Blue Dragon Trading Figures

In the upcoming Blue Dragon game for the Xbox 360, a spiky-haired lad named Shu faces off against the forces of evil with an unlikely ally. By himself, Shu is unimposing but when it's time to battle, his shadow incarnates as a winged blue dragon which towers above the decidedly scrawny Shu. Since the game has been garnering buzz in Japan, Bandai ties itself to the project by announcing a set of Blue Dragon trading figures which ship in November 2006.

Akira Toriyama designed the characters for Blue Dragon and his distinctive style shows in the figures which include main character Shu, a gal named Kluke, Jiro, and three others.It doesn't appear that the pirate gal Zola made the cut. The figures measure approximately 3" tall and are sculpted from PVC. Each toy also includes a piece of candy and a bit of biographical information on the character. Each factory box includes 10 randomly packaged figures and NCS starts preorders today at US$39 per case.

Japanese import outlook

NDS Gyakuten Saiban 2 leads preorders for the week. Originally released on the Gameboy Advance in 2002, the Nintendo DS release of the game features a full English option. Simply tap on the language selector on the title screen and you're good to go. NDS Tales of the Tempest and PSP Spectral VS. Generation round out the top three preorder movers.
NDS	Gyakuten Saiban 2 - The BEST	Capcom
	Lode Runner	Hudson
	Negima!?: Chou Mahora Taisen Kattoiin	MMV
	Otona no Joushikiryoku Training DS	Nintendo
	Oshare Princess DS: Oshare ni Koishite!	Cult. Brain
	Pinky Street: Kira Kira Music Hour	Dimple Ent.
	Pinky Street: Kira Kira Music Hour Limited Ed.	Dimple Ent.
	Puzzle Series: Jigsaw Puzzle Oden-Kun	Hudson
	Tales of the Tempest	Namco
PS2	Colorbot Adventure	Tecmo
	Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken: Phantom Blood	Bandai
	Memories Off #5 Togireta Film - The BEST	Kids
	Nizu no Sentitsu 2	Kid
	Nizu no Sentitsu 2 Limited Edition	Kid
	Ryu ga Gotoku - The BEST	Sega
	Shinseiki GPX: Road to the Infinity 3	Sunrise
	SP2000 Series Vol. 111: The Itadaki Rider	D3
	Tenshou Gakuen Gekkou Hasumi	Asmik
	Utaware Rumono	Aqua Plus
	Utaware Rumono Limited Edition	Aqua Plus
	Yo-Jin-Bo: Unmei no Freude	Two Five
PSP	Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception	Namco
	Heaven's Will	Taito
	Shinobido Homura	Spike
	SP2500 Series Vol. 8 Doko Demo Gal Mahjong	D3
	Spectral VS. Generation	I.Factory

USA Release Outlook

NDS Magical Starsign is the USA version of Magical Vacation. There's no clear export presales leader for this week's crop of releases but the Marvel Ultimate Alliance games and Phantasy Star Universe have garnered some interest over the weekend.
GBA	Flushed Away	D3
	Juka and the Monophonic Menace	Southpeak
	Marvel: Ultimate Alliance	Activision
	Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island	THQ
	Scurge: Hive	Southpeak
	Teen Titans 2	Majesco
GC	Flushed Away	D3
	Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island	THQ
NDS	Magical Starsign	Nintendo
	Strawberry Shortcake: Strawberryland Games	G. Factory
	Flushed Away	D3
	Nacho Libre	Majesco
	Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island	THQ
	Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts	Activision
	Scurge: Hive	Southpeak
	Star Trek: Tactical Assault	Bethesda
	Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam	Activision
	Touch Detective	Atlus
PS2	.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth	Namco
	.hack//G.U. vol. 1//Rebirth Special Edition	Namco	so
	Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action	B.Vista
	Eureka Seven Vol 1 The New Wave	Bandai
	Flushed Away	D3
	Marvel: Ultimate Alliance	Activision
	Nicktoons: Battle for Volcano Island	THQ
	Phantasy Star Universe	Sega
	Snoopy vs. the Red Baron	Namco
	Strawberry Shortcake	G.Factory
	Tokobot Plus: Mysteries of the Karakuri	Sony
PSP	Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception	Namco
	Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded	Capcom
	Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2	Koei
	Marvel: Ultimate Alliance	Activision
	Snoopy vs. the Red Baron	Namco
	Star Trek: Tactical Assault	Bethesda
XBX	Marvel: Ultimate Alliance	Activision
	Reservoir Dogs	Eidos
X360	Cars	EA
	Marvel: Ultimate Alliance	Activision
	Phantasy Star Universe	Sega