| DC
Death Crimson OX |
Scans
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| After
suppressing innovation and game-play in the first Death
Crimson, then delighting detractors with the second DC, Ecole
rises from the well deserved ashes to give it a go for a third
time around. Atmospherically speaking, OX does gothic well
with it's gray and muted colors, grotesque boss creatures and
macabre henchmen. The dark skies peppered by occasional rain
and bulging with overall gloomy demeanor does wonders to crush
any lightness of being. On the ground, armored killers
wielding heavy metal blades attack with the quickness but well
aimed gun blasts knock them for a loop. Acrobatic warriors
also spin and somersault at you with dazzling efficacy and
boss monsters vogue then prance around with horrific swagger.
The action improves upon the first two Crimsons by cloning
everything that made House of the Dead 2 great. A seamless
storyline intertwines with the action to hold viewer interest
and draw players in. The fast camera swivels to intended
targets and pans to possible routes, keeping the pace lively.
During boss encounters, the view stays dead on your quarry and
focuses in and out to give an idea of how close to death you
are. Brisk game-play (that is actually playable) and haunting
visuals rescue this one deftly from another destructive shelling by
jaded reviewers. Similar to other gun games, the use of a
Virtua Gun adds to the play immensely but a joypad is a
suitable controller. Two players may also gun at the screen
simultaneously for tag team blasting and cooperative strafing
at oncoming targets.
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game: A better, wiser Crimson but maybe Ecole'll get it
perfect in the inevitable fourth resurrection of a much
maligned franchise. OX takes a step in the right direction and
the potential exists for improved future prospects.
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Death
Crimson OX US$53
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Publisher Ecole
recently opened up sales in Japan for the original Death
Crimson on Sega Saturn, widely regarded as one of the worst
shooting games ever created. The game sold out within days,
proving that cult don't care about quality. NCS also stocked a
large quantity of the original Saturn version but we sold out
a couple of years ago, after sitting on the stock for 3 years.
Perhaps we can try to sell our remaining DC Death Crimson 2's
to Ecole.
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| Japanese
Toys ~ Nightmare Before Christmas |
Jack
Skellington
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Sally
Y2300
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Jack and
Sally Y14,500
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Nightmare Before Christmas enjoys a large following in Japan
and manufacturer Jun Planning produces a wide range of NBC
products ranging from dolls, coffins, and other assorted
plastic/vinyl paraphernalia. Some of the nicer products we've
seen included georama scenes featuring individual pieces
arranged in a backdrop. A new batch of products join the
crowded field
this month, including the plush figures shown here, a picture
frame, key chains, and plate sets. The resin "Jack and
Sally" figure shown above features cotton clothing and
measures 60 cm tall (roughly 23 inches high). Both figures are mounted on a
pedestal. The plush dolls are 28 cm each (roughly 11
inches high). NCS plans to stock some of the products and we'll
offer them for general sale once available.
In other "toy" products, NCS will stock
two Card Captor Sakura trading card sets this month. The first
is called "Trading Collection" at Y200 per pack and
the second goes by "Exciting Card Collection at Y300.
Samples below.
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Trading Card
Collection
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Exciting Card
Collection
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Santa
Jack Y2300
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Tuxedo
Jack Y2300
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Zero
Y2300
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Jack
Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween, keeps a best
friend close at hand, Zero.
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E-mail
NCS
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