Friday, September 28, 2007

Wangan Midnight Portable - In Stock

In the Wangan Midnight manga serial, Akio Asakura's in his Fairlady Z31 with three friends when he spots the legendary "Blackbird" which is a turbo-charged Porsche driven by Tatsua Shima. Akio tries to catch up to the Porsche but Tatsuya speeds up and leaves Akio in the dust. Akio is humiliated but is later comforted by a mechanic who suggests that he visit Kuro's junkyard to salvage parts from a wrecked Z31. Instead of attending school, Akio goes hunting for parts to boost his Fairlady Z31. While spelunking in the junkyard, he spots a first generation Fairlady S30Z that's in fairly good shape. Sure, it's missing the front wheels but the engine's a twin turbo and the innards are fine. Strange coincidences goad Akio to buy the S30Z. From humble beginnings, Akio's legend begins.

Wangan Midnight Portable is based on the manga but plies the night racing trade popularized by Genki's own Shutoko Battle franchise. To play a story based racing challenge, there's the Scenario Mode to explore but those out for a simple racing challenge may choose the Versus Mode which allows up to four PSP-equipped racers to compete against each other wirelessly. Perfectionists can check into the Tuning Mode which puts an emphasis on infallible driving skills where your car is kept away from the walls and other vehicles on the road. The racing action takes place entirely during the twilight hours where the only illumination is from overhead lamps. The controls are responsive as expected and the illusion of speed as cars topple the 300 km/h threshold is fairly convincing.
«NCS Game Notes»

Jet de Go! Pocket [Eternal Hits] - In Stock

Strap into the seat of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747 and fly the friendly skies as a virtual pilot who guides the planes, reads the instruments, and makes sure that the flight is on schedule. You have important passengers to ferry around Japan who demand timeliness. Four planes may be used at the outset as follows: JAL B747-400D, JAL B777-200, JAL B777-300, and the JAL B767-300.

After meeting certain conditions and goals, five additional planes are eventually unlocked. Eight Japanese airports may be landed on with accurate layouts that were based on photographs of the real locations such as Hiroshima Airport, Komatsu Airport, Fukuoka Airport, and Osaka's Guanxi airport.

Four game modes are playable: Flight Mode, Trial Mode, Replay Mode, and Flight Guide. In Flight Mode, choose a plane from the five available selections and watch as it rotates in the Jet Select screen and check its stats on the right side of the screen. Once flying, indicators are superimposed on the screen with an altimeter on the right side and bearings located around the center of the screen which track the plane's heading. The pilot's panel is located on the bottom of the screen to keep track of gauges and allow for mechanism handling. Day flights are available along with night flights which add a wrinkle to maneuvering through the midnight hours. In addition to shadowy sights along the ground, night flights feature the sparkling lights of cities below.

Car Stand Set - Preorder

Hori lends a hand to mobile PSP motorists the world over with the upcoming Playstation Portable Car Stand Set which mounts a PSP upright on an adjustable stand. In Japan, there's a few map software programs which are used in conjunction with the GPS Receiver to find routes to restaurants, parks, and other interesting venues. Sadly, there's no such software for the North American marketplace yet but something might be available in the far off future.

The Stand Set also includes a PSP car battery charger with a coiled extension cord. The stand will accommodate a PSP or a Slim PSP and preorders are welcome today to ship in mid-late November 2007. Pricing is set at JPY6980 or US$68 from NCS.

System Bag DS Lite - Preorder

The Nintendo DS Lite carrying pouch marketplace is saturated with countless offerings from established companies and fly-by-nights alike. Despite the crowded space, Hori has announced a slim carrying bag which holds an NDS Lite and a good amount of game cards and accessories along with it. Mesh flaps and pockets inside the System Bag keeps everything orderly and controlled without the chaos of other carrying pouches. Two colors are available for preorder - a white pouch with blue interior and a black pouch with red interior. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late November 2007 at JPY1380 or US$18 from NCS.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Bleach Blade Battles 2 - In Stock

The Bleach phenomenon has been winning readership/viewership in the world of manga and animation for a few years now. More recently, it has also taken the gaming world by storm with a steady stream of releases across the Gameboy Advance, the Wii, Nintendo DS, and Playstation 2 platforms.

The first Bleach: Blade Battles shipped in October 2006 and the sequel reaches market roughly 1 year later. Whereas the original game featured a cast of 23 characters, BBB2 boasts 36 fighters with familiar faces mixed in with fresh new ones such as Kaname Tosen, Gin Ichimaru, and Sosuke Aizen. The cackling Inner Ichigo is also new in the game who attacks with a maniacal spinning move and sword strokes that span a wide expanse. Up to four players can compete in the Free Battle Mode or a solo players can engage the Story Mode. At the outset, fourteen characters are playable:

First Row: Renji Abarai, Toshiro Hitsugaya, Rangiku Matsumoto, Ikkaku Madarame, Yumichika Ayasegawa
Second Row: Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Shinji Hirako, Hiyori Sarugaki
Third Row: Yasutora Sado, Uryƫ Ishida, Orihime Inoue, Yammy, Grimmjow Jeagerjaques

Generations of Chaos Desire - In Stock

Gamers hoping for a brand new GOC adventure in "Desire" won't find it. What they will find after plunking down US$65 is a compilation of two Generation of Chaos games that have been upgraded with the tactical battle system found in Generation of Chaos V.

Generation of Chaos (2001)
Step into the world of Neverland and join a pink-haired demon girl named Roze who's out to avenge her younger sister who was killed by human forces. Despite her burning desire to seek vengeance on humans, Roze also has doubts about her bloodlust against an entire race.

Generation of Chaos Next: Lost Bonds (2002)
A knight named Eriru who's next in line to be king and his betrothed Rozzi are joined by Roz's guardian Rifaia in a tactical adventure game where strategic battles are the rage. Neverland is once again the stage for conflicts between demons and humans that ignite into all out war.

All preorders will ship with four bonus postcards featuring GOC artwork.

Agarest Senki - New Import

In a world known as Agarest, five continents hold sway over the lineage of a family which spans five generations. The game starts off with an aristocrat-cum-knight named Leonhardt who's decked with feathered hair and wears a crisp military uniform with white Versace overcoat. Leonhardt has been assigned to a guard post but deserts the military life after much disenchantment with war. In the process of going AWOL, he's mortally wounded by a conspiracy of events but he's given a second chance at life by a deity. In exchange for his services, Leon is revived and made into a Soul Container which allows him to live a normal life and sire offspring with one of three possible maidens to continue his bloodline.
Agarest Senki mixes interaction with tactical turn-based battles where Leonhardt hunkers down to strategize on skirmishes and then develops a relationship with a girl. After Leonhardt's chapter is over, his son Radius takes over the family business and woos a bride to continue the bloodline... and so on and so forth for a total of five generations.

Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou - In Stock

From the Publisher
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus is the expansion pack for the popular Phantasy Star Universe game, bringing a more personalized and interactive universe to the acclaimed series. In addition to new enemies, weapons, levels and cities there will be more options available for gamers to further individualize and customize the look of their avatars.

Ambition of the Illuminus continues the exciting PSU story online as the player's personal online avatar is now the central character, investigating and working to restore peace in the chaotic Gurhal System. The player investigates through a series of single-player missions, meeting familiar characters like Ethan Waber from Episode 1, along with other new ones, including a GUARDIAN instructor, Laia Martinez. In addition, the online multiplayer world, with its fast-paced, engaging battle experience for up to six players, has been greatly expanded with new missions, new cities and new enemies.
The PS2 version of PSU: InY requires the Playstation BB Unit to go online and a memory card with at least 3166KB of free space
.

Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou - In Stock

From the Publisher
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus is the expansion pack for the popular Phantasy Star Universe game, bringing a more personalized and interactive universe to the acclaimed series. In addition to new enemies, weapons, levels and cities there will be more options available for gamers to further individualize and customize the look of their avatars.

Ambition of the Illuminus continues the exciting PSU story online as the player's personal online avatar is now the central character, investigating and working to restore peace in the chaotic Gurhal System. The player investigates through a series of single-player missions, meeting familiar characters like Ethan Waber from Episode 1, along with other new ones, including a GUARDIAN instructor, Laia Martinez. In addition, the online multiplayer world, with its fast-paced, engaging battle experience for up to six players, has been greatly expanded with new missions, new cities and new enemies.
The PC version of PSU: InY requires a PC with a Pentium 4 (1.6Gz minimum) processor, 256MB of ram, and Windows 2000/XP/Vista
.

Bass Fishing Wii: Rokumaru Densetsu - In Stock

During her career, Chisato Morishita has provided her services as a Race Queen and as a gravure model for photo books and numerous photo shoots. Chisato has parlayed her looks into acting and singing gigs but never has she used her talents to promote a fishing game. That is, until now. Arc Systems taps the model for Bass Fishing Wii and perhaps starts a trend for games that are mainly targeted at a male audience.
True to its namesake, Bass Fishing is about sailing out to a serene lake, casting a lure, and then waiting for the bass to bite. Thanks to the motion-sensitive Wiimote controller, players use the remote like an actual fishing rod. A number of lure casting methods are possible:

Overhead cast: Move the Wiimote in a 180 arc that begins behind your shoulder and ends around your waistline.
Side hand cast: Flick the Wiimote in a quick left-to-right motion.
Back hand cast: Flick the Wiimote in a quick right-to-left motion.

Once a bass bites the line, snag it by whipping the remote to the left or right and reel it in by pressing the "A" or "B" button on the Wiimote and pat yourself on the back while mouthing, "Atta boy!"

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Bleach Heat the Soul 3 [The Best] - In Stock

From the publisher
Naturally adorned with extraordinary spiritual power, the orange-haired high school student, “Kurosaki Ichigo”, to help the mysterious girl, Kuchiki Rukia, who has lost her mysterious powers in the course of saving him, decides to become a substitute Shinigami, fighting off “hollows” together with Rukia. After undergoing rigorous training under the tutelage of Urahara Kisuke, Ichigo finally becomes a real Shinigami and unleashes the true powers of his beloved sword, “Zangetsu”. Rukia is imprisoned in the Senzaikyu (literally palace of atonement) as it is a serious offence to impart Shinigami powers to normal people. And so, Ichigo and friends sneak into the Soul Society…


Charming combat system full of varied transformations
The fully revamped combat system not only adds to the “Group Battle” system where one has to work together with partners and use their abilities skillfully so as to overcome the adversaries, but also highlights the interconnected relationships between the characters in the original manga and animation series. It also includes elements like the “Reiatsu” system where both the player and his opponent share the same gauge to “release” and execute devastating killer moves and super hidden moves. Includes the “reiatsu dash” to rush towards the enemy. and the tables-turning “awakening” state. Every duel can be said to be changing with every moment and there is nary a dull moment.

Creator's Labo 15: Evangelion Rei Ayanami

In traditional toy licensing for the Rei Ayanami character, the blue-haired moppet is usually dressed in a skin-tight plug suit or in school clothing. Been there and done that. To death. After 100-200 incarnations of the same thing, the target audience tends to lose interest and glaze over after a while.
Rather than beat the dead horse which is skeletal by now, toy manufacturers have taken Rei in new and radical directions where she dons swimsuits, snazzy Christmas outfits, and even wedding dresses.
Shunya Yamashita takes a stab at rendering Rei in a new way and Mitsumasa Yoshizawa performs the final sculpting. The result is a futuristic version of Ms Ayanami that's not only chic but mod subculture casual. Rei's pose is evocative of Space Channel 5's Ulala or maybe Mylene Hoffman from Shotaro Ishinomori's 009-1 serial. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late December 2007 at US$68 per figure.

El Cazador de la Bruja: Nadie 1/8 Figure - Preorder

In the El Cazador de la Bruja animated series, a young girl named Ellis teams up with a bounty hunter named Nadie and the two embark on a world spanning adventure. Ellis suffers from amnesia and is originally Nadie's target but chance events conspire to join the two girls together with a common purpose. With Nadie's skills and fine marksmanship, Ellis gains a staunch ally with whom she'll discover her past and recover lost memories.
Japanese manufacturer Alter has announced preorders for a 1/8 scale Nadie figure where the bounty hunter is garbed in her work duds and cloaked by a wavy white shawl that's removable. The auburn-haired huntress also wears grey gloves and matching thigh high boots. Nadie measures 21cm tall and a display stand is included for mounting purposes. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late January 2008 at US$65 each.

Funny Knights: Cream-Kore Strawberry

Artist Shunya Yamashita has dazzled fans with depictions of the female form for years. However, 2006 and 2007 was when Shunya exploded onto the toy scene with a number of his idols making their way to PVC form including the popular Mirei-San figures and the upcoming CoCoNa figure which was announced earlier this summer. Yamashita's heroines are invariably attractive and sculpted with accurate proportions and a verve that can only be captured by a master artist.

The Funny Knights: Cream-Kore Strawberry figure joins the upcoming Cream-Kore Custard figure which are scheduled to ship in October 2007 and January 2008 respectively. In the strawberry-flavored variant, a healthy blonde lass oozes out of a pastry along with gobs of pink-colored filling. Ms Strawberry measures 19cm tall and preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2007. From Milestone.

Super Black Jack Rio PVC Figure - Preorder

Rio is the pink-haired matron saint of gamblers across Japan. Well, that how she appears to us. Stylish, slim, and full of bosom, Rio generally dresses up in a black and white casino outfit which consists of a micro skirt and a vest that's occasionally unbuttoned. We suspect that's part of Rio's allure and what might constitute a casino player's "bonus" when she's dealing the cards.

There's no shortage of Rio products in Japan. None. Rio's soul was brokered and sold years ago to bidders who've churned out a steady stream of product to the marketplace. Toy stores generally have stock on hand of assorted Rio merchandise from towels to pillows to figures carved out of PVC. Japanese studio Orchid Seed gets in on the Rio action by announcing a 19cm tall figure with a flared open top and micro skirt. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late November 2007.

Japanese Import Schedule

The full upcoming 2007-2008 schedule may be viewed here.
Nintendo DS
11/29 Yes! PreCure 5 Bandai

Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 Konami
12/06 Nepurigu DS Jaleco

Pororon! Dokomodake DS Capcom

Power Pro Kun Pocket 10 Konami

Tales of Innocence Namco
Playstation 2
11/29 Togainu no Chi True Blood Kadokawa

Togainu no Chi True Blood Limited Edition Kadokawa

Xyanide Ertain

Zero no Tsukaima Marvelous

Zero no Tsukaima Limited Edition Marvelous
12/13 D.C. Da Capo The Origin Sweets

D.C. Da Capo The Origin Limited Edition Sweets
Playstation 3
11/23 Winning Eleven 2008 Konami
11/30 Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Koei

Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Treasure Box Koei
Playstation Portable
11/29 Makai Senki Disgaea Portable Tsuushin Taisen N Ichi

Xyanide Ertain
12/06 Chronicle of Dungeon Maker II Global A
Xbox 360
11/29 Apocalypse Desire Next IFactory

Guilty Gear 2 Overture Arc Sys

Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Koei

Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Treasure Box Koei
Wii
11/1 Opoona Koei

Super Mario Galaxy Nintendo
11/15 Biohazard Umbrella Chronicles Capcom

Biohazard Umbrella Chronicles + Wii Zapper Capcom
11/29 Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes Capcom
12/10 Deca Sporta Konami

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Mitsukete! Keroro Gunsou - In Stock

Another hodgepodge of mini-games and interaction featuring the crew of Keroro Gunsou are collected in Mitsukete! Keroro Gunsou which translates to Find! Keroro Gunsou. Some games feature a "spot the differences" theme between an image on the top NDS screen and the touch screen. To spice up the image discernment, some image pairs are mirrored up against each other and others are rotated 90°to add an extra level of difficulty. Another game requires unveiling portions of an image on the touch screen by scratching on it with the stylus and yet another game features wind action where you blow into the microphone to move balloons. A quiz section is also playable for test lovers. All three of you.

Eiyuu Densetsu Sora no Kiseki SC - In Stock

Originally released for the Japanese PC on March 9, 2006, the second chapter of Eiyuu Densetsu Sora no Kiseki chronicles the adventures of a girl named Estelle Bright. Born into the family of a Bracer named Cassius Bright, Estelle followed in her father's footsteps and became a Bracer. The Bracers are a group of heroes who work to maintain peace and civility in the Liberl Kingdom which would otherwise be overrun by monsters and mayhem.

As the story begins, Estelle wakes up inside Grancel Castle and recalls the events in the first chapter of EDSnK. She gets up and looks for her "brother" Joshua Bright who's nowhere to be found. She runs into her father who tells her that Joshua was once a member of the Ouroboros, a group that has been staging the aforementioned mayhem in the Liberl Kingdom. Cassius tells Estelle that Joshua had been unwittingly spying for the Ouroboros while living with the Bright Family. To avoid compromising the safety of the Bright Family, Joshua decided to leave lest the Ouroboros come knocking at their door. Aghast at what Cassius has told her, Estelle runs through the streets of Liberl to no particular destination but soon decides to take a flight home where she thinks Joshua is. Once home, Estelle searches the house with a new friend named Priest Kevin who she met aboard the airship. After a little while, she gives up and resolves to find him. To that end, she resumes her work as a Bracer against the machinations of the Ouroboros and perhaps locate Joshua once again.

Fantastic Fortune 2: Triple Star [Best Hit] - In Stock

The original release of Fantastic Fortune 2 shipped in Japan on March 3, 2005 and NCS moved decent numbers of the game based on the olde transaction archives. The [Best Hit] re-release of the game is the same as the original except the price has been halved and the cover is now bordered by an unattractive "Best Hit" frame.
Artist Azusa Yuhki's contributes character designs and scenarios to GeneX's romantic love simulation, Fantastic Fortune 2. Play as one of three girls named Aqua, Marine, or Marlowe who each have special gifts that'll help them locate a special girl who's marked with a star. To this end, interact with fellow island folk, go to school, and perhaps find love amongst the varied cast of characters. The storyline of the game spans a year in the life of one of the gals as she matures and experiences new things. Slight improvements over the PC original include an enhanced game interface, an additional scenario, new sound effects, and an updated intro animation. For those who'd rather watch instead of pressing buttons every few seconds to forward the introductory text, an automatic forwarding option may be toggled so the interaction sequences play without user input.
A special Music gallery allows gamers to listen to the BGM in the game.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Halo 3 Limited Edition - In Stock

From The Publisher
The Limited Edition ships in a sleek metal collector's case. In addition to the game, the Limited Edition includes the "Bestarium," a hardcover guide to the game's species, civilizations, and cultures. The bonus disc includes Bungie's high-definition home theater calibration tool; "Art Attack" with concept, production art, an exclusive Dashboard theme, and gamer pics; a Halo-themed minigame; and a variety of short films on a wide range of subjects.

The epic saga continues with Halo 3, the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise. In this third chapter of the Halo trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.

Halo 3 - In Stock

From The Publisher
Halo 3 is the third game in the Halo Trilogy and the thrilling conclusion to the events begun in Halo: Combat Evolved. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. The Covenant occupation of Earth has uncovered a massive and ancient object beneath the African sands - an object whose secrets have yet to be revealed. Earth's forces are battered and beaten. The Master Chief's AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Gravemind - a horrifying Flood intelligence, and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant. It's all been building to this -- a desperate, final war that leads to a soul-shattering climax of epic proportions. Take control of Master Chief to defeat the Covenant and destroy the Flood to prevent the annihilation of the human race.

Game Features
»
Next-gen advantage: Taking full advantage of the power of Xbox 360, Halo 3 expands on everything that has made the Halo franchise great, adding a wealth of technical and gameplay advancements.

Star Wars Pepper Mill - Preorder

Have you ever sat in front of a steaming steak and muttered to yourself, "You know Francis, that steak needs some pepper and an R2-D2 pepper mill would be just the right tool to crush those peppercorns!"

Two Star Wars pepper mills made of ABS plastic and measuring 11cm (4.33") tall are on their way to the Japanese market on February 29, 2008. Both hold about 1 oz worth of peppercorns. To crush them, twist R2's dome and flakes of pepper obediently drop from its bottom. Two variants are on offer - a blue and white R2-D2 and a black and gold R2-Q5. Preorders are welcome at JPY1980 or US$19 each.