The latest GBA Card Captor game reprises the story of the popular manga/animation from the very beginning. Stare as Sakura Kinomoto discovers the Book of Clow and accidentally releases all of the clow cards into the town of Tomoeda. Kerberos soon flies into view to instruct and guide the newly crowned Card Captor as she works to recover all of the escapees.
   CCS plays very much like an interactive adventure where Sakura goes to school, meets friends and engages in little action sequences to move the story along. For example, at the outset of the game, Yukito Tsukishiro throws a piece of candy at Sakura, which she must catch by pressing "A" at the right moment. Action sequences throughout the game are of similar simplicity.

   Taking place a year after the events in Pia Carrot 3, the fourth branch of the Pia Carrot chain sends out a call for employees. As former workers congregate once again at the eatery and reunite, news of an impending visit from the chain manager begins to spread. Once the head honcho arrives, he points out that the restaurant is unprofitable and may be closed down if earnings don't improve. The happy reunion is a short one and the wait staff falls into a funk. To lift everyone's spirits and avert a shutdown, the player is charged with helping Pia Carrot stay afloat by becoming a friend and advisor to the waitresses so they in turn can keep the customers coming back.

   Athletically inclined creatures and beasts from the Furai no Shiren (Mysterious Dungeon) line-up of games rule the soccer field in Chunsoft's first ever sports spinoff. Upon starting the game, monster teams from around the globe may be chosen and striker formations set. Once the action starts, an odd spectacle commences across the field as portly beasts, ungainly monsters and other scary sights kick a soccer ball as if their hides depended on it. The game is fairly good with dribbling and shooting working rather well. Special attacks may be used to score goals including fiery blasts, super shots and other skills relegated to the realm of monsters.

   In the year 2167, most of Earth's population is wiped out by deadly radiation from a supernova. That was the "First Wave" but a second wave of slower moving ejecta is on the way. To prepare for the life threatening blast, mankind erects space stations which are designed to generate a force field to protect the Earth. As the year 2356 rolls around, the "Second Wave" is on its way and players take the role of a teacher who prepares space cadets such as Katase Shima for the coming storm. Over a period of one month, provide guidance and advice to your young charges so they can in turn protect the Earth and save humanity. Piloting and attack skills may be taught to students while general interaction commences with the other characters in the game.

  SOTD Scrap Heap Scramble XI

   The Biohazard suitcase was a surprise find in the warehouse and we find yet another DVD player with built-in TFT screen.

  MOTD Famimaga Vol. 1-2 (1996)

   A Jan-Jun 1996 calendar is included where the months feature Mario 64, Zelda 64, Starfox 64 and others. An article on Nichibutsu Arcade Classics 2 is somewhat interesting. Price: $6.50 shipped with USPS Media Mail.