| Dreamcast
Magazine Vol. 4 |
Summary |
This
week's issue of DCM recaps the shedding of Sega's old skin and
the evolution of the company into a pure software play. A look
back at Virtua Fighter checks out the series and what lies
ahead with Virtua Fighter 4 on the Naomi 2 hardware. Also on
the new Naomi front, a spread on Capcom's upcoming Gundam game
impresses with great photos of the game in action.
Dreamcast games on preview include Macross M3,
the best looking Macross game on any platform thus far and
Shenmue 2 coverage continues with the introduction of new
characters in the storyline. A DC guidebook round-up provides
a sweet history lesson of the past year's DC games with
screenshot covers of all of the books, roughly 100 in
total.
A Sega Arcade Q & A session focuses on Planet
Harriers, the silky smooth return of one of Sega's original
classics from the olden days of gaming. The screenshots are
small but demonstrative of the gloss in Harriers. |
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| WSC
Mobile Suit Gundam Vol. 1 -Side 7- |
Scans |
Ray
Amuro, wizard Gundam pilot and newtype warrior is the focal
pivot for the Gundam series. An ace fighter, he bolsters the
Earth Federation's forces against the Principality of Zeon.
Set initially in Side 7, a research colony where Gundam
prototypes are crafted, tested, and launched into battle, Ray
bulks up in a Gundam RX-78 for the first time. Ray's archenemy
in the Mobile Suit mythos is a Zeon officer named Char Aznable.
Char represents the corresponding ace of the Principality's
forces and a festering rivalry develops between Ray and Char
in the Gundam series and games.
The latest Wonderswan Color version of Gundam
continues the popular storyline and the characters return for
interaction, support and war. The graphical quality of the
game is excellent, with beautifully drawn artwork and high
definition likenesses for everyone involved. The game follows
the story of Ray and pits him against Zeon forces, and the
persistent Char, in tactical
simulation battles. Overall, volume 1 of what we expect to be
a running series offers an impressive, addictive, and
must-gorge game for any Gundam fan. In stock today at US$49. |
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| Sega
Returns to Hardware |
Nezumi vs
Neko |
| Sort
of. Sega plans to release the Light Boy accessory for
the Gameboy Advance on March 21 at a price of Y2680. Sega's
hardware illuminates the screen for easy viewing in the event
that overhead lighting is not readily available. The
reputation of quality behind the blue Sega logo should make
the Light Boy an easy sell. Chu Chu Rocket has also
shown up on the GBA launch roster and sports a healthy price
of Y4800, more expensive than the mighty, but old, Dreamcast version. |
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The age-old tale of mice vs cats. Chu Chu Rocket rehashes
this premise in an addictive puzzle game where players lay
down arrows to show cute mice the way to salvation. In this case, a
rocket ship is their ticket to ride, away from evil,
grotesquely drawn felines.
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| Gameboy
Advance in April |
GBA Yen |
A
smattering of new GBA cartridges descend on the handheld in
April, led by Spiderman from Success and Good
Cooking, Good Friend 2 from MTO. Food prep sims are
surprisingly popular (Ore no Ryouri still sells whenever we
can find this game) but NCS still waits for an Iron Chef
simulation where the player battles Chen Kenichi, Sakai
Hiroyuki, Kobe Masahiko, and Morimoto Masaharu. In our mind's
eye, Chairman Kaga Takeshi would be the boss character who
stands in your way to Iron Chefdom...
Konami represents in April with Get Backers
Scaramouche and My Net Liebe. Publisher Jordan
evolves the Global Hexcite license from the Color GB
with Space Hexcite X and MTO pushes up with Friendly
Pet Series 5. Finally, Success will also ship X-Men
Simulation Acadamy (They have that Marvel comics theme
going) and Elf promises Mahjong Paradise on April
27.
A final posting will be updated within the next
couple of days as additional titles and dates are
announced. |
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Prices
for Japanese GBA games range between a wide scope. Looking at
April's titles, Success' wares are easiest on budgets with
pricing at Y3980 (US$34) while Konami wrecks paychecks at
Y5800 (US$50) for their GBA experiences. The rationale for
lofty GBA cartridge pricing may be development costs for the
new hardware and set-up expenses. When the GBA lands in wide
distribution in the United States, NCS expects software
pricing to move to the ~US$29 levels currently employed and
enjoyed on the Gameboy Color.
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| More
Playstation 2 April Imports |
Love Songs |
Love
Songs ~ Idol is My Classmate delves into the anime fantasy
genre where a new girl in school just happens to be a singing
super idol. She joins your class and changes the power
structure, dynamics, and interaction of your mates and the
school in general.
D3 Publisher, moves from the Simple 1500 budget
Playstation realm to full priced releases on the PS2 with Love
Songs. Three different limited editions are planned along with
a regular edition. Limited Box A features idols Auno and Yuka
on the cover. Inside, a radio broadcast CD and a desktop clock
are bonuses. Limited Box B sets us up with Minako, Riho, and
Arisu, the broadcast CD, and clock. Finally, Box C features
Ryouko, Kana, and Miyu on the box cover and the CD and clock.
Pricing is set at Y9800 for the limited edition and Y6800 for
the regular edition. Only 3,400 units of each limited edition
will be produced and shipped to market.
Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec is listed on the
April schedule as TBA. We're assuming that the touted dates
elsewhere of April 25 are correct but another delay is
possible given the sordid history of this racing game. RC
Revenge Pro from Taito is also given the green-light go
for April 26. |
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| Weekly
Import Outlook |
Restock |
Two
new Dreamcast imports are slated for Wednesday or Thursday: Hundred
Swords and Aero Dancing I. Over on the PS2, J-Phoenix
was originally expected this week but has been delayed
until April. Bloody Roar 3, a March 1 game has also
been delayed until April.
NCS expects two recent Wonderswan Color imports
this week in Guilty Gear Petite and Namco Wonder
Classics. A number of other WSC should also trickle in by
early next week, along with other Wonderswan Color, colors.
Crystal black arrived this morning and has been added online. |
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An assortment of MVS
cartridges have been replenished and a variety of PS2
restock is slated for later this week including Seven Blades,
Dance Summit 2001, Truck Maniac Concerto, Winback, Dark Cloud,
and Victorious Boxers. DC Direct De La Jet Set Radio and
Nettou Tennis are also due in, along with Super Street Fighter
IIX.
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E-mail
NCS
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