Take a walk down memory lane with this compilation of more than a dozen Namco arcade favourites, from the dot-munchers Pac-Man and Ms Pac-Man to the old vivid Day-Glo racers Pole Position and Pole Position II. To help to take you back to the era when these games dominated arcades around the globe, the soundtrack includes chart-toppers from the likes of Dexy’s Midnight Runners and Fine Young Cannibals, which neatly set the mood.

This selection includes few surprises, though they are faithfully re-created and play just as they did in their heyday. Thrown into the mixing pot for good measure are two unlockable games. Pac-Mania offers an isometric view to the action for the yellow gobbler while the alien-zapper Galaga ’88 brings a few new enemies to proceedings.

Other gems on the playlist include Dig Dug, the sideways scrolling Rolling Thunder, the quirky police mouse cat-nabber Mappy, Rally X, Dragon Spirit, Xevious and the loop-the-loop piloter Sky Kid.

Namco has not actually been in the business of making games for 50 years — the Japanese company started out making arcade rides for tots. But this compilation serves up all their gaming hits and, apart from proving just how far, thankfully, gaming has come in the last 25 years, it also manages to deliver nostalgia by the bucketload. Although £39.99 is a lot to pay for a collection of 20-year-old games, the internet should offer some hefty discounts if you shop around.

TIM WAPSHOTT