Friday, March 06, 2009

Biohazard 5 Limited Edition - New Import, Sold Out

«©NCSX» Last year, Capcom opened up preorders for the Biohazard 5 Limited Edition on their own shopping site at e-Capcom. The sales period ran from December 1 to December 16 and were closed afterwards. NCS was able to submit a reservation last year but we weren't sure until Wednesday night if our order would be filled. The Biohazard 5 LE bundle includes the following items:

» Hard cover art book with production commentary (32-pages)
» BSAA waist pouch which can also be worn across the shoulder
» USB thumb drive (2GB) made of brushed aluminum with Tricell logo

Please note that we may also receive a leather wallet that's imprinted with the Tricell corporate logo which was given away by e-Capcom as a promotional bonus. Pricing for the limited edition bundle is set at US$208.90 and preorders are shipping today. Although we are sold out today, we will receive a small batch of restock by Thursday of next week for new orders that are placed today. Edit: Sold out again. Sorry.

Kiniro no Corda 2 f Premium Box - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Six months after the events of the first Kiniro no Corda game, Kahoko Hino reprises her role as the heroine of another interactive romance game. The setting is Seisou High School where Kahoko organizes a musical ensemble to participate in a concert. Since she's the leader of the group, Kahoko has to prepare for new performances, decide the number of songs to play in each concert, arrange practice sessions, and configure the instruments for each song. In addition to her activities with the ensemble, Kahoko also engages in school activities, participates in festivals, and interacts with fellow students in class and during lunch.
Originally released on the PS2 in 2007, Koei adapts and upgrades the game for the PSP with new events and new characters. The seasons also change during the course of the adventure and each season is accompanied by different types of clothes that the characters wear. By interacting with her band mates and classmates, Kahoko intends to make beautiful music with the attractive cast of characters.
The Premium Box edition of Kiniro no Corda 2 forte includes a bonus Love Song Album and a Character Portrait Collection Album which is packaged with the game in a special box. The music CD is designed to look like a miniature vinyl record.

Weekly Famitsu Vol. 1057 - New Import, Subscriptions

«©NCSX» The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu features coverage on the following games and/or events:

» Continuing coverage on Biohazard 5 which checks out the overall game and the members of the Bio-terrorism Security Assessment Alliance.
» Information and details for NDS Seventh Dragon (Reviewed: 9/8/8/8)
from Sega which was released in Japan this week.
» More details and game play tips for Shin Sangoku Musou Multi-Raid.
» If you need more information on Ryu Ga Gotoku 3, you're in luck because Famitsu offers even more coverage on the game.
» Star Ocean The Last Hope hints and tips.
» The "Smash Girls" photo feature in this week's magazine shows off the impressive attributes of China Fukunaga.

Please note that NCS is currently only accepting annual subscriptions for Famitsu due to a contract with our Japanese newsprint supplier.

Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra - Preorder

«©NCSX» The Japanese Xbox 360 continues to solidify its position as the de facto console of choice for shoot 'em up fans and adherents with yet another upcoming release. This time, it's Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra from 5pb which is scheduled to ship on May 28.

The game starts off with the player's ship being towed into battle by a larger plane. Once the tether is broken, the ship hurtles ahead and into the thick of an incoming enemy assault. Tanks attack from the ground and jets swoop in from all sides as the player's ship flies deeper into enemy territory. The shots get pretty thick but are manageable if you're able to map them and twitch through them accordingly. The first mid-level boss is a chubby helicopter which sprays out a latticework of shots that move vertically and horizontally for added challenge. Preorders are welcome to ship on May 28, 2009 at JPY6800 or US$70.90 from NCS and the first printing will include a bonus "Ketsui Capture Guidebook" in 1:1 ratio.

Bleach Heat the Soul 6 - Preorder

«©NCSX» Few game series' nowadays have the staying power to endure for six volumes but Sony's Bleach Heat the Soul reaches that number in a couple of months. From the first Bleach HTS to the most recent one, the character roster has consistently grown, new game modes have been presented, and the game play has been refined with each successive release.

The sixth Bleach HTS game features a total of 74 characters for an ample amount of fighters to face off against. The core cast of Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Orihime Inoue, and others are joined by Sojiro Kusaka, Lisa Yadomaru, Masahiro Kuna, Zommari Leroux, and many more. Preorders are welcome to ship on May 14, 2009 at JPY4800 or US$52.90. The first printing of the game will include a 1:1 bonus which we're translating as a "PSP underlay" but we'll clarify this once we have more information. Japanese product name: BLEACH ヒート・ザ・ソウル6

KoroKoro Hakusei Mini Cube Keychain - Preorder

«©NCSX» Back in 1974, Erno Rubik made a contribution to the world in the form of a little toy called the Rubik's Cube. It looked simple enough - a structure that was made of twenty-seven cubes which were aligned in a basic 3 x 3 x 3 array. Each of the six sides were painted a distinct color and the goal was to mash up all the colors and then match them all up again. Although few players would ever solve the puzzle with its 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible combinations, the Rubik's Cube went on to sell a hundred million units to a worldwide audience in the 80's.

System Service pays homage to the Rubik's Cube this summer with a collection of five puzzle constructs which are based on Erno's original design. Three of the toys are standard 3x3x3 cubes but there's also a 2x2 cube and a cylindrical variation. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late June 2009 at US$13.90 for the complete set of five toys.

Extra !Story Image Figure!: Sonsaku Hakufu - Preorder

«©NCSX» There was audible laughter when the image of Yamato's upcoming Sonsaku Hakufu repaint figure made its rounds 'round the NCS office. We've always assumed that subtle was sexier than stark but maybe that's not the case nowadays. Perhaps the populace needs to have things shoved into their collective faces so that there's no mistaking the message being conveyed. Why veil sexual innuendo when Yamato can get down to the nitty-gritty with a raw and primal presentation?

In the case of the 1/7 scale SIF Sonsaku figure, it's all about the upskirts action but no one has to even peer upwards from an ant's eye view. Just look straight ahead as Sonsaku stands spread-eagled on her own volition and without any encouragement. For further voyeurism, Sonsaku's top may also be removed to bare her bosom if her lifted-leg didn't provide enough of a show. Preorders for the SIF EX Sonsaku Hakuhu Battle Ver. -Red Dragon- are welcome to ship in June 2009 at JPY7140 or US$78.90.

General Updates

Biohazard 5 PS3 80GB Bundle - Second Batch
The first batch of Biohazard 5 PS3 bundles arrived on Wednesday but please note the second batch is now scheduled to arrive on Monday of next week. All remaining preorders will ship upon arrival. The
80GB Playstation 3 console included in the bundle sports the Tricell corporate logo (honeycomb design) on the lower portion of the shell when the console is vertically oriented. The "BIOHAZARD" imprint is also etched onto the top of the shell above the Blu-Ray media slot.
Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Rise Dragon Bundle - Update
Earlier in the week, we posted an inventory update on the RGG3 Rise Dragon Bundle in Japan but things have changed. Three of the vendors are now sold out and the remaining two vendors are down to 1 and 3 bundles respectively. Due to the dwindling stock situation and our reluctance to pay a hefty premium, NCS does not expect to restock any more units due to the higher prices and limited inventory.
Final Fantasy XII Cloud Black Bundle
Numerous inquiries arrive in our inbox every day asking if we've closed preorders for the "Cloud Black PS3 Bundle" yet. We've preordered a large supply of the bundles from multiple Japanese vendors and reservations are still being accepted. When we are pre-sold out, the product listing on our shop will be updated and the item will be restricted so that it can't be added to your shopping cart. Until then however, preorders are welcome and pricing for the bundle remains at US$619.90. Thanks for reading.