It's a novel idea that's really catching on in the App Store -- re-releasing old-school arcade games as part of a collection, then offering potential buyers the option to choose what games they want to keep.  Capcom's done it, Atari has done it, and Farsight is working on it with its Pinball Arcade (which we previewed).  But we're surprised that Namco has taken so long to warm up to the idea, especially with its countless Museum releases.  Well, it finally came through with Namco Arcade, a game that has the "try before you buy" method with a few of its offerings.  So why does it feel like it wasn't fully thought out?

When SoulCalibur came out for the Dreamcast just over ten years ago, it defined a new direction for the team at Namco Bandai, one of promise and dedication.  Despite the software that followed over the years, nothing could knock the weapons-based fighter off its perch as the best game to come out for the system.  Fast forward eleven years later, as the company tries to repeat its success by launching the same game on Apple's mobile devices.  Is it just as successful this time around?  Not exactly...and that's probably due to the changes in the market itself.

Remember back in the 80's and 90's, when game makers were trying to throw in images of hot women to entice you to buy their product, rather than relying on the strength of the games themselves?  The classic Sega Saturn "naked lady" ad comes to mind, with her most oglesome parts covered by screenshots from Sega games.  Well, Namco seems to remember those days well, as its latest ad for Soul Calibur V seems to point out something a little too obvious -- there are boobs in the game.

A little while back, we discussed the return of the arcade scene in a Barcades piece, talking about how adult establishments with an old-school flavor were beginning to pop up.  Well, with them, some old favorites are also making a return to the arcade scene.  In this case, it's Pac-Man, who first made his debut in the early 80's and took them by storm.  He's returned in an all new game, but this time, he's bringing some fellow Pac-Men along for the ride.

Saber Interactive is twisting the shooter genre around, literally, with its new title, Inversion. The game, which Namco Bandai is publishing in 2012, introduces vector-shifting gameplay that has players shooting from the sides of buildings and fragging opponents while upside-down. The developer talks about turning the genre upside down in this exclusive video interview below.

Soul Calibur has been a long standing series for not only some high-quality weapons combat, but also special guest appearances that have shaken up the fighting industry.  Over the years, we've seen everyone from Link from The Legend of Zelda to Spawn to Star Wars characters like Yoda and Darth Vader.  Today, Namco Bandai continued the tradition by revealing a character that will be in the upcoming Soul Calibur V -- Ezio Auditore da Firenze from Assassin's Creed.

There's a flood of great games coming out over the next few weeks, and one title you should definitely consider to be near the top of your list is Namco Bandai's Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.  This new entry in the series will introduce a higher range of intensity than ever before, especially when it comes to dogfights and the new helicopter missions.  But don't just take our word for it -- you'll be able to go hands-on for yourself when the demo goes live tomorrow.