Sarugechu SaruSaru Daisakusen

When the dastardly Spectre shrinks Professor Hakase's laboratory and everyone in it into the size of a peak-point helmet, things look grim for the good professor, Kakeru, and Natsumi. However, since Hakase is a genius, he has a contingency plan where he's able to "graft" his research lab onto the head of a monkey. There's a lot of them running around the world of Sarugechu SaruSaru Daisakusen so they're the perfect vehicle for transport, utility, and the occasional special power. Once grafted, the motor functions of the monkey are entirely controlled by the residents inside the shrunken research laboratory.

Previous Sarugechu games had Kakeru and Natsumi wielding nets and other tools to capture mischievous monkeys but the latest Sarugechu release gives players the opportunity to control a hapless monkey. By barging through the levels and controlling a selection of nearly 200 different monkeys with individual skills, players collect Nano Cards in a bid to restore the laboratory and its contents back to normal size. There's one monkey that's fitted with a hang glider for aerial escapades while another has a fishtail instead of legs for easy mobility through the water. When it's time to break things, there's a bruiser monkey with a powerful punch who can destroy walls to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Players will have to capture different monkeys and their attendant skills to complete each level. In addition to solo action, up to four players may engage in a multi-player action game.

Simple DS Vol.18: The Soukou Kihei Gun Ground

D3 Publisher borrows a page from the Assaults Suits Valken games and drops players into a pudgy mech that's armed with guns and a powerful punch. In addition to its offensive capabilities, the mech can also jump and activate its boosters to soar over short distances. The game is played in typical platform-action style where the mech is moved from left to right across each level. When enemies appear, fire away with your unlimited artillery or get up close and punch away. There's a block move that's activated by pressing the R-Trigger but it only halves the amount of damage from an enemy attack. You'll still lose health when the mech's guard is up so it's wise to run and gun instead of standing pat.

Mahoroba Stories Limited Edition

Four unlikely heroines from the Pinky Street universe named Arue, Marizo, Suzu, and Tokko are drawn to a library where they're inducted into an adventure which takes place inside enchanted books. Their leader is a black cat named Toto who speaks perfect Japanese and their weapons of choice are pens that are shaped like swords. To enter the land of fairy tales, the girls simply select an open book in the library and they're whisked away in short order. Mahoroba Stories plays similarly to other 3D adventure games with full control afforded to the player during exploration sequences. When it's time to battle, the four girls each take turns moving and striking at enemies.

The Limited Edition of Mahoroba Stories is packaged with an exclusive Pinky Street figure of a new character named Arue. She wears an orange t-shirt with the words, "National Style" on the front and a pair of blue jeans. Arue also wears a blue/white striped wristband on her right hand and blue/white sneakers. The novelty of the Pinky Street toys is the interchangeability of the parts of each figure with any other figure which makes the number of combinations and variants nigh unlimited.

Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M LE

Back in 2006, a Mina Tsukishiro figure was given away as a prize item at arcades in Japan. Collectors and fans scrambled as they're apt to do and the figure was gone quickly. Fast forward to this week's release of the limited edition of Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M and Idea Factory bundles an exclusive repaint version of the same Mina Tsukishiro figure that was offered up as a prize last year.

The Mina Tsukishiro figure measures approximately 20cm or 8" tall and is pre-painted and fully assembled. Mina stands atop a white disc imprinted with the Futatsu no Project M logo and raises her arms in a casual victory pose of sorts. Two metallic-paint carrot weapons may be seen behind Mina which are roughly half her height. All preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders are welcome.

In the PS2 Getsumen Toheiki Mina game, players adopt the role of Dr. Tsukikage who interacts with the girls of the Lunar Rabbit Force in a bid to increase their affinity towards him. As the enforcers of a galactic treaty, the Rabbit Force is always on the lookout for cases of untoward alien influence on Earth culture and more importantly, Earth's sporting events. Once the interaction sequences are done, tactical battles ensue.

Monster Hunter 2nd + C. Gold PSP Bundle

Sony and Capcom team up to release a special Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Summer Bonus Pack - Champagne Gold bundle which includes the following items:

» Monster Hunter Portable 2nd game
» Champagne Gold PSP handheld

Pricing is set at US$249 and all preorders have shipped as of yesterday. New orders are welcome to ship this afternoon.

Monster Hunter 2nd + M. Blue PSP Bundle

Sony and Capcom team up to release a special Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Summer Bonus Pack - Metallic Blue bundle which includes the following items:

» Monster Hunter Portable 2nd game
» Metallic Blue PSP handheld

Pricing is set at US$249 and all preorders have shipped as of yesterday. New orders are welcome to ship this afternoon.

Metal Gear Solid 2 SOL 20th Anniversary

In Japan, good games usually enjoy three lifetimes. The best enjoy up to four or five before they succumb to the rigors of time and market satiation. The elite can go on forever as seen with Square's Final Fantasy games. The first lifetime is the initial release of the game at full price where 100,00 to a million copies are sold. The first release is where the publisher hopes to make most of its return on investment. Nary six months (or thereabouts) later, the publisher submits the game for "The Best" collection which is Sony's budget banner for older but still good games. Other than Sony's standard fees and printing costs, Best games at Y2800 are pretty much pure profit - the development and marketing costs have been factored into the first printing and product awareness is already out there. Should the publisher want to sow its oats for a third time, they'll normally release the game under its own in-house budget label.

In the case of MGS 2 Sons of Liberty, the 20th Anniversary re-release is the fourth reissue of the game by our count. Not bad. In addition to the game itself, the package includes a Sons of Liberty booklet and "The Document of Metal Gear Solid 2" which looks at the development of the game, the 3D models used, and interactive demos. The game package and booklet are both packaged in a collectible slipcase for safekeeping.

Metal Gear Solid 3 SE 20th Anniversary

In Japan, good games usually enjoy three lifetimes. The best enjoy up to four or five before they succumb to the rigors of time and market satiation. The elite can go on forever as seen with Square's Final Fantasy games. The first lifetime is the initial release of the game at full price where 100,00 to a million copies are sold. The first release is where the publisher hopes to make most of its return on investment. Nary six months (or thereabouts) later, the publisher submits the game for "The Best" collection which is Sony's budget banner for older but still good games. Other than Sony's standard fees and printing costs, Best games at Y2800 are pretty much pure profit - the development and marketing costs have been factored into the first printing and product awareness is already out there. Should the publisher want to sow its oats for a third time, they'll normally release the game under its own in-house budget label.

In the case of MGS 3 Snake Eater, the 20th Anniversary re-release is the third reissue of the game by our count. In addition to the game itself, the package includes a Snake Eater booklet and a second disc which contains the original Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake games from the MSX. The game package and booklet are both packaged in a collectible slipcase for safekeeping.