We have a very eclectic staff of gamers here at the site, each one having their own specialities and favorites in the gaming field. Bryan, for example, won't go five minutes without discussing something in the fighting genre, namely Tekken 5 and how much ass he kicks at it. Mr. Dormer likes anything Kojima, although there are other favorites that stick out in his mind that don't have the words "Metal" and "Gear" in them. And as for me, hey, I love current stuff as much as the next guy, but put me in front of a classic game and you'll be surprised how deep I get into it. Ask any of the staffers about how much time I put into playing Rolling Thunder at the office, to the point that people were humming the theme as they walked by. "Duh duh duh duhhhhhh duh duh!"

With that, I pay very close attention to classic gaming compilations. Namco's just released a couple more on the market for PSP and consoles, and Midway and Capcom have some collections due later this month that look like marvelous add-ons for $20 a pop. But in-between these releases comes Tecmo, a company known for building numerous superb franchises like Ninja Gaiden and Rygar, among others. Before Team Ninja was even a twinkle in the company's eye, they had a legacy set out before them with a number of their own classics. And they've gathered these classics for Tecmo Classic Arcade, due for the Xbox to soothe current console owners as the hype for Xbox 360 hype builds. So I got back into "classic gamer" mode (no Rolling Thunder theme this time) and wondered if it would be to my liking.

The first thing I noticed is the game's simplistic menu system. It seems to be lacking in any sort of next-gen flair but maybe that was the point. It's a simple "move around and select your game" system with running game animations and a gallery that sits in the corner to be selected. There's really not enough expansive options here, yet the games load up rather quickly, and the gallery's better than I thought it would be. You've got a good amount of promo artwork and manuals that can be zoomed in and out on, and it looks like a pretty slick system.

But this collection is all about the games, as it packs eleven "classic" games that can be chosen and played at any time. You simply hit the X button to insert a credit, and then hit the start button to jump right in. You can also pause and get out of the game at any time, if you find it isn't really your speed. And, sadly, there are a couple of games in here that I really didn't find to a "classic" taste. Let me break down each title now...

Tecmo Bowl- This will obviously be the biggest draw of the package, as the artwork on the front clearly indicates. This is an arcade variation of Tecmo's long-running football franchise, which stormed the NES and eventually sputtered out on the PlayStation. In the game, it's simple. If you're on offense, you set up pass plays to a highlighted receiver or run the ball in an open zone to score a touchdown. If you're defense, you stop the person carrying the ball or interrupt the pass play. It's so simple it's got two buttons actively used, and not like sixteen like Madden NFL 06. But it's delightfully fun, and Tecmo has wisely included the option to play with three other friends in football harmony. The only thing missing is Xbox Live support. How cool would it have been to set up a Tecmo Bowl league alongside Madden's?

Rygar- Another franchise-starting classic that would eventually lead to a bold, striking PlayStation 2 entry gets included, introducing the world to our hero and his spiked shield that can be thrown around like a deadly frisbee. This game is built much simpler than the NES game, with straightforward attacking and no real power-ups of any kind, aside from the occasional tool that will allow you to clear the screen of enemies. I still liked it, even though the music never really changed and the game was basically a walk-through in a matter of an hour.

Bomb Jack- Here's one you might recognize from the old days as Mighty Bomb Jack back from the NES. You take control of a caped superhero as he flies around the screen, collecting bombs before they explode and avoiding enemies. It's built around the easiest of concepts, but the game still remains a lot of fun, and a great test of skill. Some later levels are likely to eat you alive, as you scramble around trying to catch a lit bomb before it explodes. I just wished there was some kind of competitive versus mode.

Swimmer- Think Frogger, but with some swimming guy in the place of a frog. And less appeal. In the game, you take control of this poor schlep as he tries to swim upstream, avoiding logs and lily pads and other things that would otherwise be considered harmless but somehow kill your guy dead upon contact. Damn lethal logs! The game concept is easy and I think kids might enjoy it, but it's really a title you'll probably pass on most of the time. A classic it ain't.

Tecmo Cup- Another recognizable franchise that's included is an entry in Tecmo's short-lived soccer series. It can be good fun in multiplayer, but the layout's a bit confusing and the gameplay isn't as exciting as I thought it would be. Still, I think soccer fans might find a good time here, so give it at least one try.

Star Force- Hey, here's another NES game brought forth in its arcade form. Of course, you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference based on the game's dated engine. It's still a lot of fun anyway, a manic shooter where you basically shoot everything you can, earning the occasional power-up and dodging all sorts of manic gunfire. It'll do for quickie shooter entertainment.

Strato Fighter- Here's the real meat-and-potatoes shooter of the collection, a long-lost favorite that was a pleasure to dip back into again. Kind of basing itself loosely on a Gradius game, you take control of one of two fighters (you can play with a friend also) and blast away a ton of enemies with different power-ups. You can also turn your ship around to shoot behind you, a novel touch considering that a lot of enemies seem to come from behind in later levels. This game was wonderful and is one of the bigger surprises of the package.

Pinball Action- Here's another great surprise in Tecmo Classic Arcade, a video pinball game that grows on you with each new table you unlock and new bonuses you rack up. The control is ideal, allowing you to use the left and right triggers to control the flippers, and the design is actually pretty sweet, considering the title's old-school roots. Get some multiple players in this and you'll be surprised how quickly the time goes by.

Solomon's Key- Another NES title that's seeing its arcade glory days revealed, but I didn't like Key nearly as much as the other games. That's because it gets repetitive pretty quickly, despite all the maze designs coming into play. It just seems a bit primitive, and not really that much fun. I'd stick with Bomb Jack instead if you're looking for something to stretch your skills. Or just go back to Pinball Action.

Pleiads- Here's another shooter game for the collection, although this one has even less quality than Star Force, if that's possible. It's a basic mixture of Galaxian and Missile Command, where you shoot down enemies before they can trash your city. The control's slightly sluggish here, and the appeal quickly wears off after a few plays.

Senjyo- Finally, we come to this 3-D based action shooter that has elements of Battlezone in it, although your turret remains in one spot. You basically circle around, shooting incoming enemies that come over the hills and fly at you in a number of ways. The variety here is interesting, but the gameplay can grow frustrating to those who can't keep track of all their enemies. It's alright, I guess.

And that's it, really. Only eleven games. Sure, some of them are winners, but I would've liked to see Tecmo expand things a little bit. Where's the likes of Tecmo Knight? Was it too gory for its own good? For that matter, what about the cooperative helicopter/jeep shooter game Silk Worm? I remember that one from back in the old days, both in the arcades and on the NES, and I think it would've been awesome to see here. Sigh.

I probably shouldn't even mention Ninja Gaiden. Team Strong's initial effort easily helped it grow into the monstrous, deepened series it is today, and it could've clearly been added to Classic Arcade. I know, I know, Tecmo's saving it as an inclusion to their forthcoming Ninja Gaiden Black, but, really, how hard would it have been to put it in both titles? Pulling a tactic like this seems really cheap.

That leads to the game's final complaint- the price. Instead of basing itself as a steal at $20, the collection instead sits at $30. I suppose this'll do for hardcore Tecmo fans, but what about the general game buyers? They'll see the price on this game and opt instead to buy something from Capcom or Namco for the $20 price. If Tecmo had bargain priced this, they would've come away with a few more buyers to introduce their classic smorgasbord to.

Tecmo Classic Arcade is a mixed batch for me. Part of me appreciated the hardcore roots that Tecmo was coming into, and cherished the rediscovery of such favorites as Strato Fighter and Pinball Action. But then part of me got irked by the game's lack of technical pizzazz and Xbox Live support, not to mention some titles that I think would've made it better. The raise in price is kind of a turn-off, too. Those interested in classic collections and the franchises Tecmo has developed will want to pick it up instantly, but everyone else will probably want to rent it first. Me? I'll probably go ahead and buy it, just so I can sit it next to my Namco and Midway entries and continue my status as "classic gaming nut". After all, it's in my nature.