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List of Namco universes: Difference between revisions

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(I feel like the Third-party Material category should just have content from companies without playable representation, with those that do going under the sub-categories of their respective companies, instead.)
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[[Category:Namco]]
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Revision as of 23:08, September 3, 2019

This is a list of Namco universes with smaller forms of representation in the Super Smash Bros. series, specifically Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While the Pac-Man universe features prominently, most of the Namco universes are represented in minor ways, such as with music or a cameo in Pac-Man's Namco Roulette taunt. Due to changes in how music is sorted, all Namco songs in Ultimate are categorized under the Pac-Man series.

Babylonian Castle Saga

Babylonian Castle Saga (universe)
Tower of Druaga logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Genre(s) Action role-playing
Maze
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment The Tower of Druaga (1984)
Latest installment The Tower of Druaga: the Recovery of BABYLIM (2007)

Babylonian Castle Saga (バビロニアン・キャッスル・サーガ, Babylonian Castle Saga) is a series of medieval maze-based action RPGs beginning with The Tower of Druaga, which spawned several sequel games and a spin-off anime series. Gil, the series' main protagonist, cameos in Namco Roulette and as a downloadable costume for Mii Swordfighters. The Tower of Druaga's main theme and level complete theme appear in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 1. The main theme from The Return of Ishtar, the direct sequel to The Tower of Druaga, appears in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 2.

Baraduke

Baraduke (universe)
Baraduke logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Dempa
Publisher(s) Namco
Dempa
Genre(s) Platformer, shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Baraduke (1985) Japan
Latest installment Bakutotsu Kijūtei: Baraduke II (1988) Japan

Baraduke (バラデューク, Baraduke) is a series of scrolling shooters that feature an astronaut rescuing docile aliens from hostile species. Although it was released a year earlier, the original game is noted for its similarities to Metroid; the player character, Kissy, is revealed to be a woman upon clearing the game. A friendly alien, Paccet, cameos in Namco Roulette.

Bosconian

Bosconian (universe)
Bosconian logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Midway
Genre(s) Shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Bosconian (1981)
Latest installment Blast Off (1989) Japan

Bosconian (ボスコニアン, Bosconian) is a series of free-roaming space shooters. The player's fighter cameos in Namco Roulette.

Bravoman

Bravoman (universe)
Bravoman logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
NEC
Genre(s) Beat-'em-up
Shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Bravoman (1988)
Latest installment Bravoman: Binja Bash! (2013)

Bravoman (ベラボーマン, Bravoman) is a comical action game that parodies typical superhero stories and cliches. In more recent years, it received both a web cartoon and a mobile game as part of ShiftyLook. The original Bravoman's title and first level music is featured as Bravoman Retro Medley.

Dig Dug

Dig Dug logo.png
Main article: Dig Dug (universe)

Dragon Buster

Dragon Buster (universe)
Dragon Buster logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Dempa
TOSE
Publisher(s) Namco
Dempa
Enix
Genre(s) Platformer
Action role-playing
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Dragon Buster (1985) Japan
Latest installment Dragon Valor (1999)

Dragon Buster (ドラゴンバスター, Dragon Buster) is a series of medieval action RPGs with a platforming emphasis. The original game is notable for being the first game to include a double jump and a visual health meter. The protagonist, Clovis, cameos in Namco Roulette.

Dragon Spirit

Dragon Spirit (universe)
Dragon Spirit logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Consult Software
Domark
The Hit Squad
Publisher(s) Namco
Various
Genre(s) Shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Dragon Spirit (1987)
Latest installment Dragon Saber (1990) Japan

Dragon Spirit (ドラゴンスピリット, Dragon Spirit) is a series of dragon-based vertically scrolling shooters. The Area 1 theme from Dragon Spirit is remixed in Ultimate, and it also appears in its original form in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 2.

Galaxian

Galaxian logo.png
Main article: Galaxian (universe)

Katamari

Katamari (universe)
Katamari Damacy logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Genre(s) Third-person action
Puzzle
Console/platform of origin PlayStation 2
First installment Katamari Damacy (2004)
Latest installment Katamari Damacy Reroll (2018)

Katamari (塊魂, Clump Spirit) is a series of action-puzzle games in which the player controls the tiny Prince of All Cosmos, sent to Earth to roll up various objects into the titular sticky balls. A pixel version of the Prince (taken from the credits of Me and My Katamari) cameos in Namco Roulette in Ultimate. Debuting in 2004, Katamari is the newest Namco series to receive representation in Smash.

Coincidentally, Katamari Damacy Reroll, an HD remake of the original Katamari Damacy, was released on the same day as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

King & Balloon

King & Balloon (universe)
King & Balloon logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
GamePlan
Genre(s) Shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment King & Balloon (1980)
Latest installment King & Balloon (1980)

King & Balloon (キング & バルーン, King & Balloon) is a fixed shooter game where the player must defend a king from hostile balloons, notable for being one of the earliest examples of sampled speech in video games. The King cameos in Namco Roulette in the 3DS version of SSB4 and Ultimate.

Libble Rabble

Libble Rabble (universe)
Libble Rabble logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Genre(s) Action
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Libble Rabble (1983) Japan
Latest installment Libble Rabble (1983) Japan

Libble Rabble (リブルラブル, Libble Rabble) is an action game involving harvesting mushrooms while avoiding enemies. The game was designed by Pac-Man creator, Tōru Iwatani. The bonus creature Topcup cameos in Namco Roulette, and the game's music is featured in Libble Rabble Retro Medley.

Mappy

Mappy (universe)
Mappy logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Dempa
Epoch
Publisher(s) Namco
Various
Genre(s) Platformer
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Mappy (1983)
Latest installment Mappy Taiketsu! Neonyāmuko-Dan (2015) Japan

Mappy (マッピー, Mappy) is a series of platform games starring the titular policemouse Mappy as he retrieves stolen goods from the cat burglar Goro and his goons, the Mewkies. The game's trampoline serves as the basis for Pac-Jump, and the titular Mappy cameos in Namco Roulette. Mappy's main theme and level complete theme appear in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 1, and Ultimate includes a remix of the game's music, Mappy Medley.

Metro-Cross

Metro-Cross (universe)
Metro-Cross logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Various
Publisher(s) Namco
U.S. Gold
Genre(s) Platformer
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Metro-Cross (1985)
Latest installment Metro-Cross (1985)

Metro-Cross (メトロクロス, Metro-Cross) is a running-based platform game where the player must escape a futuristic obstacle course before it self-destructs. The game's protagonist, Runner, cameos in Namco Roulette in the Wii U version of SSB4 and Ultimate, while the game's music is featured in Metro-Cross Retro Medley.

Pac-Man

Pac-Man title.png
Main article: Pac-Man (universe)

Rally-X

Rally-X (universe)
Rally-X logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Midway
Genre(s) Maze
Driving
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Rally-X (1980)
Latest installment Rally-X Rumble (2011)

Rally-X (ラリーX, Rally-X) is a series of driving-based maze games. Rally-X was the debut of the Special Flag, which has become a major symbol of Namco. In addition to the item, the main theme and level complete theme from New Rally-X appear in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 1. The player's car cameos in Namco Roulette.

Shadow Land

Shadow Land (universe)
Shadow Land logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Now Production
Publisher(s) Namco
Genre(s) Platformer
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Shadow Land (1987) Japan
Latest installment Kyūkai Dōchūki (1990) Japan

Shadow Land (妖怪道中記, Yōkai Travel Journal) is an atypical platform game in which Tarosuke, the protagonist, travels through the afterlife towards his ultimate fate. Known in Smash by its Japanese title, Yōkai Dōchūki, the game's music is featured in Yokai Dochuki Retro Medley.

Sky Kid

Sky Kid (universe)
Sky Kid logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Epoch
Publisher(s) Namco
Epoch
Sunsoft
Genre(s) Shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Sky Kid (1985)
Latest installment Sky Kid Deluxe (1986) Japan

Sky Kid (スカイキッド, Sky Kid) is a piloting-based scrolling shooter. The Red Baron player character cameos in Namco Roulette, and the game's music is featured in Sky Kid Retro Medley.

Taiko no Tatsujin

Taiko no Tatsujin (universe)
Taiko no Tatsujin English logo.png
Developer(s) Bandai Namco
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco
Genre(s) Rhythm
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Taiko no Tatsujin (2001) Japan
Latest installment Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! (2018)

Taiko no Tatsujin (太鼓の達人, Taiko Master) is a series of drumming-based rhythm games that are particularly popular in Japan. The series' protagonist, Don-chan, cameos in Namco Roulette.

Notably, Taiko no Tatsujin has previously crossed over with the Mario series in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. Aside from Mario, the games have also featured music from several franchises included in Smash, including Kirby, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Splatoon, and Mega Man.

Tales

Tales (universe)
Tales of Series logo.png
Developer(s) Bandai Namco
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco
Genre(s) Role-playing
Console/platform of origin Super Famicom
First installment Tales of Phantasia (1995) Japan
Latest installment Tales of Berseria (2016)

Tales (テイルズ オブ, Tales of) is a long-running series of fantasy RPG games that are popular worldwide. The design of the main protagonist of Tales of Symphonia, Lloyd Irving, appears as a DLC costume for Mii Swordfighters.

Tekken

Tekken (universe)
Tekken logo.gif
Developer(s) Bandai Namco
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco
Genre(s) Fighting
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Tekken (1994)
Latest installment Tekken (Mobile) (2018)

Tekken (鉄拳, Iron Fist) is a long-running series of fighting games. In SSB4, the series is represented through a downloadable content costume for Mii Brawlers based on Heihachi Mishima, a recurring antagonist in the series. In Ultimate, Heihachi also cameos as a sprite in Namco Roulette, using his sprite from Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

Coincidentally, costumes based on various Nintendo characters were available in the Wii U version of Tag Tournament 2 while Heihachi was a playable character in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Sony's equivalent to Super Smash Bros.

Thunder Ceptor

Thunder Ceptor (universe)
Thunder Ceptor logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Genre(s) Shooter
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Thunder Ceptor (1986) Japan
Latest installment 3-D Thunder Ceptor II (1986) Japan

Thunder Ceptor (サンダーセプター, Thunder Ceptor) is a series of pseudo-3D space shooters. The name entry theme from Thunder Ceptor appears in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 2.

Valkyrie

Valkyrie (universe)
Valkyrie logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Nova Games Ltd.
Publisher(s) Namco
GamePlan
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Platformer
Console/platform of origin Famicom
First installment Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu (1986) Japan
Latest installment Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu with Xiaomu (2015) Japan

Valkyrie (ワルキューレ, Walküre) is a series of mythological action-adventure games. Valkyrie, the protagonist, cameos in Namco Roulette in the Wii U version of SSB4 and Ultimate, using her sprite from the second game in the series, The Legend of Valkyrie. The game's main theme also appears in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 2.

Wonder Momo

Wonder Momo (universe)
Wonder Momo logo.png
Developer(s) Namco
Publisher(s) Namco
Genre(s) Beat-'em-up
Console/platform of origin Arcade
First installment Wonder Momo (1987) Japan
Latest installment Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster (2014)

Wonder Momo (ワンダーモモ, Wonder Momo) is a beat-'em-up game that acts as a light parody of tokusatsu stage shows. In recent years, the game was revived with a webcomic, an anime, and a mobile game. The transformation theme from Wonder Momo appears in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 2.

Xevious

Xevious logo.png
Main article: Xevious (universe)

Trivia

  • Katamari, Tales, and Valkyrie are the only Namco universes that didn't debut for arcades.
    • Out of these, Valkyrie is the only one that has an arcade installment.
  • Bravoman, Tales, and Shadow Land are the only Namco universes that don't appear in Ultimate.