| DC
Magic the Gathering |
Scans |
A
couple of years back, it seemed the kids in New York City
played Magic the Gathering religiously. At school, during
lunch, on the street... we saw Magic cards were raging and
trading "valuable" cards for real goods was a common
barter. A walkman for a card or a video game for a card, etc.
That fervor seems to be gone now although Magic's still out
there.
Take up the persona of a warrior named Dominia
and use a deck of cards to battle your way through the ranks
to reach your goal. Five powerful crystals have been scattered
throughout the land and your job is to retrieve them. Magic
the Gathering games have appeared on the PC but this is an
original production from Sega with impressive DC
powered pictures. Red dragons appear imposing and exquisitely
detailed whilst winged harpies seem almost gilded with
dustings of gold. The gist is this: assemble an assortment of
cards which represent attacking avatars, defenders, magical
attacks and other measures to help any warrior on an arduous
quest. |
|
|
|
|
Magic
the Gathering US$53 |
|
| DC
Dorimaga Vol. 4 |
Scans |
A two-page
Heavy Metal Geomatrix advert shows off artwork and game
screens from Capcom's upcoming action thriller (July 12). Game
rankings in the magazine include Sonic Adventure 2 (9.33),
Taisen Net Gimmick (6.0), Gaia Master (7.0), Magic the
Gathering (6.66), and Gundam Battle Online (7.66). A magazine
feature titled "Tekken 4" vs "Virtua Fighter
4" checks out the hardware specs powering each game and
compares the two over 7 pages of screenshots, character
updates, and back story.
Homage is paid to Sonic Adventure 2 with photos
of the Birthday Pack and primers on the levels in the game.
Chao giggles are also espoused upon with neat screen captures
of the little beastie in action. A preview of Super Robot Wars
Alpha takes a gander at some battle screens and impressive
cinema shots of the game in action. Guru Guru Onsen 2,
something that we're looking forward to, allows players to get
their Uno, Poker, and Mahjong addiction fixes online. A
detective adventure may also be explored where three players
attempt to outwit a criminal.
Capcom vs SNK 2 ~ Millionaire Fighting 2001
rocks on page 68 with character portraits of 44 fighters
shown. Three new Capcom warriors and four SNK fighters join
the battle. New grooves are shown also but no indication on
any hidden fighters (there's bound to be some, you know). The
"Dream a Girl" special section checks out Nozomi
Ando... |
|
|
|
|
Dorimaga
v4.0 US$13.50 |
|
| GBA
Choro Q Advance |
Scans |
|
Observe in
bewilderment as squat, ne'er do well cars race across tracks
sounding off the buzz of bumblebees (cute engines sound like
bees). Somewhat famous in Japan, Takara's line of Choro-Q toys
boast consistent sales and many excursions into the video game
realm. GBA Choro Q plays similarly to it's big console
brethren with odd physics to contend with, vehicle tune-ups,
and earnings to win for buying better cars, tanks, or boats.
Courses range from dirt roads, asphalt straight-aways and the
salty sea when you're raring to go in your miniature Choro
marine boat. Vie for the finish line against up to four
connected GBA friends with the GBA link cable and trump your
pals. |
|
|
|
|
Choro
Q Advance US$43 |
|
| PS2
City Crisis |
Scans |
The
introduction to City Crisis eyeballs a helicopter racing
towards a burning building. Wimpy looking flames spurt from
the sides of the edifice and the copter circles overhead on a
rescue mission. A hapless soul stands on the roof and eagerly
grabs the dropped line in a bid for salvation. Just as the
helicopter whirls away, human cargo in tow, the building
explodes and craters. Exciting stuff.
Seat yourself in the pilot's chair and speed off
on rescue missions which invariably involve aerial fire
fighting with an on-board water cannon and a cache of H2O
missiles. You'll do double duty as a savior of trapped victims
off the top of burning buildings and other compromising
locales. Flying and hovering conveys the feel of a "floaty"
vehicle as you move through the city. Bumping into a building
pushes you back a bit and the pace of the game feels measured.
Paced. When faced with a flame engulfed tenement, dousing the
blaze with the water cannon helps extinguish or stanch it to
give you a little time to perform your rescue duties.
The other missions in the game have you providing
air support to police cruisers on the ground. Perps in getaway
cars or buses motor through metropolitan streets and your
assignment involves shining a beacon of light on the mark.
Illuminate the night for the duration of the level and the
authorities eventually get the clue and surround the criminal.
To help would-be heroes earn their wings, a set
of tutorials induct players with lessons on flying, rescue
tactics, and the rigors of fire fighting. |
|
|
|
|
City
Crisis US$60 |
|
| PS2
Kikou
Heidan J-Phoenix |
Scans |
Two nations with a heated past, pock-marked by war and strife,
clash once again in the tale of Kikou Heiden. Ignited by the
assassination of an Arusarian general, the Varim hordes begin
their assault and renewed bid for conquest. As main hero
Yamadera Kouichi, you're this game's Ray Amuro or Camille
Vidan from Gundam fame. I.e, you wield mighty mech skills and
the fate of the country rests on your shoulders. Similar to
the afore-mentioned, archetypical Gundam characters, Yamadera
carries a brooding and emotionally repressed character and
presence. Apparently, all mech driving heroes list these
qualities on their resumes.
Heading off into war, communications banter
flashes through mini windows on the lower-right portion of the
screen to relay drama and story. Subtle voice acting emotes
and works well to enhance the atmosphere and gravity of the
game. The gameplay feels right and responsive enough once you
gain control of your Panzer Frame mech. An energy meter on the
left side drains when you're jetting about and a life bar
spans the top margin of the screen. Battles consists
primarily of jump-jetting short distances to reach enemies in
order to get your slash on. Descend near a foe and listen to
the sweet clang of metal when your sword strikes it's armored
bulk. A vulcan cannon spits out projectile fire to hit foes
who might be doing the slash and dash tactic. Long range
attacks also help when your jet fuel peters out and you don't
have the time to wait for it to refill itself. Scenarios range
from fighting whole squads of enemy mechs single-handedly or
going on surgical strikes with targeted objectives. |
|
|
|
|
K.H.
J-Phoenix US$63 |
|
| PS2
Magical Sports Hard Hitter |
Scans |
| Every
console gets two sports games from the publishers that be.
Golf. Tennis. Look on any platform and you'll find iterations
of these two sports. Sometimes, you'll find a legion of them
on hand and ready to entertain. A couple of months ago, Sega
raised the bar for tennis games the world over, in the
mega-mighty Virtua Tennis. Simple to play and difficult to
master, superb control and crystal appearances made it a
champ. Before today's Hard Hitter, the only other Playstation
2 "tennis" game was Hot Springs Table Tennis from
earlier this year. That's ping pong, by the way, so it doesn't
necessarily qualify in any case. WTA Tennis Tour has gone
missing for months and no date appears forthcoming at this
point. Essentially then, Hard Hitter will have to do to slake
the thirst for PS2 tennis. Magical Company's previous
offerings on the PS2 have been budget priced sports games but
that shouldn't be an indication of their current skills.
Right? Hard Hitter can't hold a candle to Virtua Tennis but
that doesn't necessarily make it a bad game - few tennis games
can compete with Sega's execution in VT. What we have here is
a game which looks okay, if not overly artificial with
plastic-looking players, and plays in an acceptable fashion.
Singles play, doubles play, and tournaments may be entered
into. Call it mediocre...but no one expected the likes of
Mario Tennis or Virtua Tennis from Magical anyway. |
|
|
|
|
Magical
Sports US$53 |
|
| PS2
Rimoko Koron |
Scans |
In the middle of a major city, you're bound to run into
people. Lots of 'em. Dropped squarely in this particular
virtual gotham of souls, you possess a special gift where
peoples thoughts and worries are in plain sight, thanks to
your mystic ability to view them. Rimoko Koron may be
considered an intervention simulation game where
"What-If" scenarios are presented to the player and
opened for interaction and intrusion. Help a person with his
or her problems and you'll affect others as well. Changing the
destiny or current situation for one person is bound to cause
delight or despair for others. What if you hadn't stepped in
and helped? Would things still have worked out the same or
would they have been different?
Rimoko Koron explores this "god" drama
with a large assortment of personalities and individuals whom
you can interact with in the game. Discretion should be used
when deciding who you'll help or leave alone. Pathos or apathy
may be evoked by the characters in the game, depending on how
your own outlook on life is, and how you wish to reflect it
out onto the inhabitants of the city. Rimoko provides an
interesting game world which looks into decision making, life
intervention, and other themes usually not explored in a video
game. Themes, of course, which limit the potential audience of
the game but that's okay. Ground breaking stuff usually takes
risks and occasionally champions new genres. |
|
|
|
|
Rimoko
Koron US$53 |
|
| PS2
Sanyo Pachinko Paradise 6 |
Scans |
| First
things first. Pachinko rules...in Japan, at least. Video
Pachinko rules a little more since it takes place inside the
comfort of your air-conditioned home. The hunger and longing
for a pachinko fix is never far away and it must be sated. It
could be the hottest day of the summer and hitting the streets
to walk to the local Pachinko parlor would mean toasting your
buns under a scathing sun. Sticky clothing, armpit sweat
circles, and dehydration are all assailants during the hot
season. No one wants any of that. Dismiss all those unpleasant
thoughts by powering up your PS2 and booting Sanyo Pachinko
Paradise 6. That's right, volume 6 already. As the cover
of the game shows, the theme for the pachinko machines takes
on underwater critters and the soothing blue of the sea. An
assortment of pachinko tables await, all with the center
portion looking into a piece of the ocean floor. Bonus prizes
and other specials on the play field trigger spot animations,
flashing sparkles and other luminous eye candy. As usual, the
core of pachinko remains the same. Shoot off a bunch of steel
balls onto a board marked with arrangements of pegs, spinners,
and other obstructions. The goal is to exert some modicum of
skill and perhaps pray to lady luck so that the balls fall
into assigned recesses which impart prizes, additional coins,
and other bonus items. |
|
|
|
|
Pachinko
Paradise US$53 |
|
| PS2
Shadow Hearts |
Scans |
Developer Sacnoth may have turned to H.P. Lovecraft's works
for inspiration to shape the imagery and haunting atmosphere
of their latest game. At once horribly beautiful and
disturbing, Shadow Hearts' visuals, cinemas and monsters
evince a dream-like quality about them. Lurking beneath the
rendered facade, seeming hell threatens to break
loose.
Paris 1913. A murder and subsequent haphazard
mutilation leads to a search for the slain man's missing
daughter. Fade. China 1913, one month later, we catch up with
Aris Eliot on board a train. She wields a sort of siren power
which she puts to use by tearing a Japanese soldier in two.
Parallels to the Paris murder are drawn. At this point, a
character with a natty top hat approaches Aris and tries to
force her to return to Europe with him. His name, Roger
Bacon, may have found it's origin from the 12th century
philosopher and alchemist. A feathery-haired lad named Urmnaf
Borth Huyga (we call him Urmie...) comes to Aris' rescue and
spirits her away. The introduction of the game shows a
dramatic scene where Roger Bacon raises Aris from the ground
in a hypnotic sequence. Urmnaf rushes in, punches his fist
through Bacon's left eye and holds it there for a couple of
seconds to enhance the effect. He then lifts Aris and launches
up into the air, silhouetted by a full moon. The game plays
similarly to other RPGs and a Maken-esque feel encompasses the
monsters and stylings. Special attacks are rendered in
exquisite detail but they might become burdensome when viewed
for the 100th time. Shadow Hearts looks intriguing and
diabolical, in other words, the perfect vehicle to relieve the
pangs for preternatural themes and action. |
|
|
|
|
Shadow
Hearts US$63 |
|
| PS
Leiji Matsumoto Galaxy Express 999 |
Scans |
|
NCS will post information on Bandai's Galaxy
Express 999 game on Monday's update. Other news on Monday
include the full Dreamcast August import schedule, Final
Fantasy X Coca Cola bottle caps, FFX merchandise, and other
Japanese toy products. |
RESTOCK TODAY
All of the following are now available for
shipping this afternoon:
PS Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix, One
Piece Grand Battle, Tatsunoko Fight, Tokimeki
Memorial, Tokimeki Memorial Vol. 2.
DC Dream Studio, Guilty Gear X, Phantasy
Star
Online v2.0
N64
Sin & Punishment |
|
|
|
|
Galaxy
Express 999 US$58 |
|
|
