- Program: Namco Arcade
- Platform iPad and iPhone
- URL: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/namco-arcade/id465606050?mt=8
- Price: Free (Somewhat)
NamcoBandai Games has released their entry into the realm of vintage gaming on the iPhone and iPad, Namco Arcade. Sadly, this is as far as the excitement went. While many of us who lived in the arcades in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, the quarters we plunked into the machines were for real play on real machines. We certainly were not willing then nor now to buy digital coins just to play our favorite arcade games. NamcoBandai was betting on users being willing to do this, giving away the App on the Apple iTunes Store.
There are four included titles in the App, yet purchase of additional machines are priced at outrageous prices for in-app purchases. Also, the need to buy coins at $.99 cents per 10 coins with the user being able to hold a maximum of 20 just does not fly in this day and age.
In our testing of the playing of the games, the graphics were good, the speed was about right and everything was hunky dory on the play side of the app, yet the controls were not only difficult but also sluggish. In our playing of Xevious, we found that when we went right at times, the ship would not move and the joystick actually seemed to stick. Maybe it was just our big thumbs but then game play should be intuitive it they expect the users of the mobile devices to play the games.
We used up our one free game and then were left with NamcoBandai’s idea of a good time. Purchase 10 more play coins. And if you want more than the 4 games, you will have to pay for those plus the play coins. Even as bad as Atari’s $.99 cents per game was, at least they had the $14.99 unlimited option. This game has no such option and in our book is a real dog.
The game is rated 1.5 stars with 37 rating at press time with only 4 5 star ratings. there were 28 ratings that were one star and based on the ineptness of NamcoBandai to figure out this market, it is highly likely many of those users wanted to leave 0 star ratings, including ourselves.
If you wish to check out the game for nostalgia effects, Naco Arcade is at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/namco-arcade/id465606050?mt=8
Dont say we didnt warn you.
Rating: 0 Apples out of 5
