| DC F1 World Grand Prix 2 |
Scans |
|
Formula racing appeals to viewers with it's brigade of low slung cars, aerodynamic looks
and death defying speeds. The drivers are riding in potential tin coffins if their moves
go awry and send them spinning in a fireball of death. Nevermind all that however, you're
on your sofa, joypad in hand and playing under the auspices of your living room. Similar
to the original World Grand Prix, you're a speed racer with a penchant for outwitting, or
merely outgunning, your prix competitors. A broadcast feature allows gamers to simply sit
back and watch the action without any participation. Be a couch potato... |
|
F1 World
Grand Prix 2 |
US$53 |
|
| DC Power Smash Tennis |
Scans |
| The best tennis game in recent memory powers ahead with a Japanese
incarnation after doing famously in the United States under the moniker of Virtua Tennis.
All of the known pros are here and famous courts from the around the world offer their
clay and grass fields for playing. The control and execution are superb. It's second
nature to sit down, grab a pad and get into the rhythm of the game. The first couple of
players that you contend against are patsies but forge ahead and the talent gets
extensively better. If you're ace enough, you'll encounter the secret King character, king
of the court. |
|
Power Smash
Tennis |
US$53 |
|
| DC Sega Tetris |
Scans |
Alexey Pajitnov's puzzle legacy lives on as publishers find new ways
to define the classic Tetris game. In today's brave new world, Sega sees fit to add a
floating slot machine to the mix. Clear one line of blocks and a cherry appears. Bang out
two successive one-liners and you'll hit a cherry jackpot. Break down two lines and a
citrus fruit appears and so on and so forth.
In addition to the jackpot scenario, a battle mode has been added for two
players. Similar to Puyo Puyo where you attack your opponent by doing well and matching
colors, you'll dispatch terror and chaos upon your opponent by matching better lines.
After all these years, Tetris is still fun, thanks to new ideas. |
|
Sega Tetris |
US$33 |
|
| GBC Monster Tactics |
Scans |
Kevin, an aspiring young man, enters the Iraldy Kingdom monster
hunting contest. The task in this competition is to travel deep into dank dungeons and
defeat wild beasts and creatures. Each encounter has the potential of rewarding your
victory with the monster's attack skill and a mark which serves as a souvenir to prove
your win. As the progress further into the dungeons and conquer more monsters, you'll grow
in stature and power.
An interesting gameplay element which adds a cloak and dagger appeal is the
limited vision that you have while travelling the darkness. Your torch only lights up the
immediate area in front of you and monsters can appear at anytime if you're within their
domain. The ability to hide during battles also adds another strategic element to the
game. |
|
Monster
Tactics |
US$45 |
|
| N64 Sin and Punishment |
Scans |
In the
future, genetically engineered "slaves" help the human race with their labor.
Mother nature is not one to trifle with however and the slaves run rampant, threatening
humanity. As one of two mighty girl warriors, you take up the gun and hit the rails in a
mission to contain and beat back the menace.
Once you take control of your warrior, a gunsight appears which targets each
enemy agent. Lock on, blast, and keep rolling in a frenzy of shooting. When incoming
mortar approaches, tapping the pad allows your heroine to roll and avoid the hit. Your
protagonist also has the ability to jump and hit with a close range attack if a foe
breaches your targetting skills.
The only disappointment may be the lack of a true two-player mode. Contra
fans will miss this feature since a two-player mission gives one man control of the
movement and the other the firing duties. |
|
Sin &
Punishment |
US$68 |
|
| PS
Super Hero Sakusen Diedal no Yabou |
Scans |
The mighty
Sentai and Tokusatsu superheroes of Japanese 70s television return for another round of
Earth defending action. An alien threat once again rears it's head and the heroes scramble
to meet the invasion. The action is shown in cool cinematic form where rendered battles
with polished characters battle and mete out the drama.
NCS also stocks the limited edition of this game (Y9800 or US$105) which
includes a slipcase, nice packaging with a flip top lid and see-through window, a set of
six Super Hero figures measuring about 2" high each and a collectible NTT telephone
card good for 50 calls...in Japan, on NTT's payphones. |
|
Super Hero
Sakusen |
US$60 |
|
| PS2
I'm the Coach |
Scans |
Baseball is
a game of inches, feet, and yards. Throw in some talent, luck, and a set of uniforms and
you have the national pastime. The players are what we see on the field and whether they
play well or poorly, everything is directed behind the scenes. There is a puppet master of
sorts who pulls the strings, sends the signals, and commands the troops by way of silent
(and not so silent) gestures and exhortations.
I'm the Coach puts you in the shoes of the team manager and you
manipulate the strings. The players follow your direction and you write the script of each
game. Herein lies the basis of baseball where the better writer wins the game and beats
back the opposing scripter. The detail in this game is exacting with minute control of
every detail from the batting stance of your heavy hitters to the lineup of players that
you'll need to carry out your grand vision. |
|
I'm the
Coach |
US$68 |
|
| PS2
Tales of the Sunrise Heroes R |
Scans |
Reprising the mecha tactics action and planning found in the
original Dreamcast version of Sunrise Eiyuutan, a famous stable of anime characters and
their robotic charges make an appearance on the Playstation. The Gundam warriors play a strong hand in this game.
The
missions are relatively simple to get into, kanji notwithstanding. You'll travel through a
town, meet characters, and get your objectives. Occasionally, some of the characters that
you meet will join up with your party to help in your deeds. The ability to purchase new
equipment and upgrade your mecha forces also play an important factor in preparing for
eventual battle.
The tactics portion of the game emphasizes
both defense and attack measures. Success in this game relies on defending your mechs from
strong attacks that occasionally pepper your forces. Overall,
fans of Gundam will enjoy this tactics game, even if only to see their favorite mechs in
PS2 glory. |
|
Sunrise
Eiyuutan R |
US$75 |
|
| Thanksgiving
Observed |
Turkey Boy |
| NCS will take off
on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. We give thanks for another fine year with 60%
growth in our overall sales and solid operating results. The year isn't over yet but we're
on track to overtake last year's numbers by good measure. We also give thanks for the
healthy condition of the economy, despite the recent rumblings in the equity market and
the death of legions of dot.com companies, many of which we served. Enjoy your holiday and
the ubiquitous turkey. |
It's a fair bet that turkey eatin' don't stop on
Thanksgiving. The size of the average bird defies this and the meat and bones will
eventually find it's way into soups, sandwiches, and stir-fries, days after the big
dinner. |
