 |
NCS is not expecting any
new stock items this week as our vendors and suppliers in
Japan and Asia return to work from a holiday vacation. We
do have restock for the week however. Shining Force III
is available again at a lower price of US$45. Shining III
and Grandia (Ltd Ed. $68) have been consistent sellers
with both titles ranking high on our customer want-lists.
Rumors abound that Grandia may be released in the United
Kingdom. A quick check with distributors in London
overnight have, to put it succinctly, borne no fruit to
the speculation. There is no schedule for Grandia U.K.
for the first half of this year. |
 |
Square's Einhander puts
you in the pilot's seat of a metal valkrie that has the
ability to snatch weapons from the air after you destroy
enemy airships. In the first level, your fighter speeds
through a metropolis where a multitude of adversaries
skitter and skim their way towards you. The end level
boss (shown to the left) is a monstrous mechanoid with an
elongated neck. It's an easy target however as it does
not have much of a scatter shot and it's main beam weapon
can be easily anticipated and avoided. As you engage the
boss, the screen perspective will rotate from 2-D to a
3-D isometric view and then back to 2-D as you bring the
boss down. Einhander restock (US$60). |
 |
Shin Nihon Pro-Wrestling
"Brave Spirits" ($60) from Hudson was restocked
yesterday and has shipped to all reservations. The game
plays well and draws comparisons to Tomy's exceptional
Toukon Retsuden wrestling series. One mode in Brave
Spirits allows four wrestlers in the ring at once for a
carnage filled free for all. Watch in abject awe as the
mat of the ring bounces up and down with each slap, kick
and wrestling hold that transpires. The lackluster crowd
animation leaves a lot to be desired but its the ring
action that should draw your attention. Slapping a
wrestler silly will also induce him into a state of
wooziness which adds to the realism factor. |
 |
This week gives us a
brief respite from the uncommon world of video game
releases. New import releases will start again next week
and we'll post up an expected schedule later in the week.
We do have a new USA title today however: Red Asphalt is
now in stock for the Sony Playstation at US$42. Alundra
from Working Designs is expected tomorrow for the
Playstation at US$45. We are opening up reservations and
pre-orders for the next Neo-Geo cartridge "The Last
Blade" which is due in February. The cartridge will
retail at US$239 and pre-orders will be accepted until
January 12. Normal Daily Journal entries will resume
tomorrow. |
