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Dragon Quest Monsters 2 ~ Marta's Magical Keys |
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When you're born from monster breeding parents, the
collection and propagation of beasts runs in your blood
like a birthright of sorts. It is under these auspices
that two children of breeders embark on their respective
destinies. As Luka's quest begins, we see him on a ship
sailing towards the island of Marta. Being the son
of a pair of monster trainers, Luka's path is to find,
befriend, and collect monsters on Marta and build
up a mighty stable of beasts.
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As the ship
nears the island, we see that a thick bastion-like tree takes up the
entire rear portion of the island. Once Luka disembarks
onto the island, he runs into the prince of Marta,
Cameha and his purple monster. Cam immediately shows off
his mischievous ways by annoying citizens and absconding
a package from a hapless fellow who sits on the side of the
road.
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The first
quest is to visit the merchant shown in the photo to the
left and pick up the package. Luka then must bring the
parcel downtown and hand the delivery to a lady who lives
on the
island. Consider this your first mission and completion
grants you a reward. Quests and other objectives appear
in each subsequent locale that you visit, which allows
you to proceed further to new worlds.
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Here,
Cameha's beast battles Luka for control of the package.
The tussle will eventually knock the parcel into the
well where our hero will have to retrieve it. Down
below, Cameha and his creature also hustle and tussle.
This first direct encounter between the two parties
gives players a glimpse of the rivalry with Cameha,
which manifests itself as a subplot throughout the
game.
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Once the
package is delivered, Luka returns to the well and the
purple monster will give him his first key. Keys are
used in the land of the Great Tree to access different
worlds where certain monsters live. The first world that
you'll transport to is a desert locale which is
populated by sand worms, spiky cactus creatures and
other "hot weather" friends. The town here
also reflects the desert theme.
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Enix boasts
a total of 300 different monsters which await capture
across the variable worlds of Dragon Quest Monsters 2.
The original DQM from 1998 sported 200 monsters and a
quest where Terry had to save his sister from a demonic
kidnapping. Pre-orders in Japan for DQM2 have already
surpassed the 1 million unit mark and sales should
probably taper off at an impressive 2 million. Monsters
rule this market.
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Order
online at the NCS shop |
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Dragon
Quest Monsters 2 US$60
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Marta's
Magical Keys ~ Luka's Start
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At the beginning of Luka's adventure, his younger sister Iru
tags along but she'll find her own way once Luka bags his first
key. Afterwards, Luka is trailed not by sibling but by King
Slime, his first creature comrade in the game. Up to three monsters
may follow Luka in travels and battle for him; newly captured beasts
are shuttled over to a holding pen. Once the player captures a pair of monsters, he may breed them
to spawn offspring and create new forms of monsters. Iru's own adventure
begins on
April 12 when Enix launches the second DQM2 volume.
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The world warp sequence is shown below where Luka teleports to new lands and
waiting monsters.
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| Playstation
2 May 2001 Schedule |
Analysis
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The upcoming schedule for May's roster of PS2
imports sees divination below. Pre-orders are welcome via e-mail
request but all products, including all of April's roster,
will be added to the online store at the end of March. The
next couple of weeks look to be flood-like in terms of new PS2
software, DC megaliths such as Sakura 3, and the introduction
of the Gameboy Advance to the market.
| May
02, 2001 |
JPN |
| Golful
Golf |
Artdink |
Y6800 |
| Flower,
Sun, Rain |
Victor |
Y6800 |
| Wild
Adventure |
VISW |
Y6800 |
| May
10, 2001 |
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| Tokyo
Bus Guide |
Success |
Y5800 |
| May
17, 2001 |
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| First
Toudai Shogi |
MCS |
Y6800 |
| Gekisha
Boy 2 |
Irem |
Y5800 |
| May
24, 2001 |
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| Bounty
Hunter Sara |
Capcom |
Y5800 |
| Knockout
Kings 2001 |
EAS |
Y6800 |
| Magical
Sports Koushien 2001 |
Magic |
Y5800 |
| May
31, 2001 |
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| Endnesia |
Enix |
Y6800 |
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Adventure
elements and golf action meld and mesh in Golful Golf where
the gamer adopts the persona of a golfer and competes in
tourneys. Good performance on the green affects your skill and
ability for future matches. Flower, Sun, Rain is a
strange name for a hotel but there it is located on a paradise
island and you, detective Omise, must find the bomb located
inside before detonation. Tokyo Bus Guide for the PS2
mimics the DC version in exacting fashion and no new features
are expected in this release. First Toudai Shogi plays
a mean game of Japanese chess and includes a tutorial mode for
beginners. Gekisha Boy 2's subtitle is Crazy Camera and
supplies some goofy picture snapping action across a number of
cartoony stages. The new version of Magical Sports Koushien
2001 revives the popular high school baseball action
featuring all of Japan's secondary schools. Enix diverges from
previous RPG experience in Endnesia where the main
character accidentally enters another world. 50 god beings
must be encountered and interacted with in order to find clues
to return home.
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| Weekly
Import Outlook |
Para
Para Paradise
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Two new Playstation imports are slated this Thursday from Konami: Dance
Dance Revolution 4th Mix and Tokimeki Memorial 2
Matching Puzzle. Playstation 2 devotees get the lode this
week with Densha de Go! 3, Me and Satan King, Para
Para Paradise, Rescue Helicopter Air Ranger, Shutoko
Battle Zero, and Winning Eleven 5.
Shutoko Battle Zero and Winning Eleven 5 both
struck Gold in this week's issue of Famitsu while Me and Satan
King and Para Para Paradise took the silver. Konami's Beatmania
IIDX 4th Style for the Playstation 2 is now slated
for next week.
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The special motion sensitive dancing controller from Konami
for the PPP rhythm game appears to be released in short
supplies this week for unknown reasons. NCS may be unable to
fill all orders for this peripheral until next week but we
will update the stock status on Wednesday morning once the
allocation from vendors is known, confirmed and shipped.
Thanks.
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E-mail
NCS
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