2006 (JPN)
- 14th Nov 2006 (NA)
- 23rd Mar 2007 (UK/EU)
Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow DS
- 8th Oct 2009 (JPN)
- 18th May 2010 (NA)
- 24th Sep 2010 (UK/EU)
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean GCN
- 5th Dec 2003 (JPN)
- 16th Nov 2004 (NA)
- 1st Apr 2005 (UK/EU)
Reviews of Namco Games
Review Smash Tennis - One Of The Best Sports Games Of The 16-Bit Era
A stroke of genius
There have been plenty of underrated games over the years, but every now and then you get an entire series that hasn’t enjoyed the level of success and attention it deserves. That’s the case with Namco’s Smash Court Tennis franchise, which has consistently served up (ahem) some top-quality arcade-style tennis action, but –...
AKA: Xandra, the legendary klutz gummy hero
You might have stumbled upon Namco's love letter to Norse mythology, the Valkyrie series, in the past. Of the few games released, there is one rather noteworthy entry for the arcade named Walküre no Densetsu, a one or two player overhead shmup/platformer hybrid with a lot of impressive scaling effects...
Review Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Sweet dreams
Klonoa's never really gotten the recognition he deserves, has he? The floppy-eared hero's original adventure, released for PlayStation in 1997 and given a superb Wii remake in 2008, was an extraordinary 2.5D platformer that forced players to take a different perspective on the action. Following this, Klonoa got multiple releases on...
Review Sky Kid (Wii U eShop / NES)
Bombs away
Originally an arcade game, the 1986 Namco NES title Sky Kid draws hard battle lines from the start, though exactly who the warring parties are is unclear. This quirky game is iconic of Namco's early days and even earned a song and a cameo in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U. The action here is a combination of unforgiving and short,...
Review Dig Dug (Wii U eShop / NES)
A competent but unneeded version of a fun 80's classic
Originally hitting arcades in 1982, this NES conversion of Dig Dug followed a few years later (albeit only in Japan until arriving on the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2008). It's a classic Namco title that sees you digging your way around a single screen defeating (and sometimes fleeing)...
Review Pac-Land (Wii U eShop / NES)
Pac your bags, man
Never before released for the NES in the west, Namco has dropped its Pac-Man platformer Pac-Land onto the eShop to celebrate the announcement of Pac-Man in the new Super Smash Bros. games. A departure from the simple, addictive gameplay the Pac-Man series is known for, Pac-Land attempts to expand the scope and appeal of its iconic...
Latest Namco News
Friday31st Jan 2025
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's N64 Library With Namco Classic 'Ridge Racer 64'
It's Ridge Racer!
In a new Switch Online N64 game library update today, Nintendo has added the Namco title Ridge Racer 64. This arcade-style classic racer was originally released on Nintendo's console hardware in the year 2000 and developed by the team at Nintendo Software Technology. It contains multiple modes to work your way through and there's...
Sunday12th Jan 2025
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Klonoa: Empire of Dreams (GBA)
Long live the Empire
Welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl, folks! Last week, we took a look at Crash Nitro Kart for the GameCube, a sequel to Crash Team Racing that never quite managed to step out of its predecessor's shadow. North America sealed the deal this time with 53% of the vote, while EU managed 30% and Japan just 17% (bit awkward -...
Friday15th Nov 2024
Random Donkey Konga Fan Creates Custom Track Tool
Though bongo support isn't available yet
If you're a fan of the severely underrated Donkey Konga franchise from the GameCube era, then you're in luck. A dedicated fan has created a tool called Konga Beat that allows you to import songs and create your own custom tracks that can then be exported for use with either Donkey Konga 2 or Donkey Konga 3...
Friday6th Oct 2023
Random Star Fox Dev Thinks Star Fox Adventures "Was Too British"
"I think Star Fox is a very complex title"
The Star Fox series has been a bit of a mixed bag, hasn't it? There have been huge genre shifts, recreations, and attempts to capture that same magic that the SNES original — and the N64 sequel — captured. Now, in an interview with VGC, Dylan Cuthbert, a programmer on the original Star Fox and Star Fox...
Sunday2nd Jul 2023
Poll Box Art Brawl: Donkey Konga
♫ That's the Impression That I Get ♫
Hi! Welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl - good to see you again. Before we get cracking with this week's bout, let's take a look at how last week went down. We took a look at WarioWare Gold for the 3DS, pitting North America and Europe against Japan. Unsurprisingly (and rather disappointingly in...
Tuesday21st Feb 2023
Guide Best Star Fox Games Of All Time
Every Star Fox game, ranked by you
21st February 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of Star Fox on Super Famicom in Japan. To celebrate, we're republishing this reader-ranked list of every game in the series. Remember, this is a dynamic ranking that changes in real time according to each game's User Rating in our database. If you haven't...
Wednesday1st Feb 2023
News Greek Mythology-Inspired Vertical Shooter 'Phelios' Is This Week's Arcade Archives Game
By the beard of Zeus!
Greek mythology might not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of a vertical-scrolling shooter, but that didn't stop Namco from releasing Phelios in 1988, and it hasn't stopped Hamster from adding said title to its arcade collection this week (from 2nd February). There's probably many out there who haven't...
Thursday5th Jan 2023
News Galaga Is Hamster's First Arcade Archives Switch Release Of 2023
Another blast from the past
Following on from the release of Bubble Bobble at the end of December, Hamster has now officially unveiled its first Arcade Archives release of 2023. This time it's Namco's classic arcade space shooter Galaga. This title was first released in 1981 and is a sequel to the 1979 release Galaxian (previously released on the...
Thursday14th Jul 2022
News Namco Shmup Dragon Saber Is This Week's Arcade Archives Game
Dragon flight
If you love a good vertical shoot 'em up - Hamster's Arcade Archives collection has you got covered this week. The latest release for this library on the Switch is the 1990 Namco title, Dragon Saber. It's a sequel to Dragon Spirit, released in arcades back in 1987. In this game, the Huey and Siria, who have been transformed into...
Wednesday8th Jun 2022
News Bump Your Enemies Off The Edge In 'Motos', The Next Arcade Archives Game
Give it a push!
We've got our next Arcade Archives title hitting the eShop tomorrow, and it's 1985's bumper car arcade game Motos. This is the last of seven games to run on Namco's Super Pac-Man hardware while sharing a video system used in games like Mappy, Dig Dug II, and — last week's Arcade Archives addition — The Tower of Druaga. It's a...
Wednesday11th May 2022
News Pro Tennis: World Court Is The Next Ace In The Arcade Archives Line-Up
A forehand winner for the collection
It's our weekly Wednesday update on the Arcade Archives series. Except for last week, when the magic happened on Thursday. Golden Week, hey? This week, we've got something a bit different for Hamster's series; after weeks of shumps, platformers, racers, and puzzle games, we have a sports game coming to the eShop...
Wednesday27th Apr 2022
News Namco's Yokai Dochuki, Renamed 'Shadowland', Is The Next Arcade Archives Game On Switch
A platformer to close out Namco month
We're getting another Arcade Archives release on Switch tomorrow, as the Japan-only platformer Yokai Dochuki is the next game to launch in the series, but with a slightly different name in the West, however — Shadowland. Originally released in arcades in 1987, the game sees you platforming through jigoku...
Wednesday20th Apr 2022
News Galaga Sequel 'Gaplus' Is The Next Arcade Archives Game On Switch
Namco month continues
It's Wednesday, so we're obviously here to tell you what new arcade game you'll be able to pick up on Switch as part of the Arcade Archives series. Tomorrow, it's the turn of shmup sequel Gaplus, the third entry in the Galaxian series and follow-up to the hugely popular Galaga. Sometimes also known as Galaga 3, it's only one...
Thursday17th Feb 2022
News Namco's Dragon Spirit Is Coming To Arcade Archives On Switch
Arrives in early March
Namco's 1987 fantasy-themed shmup Dragon Spirit is joining the Arcade Archives series on Nintendo Switch, it has been revealed. Notable for fusing traditional shmup mechanics with dragons and other mythical beasts, the game shares similarities with another Namco classic, Xevious, in that the player has a standard shot for...
Thursday3rd Feb 2022
News Namco's 'Dangerous Seed' Is Coming To Switch Later This Month
Joins the Arcade Archives series
Namco's 1989 vertically-scrolling shooter Dangerous Seed is joining the Arcade Archives series, it has been revealed. Designed by Yuichiro Shinozaki (The Tower of Druaga), Dangerous Seed runs on the Namco System 1 arcade hardware. It was later ported to the Sega Mega Drive, alongside a slightly improved soundtrack...
Wednesday2nd Feb 2022
News Namco's 'New Rally-X' Is Joining Arcade Archives On Switch This Week
What's old is new again (but still old)
Hamster has confirmed that this week's Arcade Archives title is Namco's 1981 racer, New Rally-X. Originally released in 1981, New Rally-X improves on the original Rally-X (which is also part of the Arcade Archives series) by showcasing ever-so-slightly better visuals and a new soundtrack. It also has easier...
Thursday9th Dec 2021
News 'Lost' Namco Title That Inspired The First Live-Action Video Game Movie Is Coming To Switch
Pre-dating Super Mario, Street Fighter and Double Dragon's movies
Next week's Arcade Archives release is Mirai Ninja, a Japan-only Namco title from 1988 which was never ported to any home system, and holds a special place in video game history. Released in the same year as Keita Amemiya's 1988 movie Mirai Ninja: Keigumo Kinin Gaiden (known as Cyber...
Wednesday8th Dec 2021
News Namco's Groundbreaking Dragon Buster Is Coming To Switch This Week
Joins the Arcade Archives range tomorrow
Hamster has revealed that the next entry in its long-running Arcade Archives series is Namco's 1984 title Dragon Buster. Notable for being one of the first arcade games to fuse RPG elements with the ability to select your level based on a world map, Dragon Buster followed in the footsteps of Namco's...
Thursday14th Oct 2021
News Another Classic Namco Title Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
Rally-X returns
This week's arcade archives release from Hamster Corporation is the 1980 Namco "maze chase" classic, Rally-X. Here's some PR and screens: “RALLY-X” is an action game released by NAMCO in 1980. Players control a car and dodge pursuing red cars while collecting flags. Stall the red cars using a smokescreen when they get too...
Sunday30th May 2021
Feature More Than Just Pokémon - Japan’s Secret World Of Game Boy Color
Hidden handheld happiness
The Game Boy Color was the immensely popular home of a wide range of handheld classics, from multi-million sellers such as Pokémon Gold and Silver and Link’s Awakening DX to the now painfully expensive Metal Gear Solid, not to mention the non-Color original Game Boy library it play
Thursday11th Jun 2020
News Bandai Namco Is Bringing Its Retro Collection To The West As Namco Museum Archives
Update: Volume 1 and 2 confirmed
Update (Thu 11th Jun, 2020 11:15 BST): And it's confirmed! Bandai Namco will be releasing both Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 and Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2 on Nintendo Switch and other platforms on 18th June (thanks, Gematsu). Original Article (Thu 4th Jun, 2020 16:30 BST): Bandai Namco is about to release The...
Wednesday18th Sep 2019
News Trademark Discovery Suggests Klonoa, Mr. Driller And Splatterhouse Might Be Making A Comeback
Bandai Namco is up to something...
Update (Wed 18th Sep, 2019 03:15 BST): GoNintendo reveals the page listing for Klonoa on Wii was updated on Nintendo's UK website three days ago (see for yourself). Update: It would seem that Bandai Namco is planning t
Tuesday28th May 2019
News Three New Collections Announced For Upcoming Retro Handheld Evercade
Namco are on board, plus new carts from Interplay and Atari
The makers of the Evercade, an upcoming handheld console that connects to your TV and plays collections of retro games which come on cartridges, have announced three new carts, each containing a fresh selection. The biggest news is that there's a new publisher on the platform in the form...
Tuesday2nd Apr 2019
News Fan Releases English Translation Patch For Namco's Famicom Game Youkai Douchuuki
Fight through Hell
Long before Level-5 launched its Yo-Kai Watch video game series on Nintendo hardware, there was an old school Famicom game released in 1988 about the supernatural monsters, creatures, spirits, ghosts and demons commonly found in Japanese folklore. The game we're referring to is Youkai Douchuuki. It starred a young boy named...
Monday30th Jan 2017
News Namco Founder Masaya Nakamura Dies Aged 91
The man who spoke out against Nintendo and Hiroshi Yamauchi
One of the most influential names in the Japanese video game arena has passed away, it has been revealed. A former engineer in the Japanese navy, Masaya Nakamura established Nakamura Manufacturing in 1955 after purchasing two mechanical horse ride for $3,000. Due to the intense competition...
Monday31st Oct 2016
Video Get In The Halloween Spirit With The Complete History Of Splatterhouse
Rickrolled
Namco took quite a gamble when it released Splatterhouse in arcades in 1988. The company's previous titles had been cartoon-like and appealing to all ages, but this side-scrolling action title took inspiration from Hollywood slasher and horror movies, turning up the gore level and providing an experience which wasn't really suitable for...
Friday22nd May 2015
News Waka-Waka-Well I Never, Pac-Man Turns 35 Today
Everyone's favourite pill-popper is all grown up
Mario and Sonic may be two of gaming's most recognisable faces but even they are young pups when compared to the true elder statesman of interactive entertainment: Pac-Man. 35 years ago, Namco released Toru Iwatani's seminal title in Japanese arcades and began a gaming legend which endures even to...
Friday31st Oct 2014
Video Join Us For Nintendo Life's Haunting Halloween Night In
No Tricks here, just Treats for your Wii U and 3DS
Halloween is a wonderful time of year to watch scary movies, eat candy and play spooky video games, as opposed to being out in the cold. To help you decide on your entertainment for this ghoulish evening, we've come up with a list of games that can be played on your Wii U and 3DS, with many of these...
Wednesday11th Jun 2014
News Pac-Land and Pac-Man Collection Chomp Onto North American Wii U Virtual Console
Part of Nintendo's 30% off E3 eShop promotion
Hot off the heels of Pac-Man's announcement as a playable character in the new Super Smash Bros, two Pac-classics have popped up on the North American Wii U Virtual Console, and you can snag 'em for 30% off as they join
Saturday31st May 2014
What about those other items?
Whilst core items such as the banana, shell and mushroom have carried the traditions of the Mario Kart series over the past 22 years, there are many other forgotten, reinvented, and even untouched items that arguably contin
Friday16th May 2014
Mario Kart Month A Brief History Of Mario Kart Item Evolution: The Shell
When spiny blue shells grow wings
If you thought Donkey Kong’s banana-throwing antics were foul play out on the circuit, Koopa Troopa is probably worthy of mention as well – no doubt coming under fire from various animal rights groups for the exploitation of his own species. Although shells have been one of the many foundations of Mario Kart...
Tuesday8th Apr 2014
News New Taiko Drum Master Game Revealed for 3DS
...in Japan, that is. Alas.
Popular Namco rhythm series Taiko no Tatsujin (known as Taiko: Drum Master in the West) will get a new instalment on 3DS in Japan, as reported by Famitsu. Entitled Taiko Drum Master: Don and Katsu’s Space-Time Great Adventure, the new drumming game will arrive 26th June for ¥4,740 (roughly $46 or £28). It will support...
Saturday1st Mar 2014
News GBA Titles Super Mario Ball And Pac-Man Collection Rated By Australian Classification Board
Headed for Wii U Virtual Console
Following the trend of the past few weeks, another pair of Game Boy Advance titles — expected to arrive sometime soon on the Wii U Virtual Console — have been classified by Australian Classification Board. The classifications have revealed Super Mario Ball (also known as Mario Pinball Land) and Pac-Man...
Thursday20th Feb 2014
News Namco's Klonoa: Empire of Dreams & Mr. Driller 2 rated by Australian Classification Board
Expected to arrive on Wii U VC soon
As reported last week, Game Boy Advance titles will finally be released on the Wii U Virtual Console from April onwards. While there’s still no pricing or release dates beyond the initial month, what we do know is the first batch arriving on the service will include Metroid Fusion, Mario & Luigi: Superstar...
Sunday29th Dec 2013
Matters Of Import Welcome To The Bizarre World Of Namco's Numan Athletics
'80s popstar Gary Numan sadly not involved
Nintendo’s Virtual Console service has been a constant treasure trove of classic gaming for many years now, covering hundreds of titles across some of the greatest systems to ever exist. It’s thrown up more than a few unexpected surprises along the way too – including this Japan-only port of the...
Wednesday11th Sep 2013
News Taiko: Drum Master Wii U Version Bringing the Beat to Japan in November
Has potential for some serious sales
The Taiko: Drum Master series of games — and there are many — is hugely popular in Japan. The range of releases on multiple systems accounts for that, with five variations released on the Wii alone, three on DS and one on 3DS — releases in the West have been exceptionally rare in comparison. They're such...
Saturday20th Jul 2013
News Soul Calibur II HD Online Not Announced For Wii U
Well that's Link out of the equation
Namco Bandai has revealed an HD remake of Soul Calibur II is in development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but there's been absolutely no mention of a Wii U adaptation. Soul Calibur II was originally on the GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox and each iteration had its own special character. Nintendo fans had the...
Thursday6th Sep 2012
News Tekken Producer: Working With Nintendo Offers Unique Possibilities
There's mushroom for fun features
Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada has spoken to Siliconera about the upcoming Tekken Tag Tournament 2, and briefly discussed what it's like working with Nintendo on the Wii U version. It would appear that from a marketing perspective Namco Bandai are currently keen to push the 360 and PS3 editions of the...
Thursday9th Feb 2012
News Tekken Boss Harada Inspired by Super Smash Bros.
Wants gamers to go 'Auuugghhh'!
Tekken 3D Prime Edition is less that a week away, the second major 3DS release of the year so far. It's a fighting series typically associated with experienced and mature gamers, but in the latest Iwata Asks Katsuhiro Harada has spoken about his desire to bring Tekken to a broader range of players, and explained why...
Saturday22nd Jan 2011
First Impressions Ridge Racer 3D
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge Raceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer
Namco's Ridge Racer series has been around the block a few times on Nintendo platforms, starting out with Ridge Racer 64 all the way up to Ridge Racer DS with a pit stop on Gamecube in between. Now the franchise is drifting on over to 3DS with the appropriately named Ridge...
Friday16th Apr 2010
Nintendo Download 20th & 21st April (Japan)
Ivy the Kiwi makes a multi-platform assault
After last week's slim pickings this week actually provides some choice on both Wii and DSi on the download front, including the first free app from Nintendo on the DSi since the Wii no Ma media viewer was released last May. Better still all of these are brand-new releases, without a catch-up title in...
Monday5th Apr 2010
Nintendo Download 5th April 2010 (North America)
Fish, learning and shooting for the Wii, more Game & Watch and Drilling action on the DSi this week in North America
The Virtual Console continues its streak of not being terrible lately with a lovely import that'll shoot right to the top of shmup fans' to-do list for the week, WiiWare goes educational and aquatic, and today's DSiWare offerings...
Wednesday17th Feb 2010
First Impressions Sakutto Hamareru Hori Hori Action Mr. Driller
Portable Driller action is Go!
Namco's Mr. Driller is certainly one of the greatest arcade puzzle franchises ever, and has even surpassed its arcade heritage on home consoles in the the past decade of its existence. Whilst Drill Land remains the franchise pinnacle, subsequent releases on WiiWare and DS have still been fun entries in the s
Friday4th Dec 2009
Nintendo Download 8-9 December 2009 (Japan)
Virtual Console and DSiWare hog the spotlight
A second week in a row with a solo WiiWare entry, but a bumper crop of Virtual Console goodness and a hefty helping of DSiWare downloads help make up for it. WiiWareChokkan! Balance Labyrinth (500pts - Gameloft) - Not a new title from Gameloft, but just them publishing Digital Leisure's The Incredible...
Saturday28th Nov 2009
Nintendo Download 1-2 December 2009 (Japan)
A light download selection next week after this week's mega releases.
This week's update was full to bursting, so it's just as well that next week is a little on the light side with only a few downloads for both Wii and DSi. WiiWare: Ponjan (1000pts - Tomy) -- The Wii counterpart to the DSiWare release of the kiddy version of mahjong (real mahjong...
Friday20th Nov 2009
Nintendo Download 24-25 November 2009 (Japan)
WiiWare is back and the MSX returns with a vengeance, plus DSiWare and more Namco Arcade games!
Japan gets a lot of downloads ordinarily, but next week must be setting some kind of record - and there's not even a public holiday to account for it! WiiWareOkiraku Kart Wii (500pts - Arc System Works) - You cannot keep the Family down, especially if...
Sunday15th Nov 2009
Nintendo Download 17-18 November 2009 (Japan)
More Namco arcade games and DSiWare next week.
Another WiiWare holiday and only two Virtual Console releases - both Namco arcade games. Hardly seems possible given the number of announced Virtual Console titles for November yet to be released, unless the 24th is going to break all previous records! Virtual Console Bosconian (800pts Arcade - Namco)...
Saturday7th Nov 2009
Nintendo Download 10-11 November 2009 (Japan)
WiiWare takes a holiday, but that's okay because we've got Arcade action and DSiWare!
Well, after this week's Japanese holiday, it looks like we're back to Wii downloads on Tuesdays and DSiWare on Wednesdays for next week. No WiiWare is coming, but that's probably okay after the bumper crop of titles released in October! Virtual ConsoleStreet...
Friday23rd Oct 2009
Nintendo Download 27-28 October 2009 (Japan)
WiiWare is back with a vengeance and Japan gets its teeth into Castlevania: Rebirth
After a hiatus Japanese download services are back in top form with 4 new WiiWare releases, 4 new VC releases and (only) 3 DSiWare titles - not too shabby! WiiWareSimple Series Vol. 5: The Judo (700pts - D3Publisher) -- A first-person judo game featuring local...
Saturday17th Oct 2009
Nintendo Download 20-21 October 2009 (Japan)
WiiWare returns, Dig Dug and more Tower DS!
After a two-week hiatus WiiWare returns, though given we're getting a card game, it's a bit anti-climactic. WiiWareUNO (800pts - Gameloft) -- Gameloft again honours Japan with the first look at a WiiWare title (their last entry, Ghost Mansion Party still hasn't seen release in other territories). Online...
