| Happy Holidays |
Hiatus |
| NCS wishes
everyone a safe and merry holiday season. Most of the shopping is done and we
seal the week with a host of new Playstation 2 imports. Orders received on Saturday and
Sunday will ship on the same day (if USPS is chosen) they are received for immediate dispatch. Express Mail is recommended for Xmas day delivery. |
Normal NCS business operations are suspended on Monday, December 25. Commerce and trade will
resume on Tuesday, December 26. |
| PS2 Advance Goemon |
Scans |
Everyone's
favorite spiky haired ninja sashays into the PS2 library, courtesy of his progenitor
Konami. Goemon enjoyed his best adventures during the heyday of the Super Famicom when 2-D
ruled and mini-games aplenty were sprinkled throughout his quests. Robot boxing was one of
the sillier but engrossing in-game contests back in the day. Since the appearance of
Goemon on the Nintendo 64 and now the PS2 in 3-D depth and adventuring, it just doesn't
seem the same anymore. There is something lacking. Perhaps it's the clumsily drawn
graphics or the dodgy controls when you attempt to master Goemon's movements. The PS2
version of Goemon's new 3-D adventure looks superior to the Nintendo 64 version but it's
still not as sharp as other 3-D games that are out on the PS2. Yes, the competition is fierce.
It's a natural progression to follow the crowd and move in the direction of
what is considered the norm. In Goemon's case however, he should've stayed 2-D where he
was best suited. |
|
| Advance
Goemon |
| US$68 |
|
| PS2
Angel's Present ~ Marl Kingdom Story |
Scans |
Sugary
sweet snack attacks of the literal sort are the type of treat that gamers will have
to contend with in this third coming of the Little Princess adventure series. Swirling
cakes, oversized pancake stacks, and exploding bonbons were some of the
"weapons" wielded in previous Princess games. The pastries return herein.
Music plays another strong hand in this game, some of it quite good but
occasional tunes strike discord. That, we suppose, strikes a balance within the context of
a game. An emotional heroine with the ability to converse with puppets and cajole them
into joining her party lies at the heart of this new adventure. Up to three puppets or
allies may join a battle to back up the wacky ballistics and help during the quest.
NCS is only stocking the regular edition of this game due to pre-order
restrictions. A limited edition was also released in Japan which includes an artbook and a
music CD containing the songs from the game. We may be able to stock this version next
week and we'll update accordingly if the stock becomes available. |
|
| Angel's
Present |
| US$58 |
|
| PS2
Blood ~ The Last Vampire ~ |
Scans |
Vampire
hunters in popular culture range between a motley lot of outcasts. The Frog Brothers,
comic book store proprietors and keepers of comic book ken, made their mark in the movie
"The Lost Boys" and Wesley did a bang-up job in "Blade". Buffy, the
cinematic Swanson version of the slayer, eventually lost all her friends when her
exploits became evident to her Valley girls. Vampire Hunter D is a well known anime hunter
from Japan and a whole crew of hunters cavort in the Vampire gaming series from Capcom.
All a little strange, some exotically beautifully, and others bestial in nature. A new
hunter joins the fold in Blood.
Saya appears at first feint to be a young, beautiful woman living in Japan.
Delve deeper and you may find a solemn sadness about her, a wickedly sharp katana and a
thirst for vampire slaying. She's silent death and stalks vampiric beings much like they
themselves stalk their human quarry. Assume the role of resident exterminator and enter
the hunt for those drainers of men in this cinematic adventure from PIG (Production IG). |
|
| The
Last Vampire |
| US$68 |
|
| PS2
Choro Q High Grade |
Scans |
We call 'em
bumble bee cars. Squat, stubby, and a bit clumsy around the edges, the vehicles in Choro Q
nevertheless rev up with the best of them and competently ace the finish line. Similar to
previous versions of Choro Q on the Playstation, Saturn, and Nintendo 64, gamers ride on
tracks around the world including exotic locales underwater, frozen terrain, and the
tropics. Win a couple of races and you'll bag enough cash to pay for upgrades to enhance
your performance. Fans of the series will find more of the same here. Literally. The
visual presentation has improved slightly but little else has changed from the PS
originals. However, new blood in an old license should still supply enough electricity to
make this a buy for Choro otaku.
A limited edition of Choro Q HG will arrive on Tuesday which includes a
little functional model car and a figure of a model. She (the model, not the car) appears
to be one of the track girls ala Ridge Racer. Pricing for the regular edition is set at
US$68 and the limited edition stands at US$88. |
|
| Choro
Q HG |
| US$68 |
|
| PS2
Cool Boarders Code Alien |
Scans |
| First there
was Snowboard Supercross from EA. That was the first and best snowboard game on the PS2.
Maybe the best overall on console or coin-op. Then the somewhat tired Snowboard Heaven
made the scene and no one really noticed. UEP gives it a go with a new version of Cool
Boarders and attempts to challenge the throne upon which SSX comfortably sits. The new
version of CB is subtitled Code Alien, instead of something more obvious to help demarcate
lineage. The gameplay is simple enough, rip down snowy slopes, trick yourself out, and
ride air when you launch yourself downhill. The presentation is eye candy when slicing
through the air with seeming "vapor" trails emanating from your board and
dazzling lens flares as your boarder takes flight in front of a looming sun. A trick mode
is reminiscent of Tony Hawk where your boarder takes on a gym full of rails, ledges, and
ah, other objects, who generously sacrifice themselves to your barrage of jumps, flips and
shredding. |
|
Code Alien |
US$68 |
|
| PS2
Fighter Mobile Suit Gundam |
Scans |
Set in Universal Century 0079, Gundam mecha are the agents deployed by
the Earth Federation to combat the threat of the Principality of Zeon's forces. As the
hero, you pilot a majestic knight-like Gundam mecha which hefts a huge shield which covers
over 1/2 of his bulk and a light sword with which it uses for close range combat. When the
need for long range blasting arises, a gun may be toted for strafing oncoming foes. The
action will take place on the cities and some remote locales on earth. The game style is
similar to previous Gundam games with the vantage point from behind your mech as the
adventure commences. An anime cinema sets up each level to tell the tale of mission
objectives.
Similar to some other releases today, a Limited Edition of this game was made available in
Japan but NCS may not be able to supply this version. The LE includes a crystal MS RX-78-2
Gundam mecha figure and is priced at Y9800 or roughly US$105 if we can import the special
edition. . |
|
| Mobile
Suit Gundam |
| US$68 |
|
| PS2
Hresvelgr International Edition |
Scans |
Crave
canned Jet Ion GP (the USA name for the cryptic sounding Hresvelgr) perhaps due to the
poor quality of the original import software. The Japanese version of the now defunct USA
remake lives on. Perhaps the publisher Gust feels the product is suitable for the Japanese
market, despite lackluster sales of the original Hresvelgr. The Japanese press also didn't
exactly heap a lot of positive ratings on the first Hresvelgr and it was widely panned.
You're a competitor in a futuristic racing game where the vehicles are
ultra-sleek and sweet looking. The design of the racing tracks range from natural terrain
to modern raceways complete with tunnels and overpasses. A selection of weapons are at the
ready to help knock fellow racers from the tracks or generally impede their progress. The
gameplay is improved somewhat with the ability to set the level of sensitivity that your
Dual Shock imparts to the motion of your ship. |
|
| Hresvelgr
International |
| US$49 |
|
| PS2
Seven Blades |
Scans |
Two agents
of the Japanese governing body are dispatched to an island called Dejima. A religious sect
has taken control and strange happenings prod the infiltration by the two intrepid doers.
Upon starting the game, players choose from Gokurakumaru or Yuri. Goku is a master samurai
who is capable of wielding and using seven bladed weapons with efficiency and supreme
effectiveness. All will fall beneath his bloody harvesting tools. Yuri plays the svelte
foil to Goku's brute strength and she relies on arrows and shurikens to strike down her
foes.
The game looks crisp, sharp and plays well. Interactive backgrounds provide a
detailed environment in which to move and stalk. The gore also runs red and thick. Slice a
foe and jets of blood spurt desperately from the wound. Strike the right vein and you'll
witness a blood storm as it burst forth from the body of your hapless target. Gruesome,
dark and dire fun. |
|
| Seven
Blades |
| US$68 |
|
| PS2
Seven Lance Moromos Cavalryman Corps |
Scans |
Demons have
been part of human history for millenia. They're the scapegoats when men go mad or when
supposed voices are heard out of the ether, goading them to do dirty deeds. Demons are the
cause of trouble in Seven Lance, conquering the planet and creating hell on earth.
Humanity is saved when two Creation deities return and give seven weapons to seven
champions. With the divine weaponry, the demons are expunged and sealed away.
Time passes and the demons begin to stir from their slumber. The demonic
threat is renewed and new champions are sought to take up the seven weapons to prevent a
new reign of demons on Earth. The player takes control of a young knight who must gather a
team of adventurers worthy enough to aid in his quest. The artwork in this game is
stunning. Heavy pencils, deep colors, and vibrant lighting create a beautiful game where
each screen looks like a quaint painting. |
|
| Seven
|
| US$75 |
|
| PS2
Winback |
Scans |
When
terrorists strike, they usually blow things up and make a mess of things. Calm to chaos
would be the normal transition when a bomb is detonated in a sensitive or critical
location. A group known as the Crying Lions take control of killer satellite which is
capable of cutting a wide swath of laser destruction. Nevermind that this death-ray was in
the hands of the government before it fell into terrorist hands. Trouble is brewing and
you're called in to take down the threat.
Enter one Jean-Luc Couger, secret agent man for a black budget sponsored
strike force. Sneak into the Gulf Complex, which houses the control center for the
satellite, and neutralize the threat. Winback on the PS2 is highlighted by improved
graphical styling and detail but the game itself remains close to what we've seen on the
Nintendo 64 with no obvious improvements in gameplay or execution. For those with an
appetite for destruction, this one should satisfy some of your bloodlust. |
|
| Winback |
| US$68 |
|
| PS
Dance Dance Revolution Best Hits |
Scans |
| It was
bound to happen, following on the heels of Beatmania Best Hits, DDR gets updated with it's
own Best Of collection. Best Hits features hot songs, the great diet mode
that was introduced in 3rd Mix, and the same addictive, catchy gameplay that made DDR the
sensation that it is today. Some of the songs included in this new stand-alone Dance Dance
Revolution game include Have you Never Been Mellow, Butterfly, I Believe in Miracles, Drop
the Bomb, End of the Century, and Wonderland. Total number of tracks: 29. New
inductees to the DD revolution will find some of the best songs on this disc. Old hands
will find a worthy compilation that'll keep them light on their feet. |
|
| DDR
Best Hits |
| US$50 |
|
