Chuukana Janshi Tenhoo Painyon

Chuukana Janshi Tenno Painyon Special was originally released on the PC in 2005 and the character-driven mahjong game makes its way onto portable handhelds this week. The game is a mash of mahjong, pachislot, cheerful characters, and voice acting. The setting is a meshing of the Western world and Meiji-era Japan where the Tokugawa Shogunate has been overthrown and the Meiji Restoration is well underway. However, dark forces are conspiring to disrupt the government and the only way to allay the political drama is mahjong. That's right, mahjong where cute characters test their MJ handling skills against other adorable players. New features include animation sequences and speech that takes place throughout the table top action. «more»

Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Tsunayoshi Sawada is a first year student at Namimori Middle School with bad grades, zero athletic skills, and an ill repute amongst his peers. Luckily for him, Tsuna's destiny isn't in the hallways of learning. No, his destiny is with the mafia. More specifically, the Vongola mob based in Italy where Tsunayoshi is the great-great-great grandson of the patriarch that started the "business." With everyone else in succession prematurely expired, Tsunayoshi is the last remaining Vongola heir and his birthright is eventually taking the position of the 10th Vongola mob boss.
The cast of the Katekyo Hitman Reborn animation is brought together in a 2D fighting game where their special abilities and talents are used to battle each other and achieve primacy in the gangland food chain. «more»

Busou Renkin

Kazuki Muto is an average high school sophomore who plays the part of hero and pushes a girl from the striking blow of a slavering homunculus. In the process of saving the girl however, the monster plunges its tentacle through Kazuki's heart and kills him. Kazuto wakes up screaming and clutching his chest. His roommates in the dorm burst in and tell him to keep it down. Kazuki assumes that it was only a dream but he really died trying to save the girl who in turn resurrected him with the power of alchemy. The girl's name is Tokiko Tsumura and she affixed a Kakugane Medal on Kazuki's chest which was then absorbed into his body to grant him new life.
Along with his new heart and vitality, Kazuki is also gifted with a unique Busou Renkin (Arms Alchemy) weapon. In his case, Kazuki's Busou Renkin is a massive lance that's shaped like an arrowhead which can be used to destroy homunculus. In the animation, both the homunculus and Arms Alchemy were born from the practice of alchemy with the former being the artificial life created from techniques and the Arms being the product of weapons research. Tokiko's Arms are sort of like Doctor Octopus' arms except they're bladed and are called a Valkyrie Skirt. «more»

Evangelion Battle Orchestra

The Evangelion and Angels go to war once more in a pseudo 3D fighting game where the combatants punch, kick, and jump their way through the ranks. We term Evangelion Battle Orchestra a pseudo 3D fighting game because the action takes place on a 2D plane ala Naruto Narutimett Hero but the world is rendered in 3D which twists and turns with the action on screen. There's also a collection of cut-scenes that are shown during a fight when a special attack or weapon is triggered. The animation serves to break up the flow of the battle and perhaps energize the gamer with a feeling of power and authority.
The Evangelion are not tethered to any power source and they're free to ramble around the battlefield like free men. An EVA mech can attack with conventional blows, bladed weaponry, and firearms for distance attacks. Wooden crates that appear on stage may be cracked open to reveal power-ups and weapons for use in the battle. The Rumble Mode of the game features four-player fighting which gets a little cramped when all four combatants are in each other's faces and punching like felons. The D-pad or L-Analog can be used for movement; the controls are somewhat floaty but acceptable for an Evangelion game from Broccoli. «more»

Evangelion Battle Orchestra DX Pack

The Deluxe Pack Edition of Evangelion Battle Orchestra includes the following bonus items in addition to the game software:

» An exclusive mini wind-up music box which plays the EVA theme
» Three cards which feature the three Evangelion in the game
» Tenth Angel Sahaquiel cellphone strap
» Micro-fiber miniature towel
» Evangelion sticker sheet

The Evangelion and Angels go to war once more in a pseudo 3D fighting game where the combatants punch, kick, and jump their way through the ranks. We term Evangelion Battle Orchestra a pseudo 3D fighting game because the action takes place on a 2D plane ala Naruto Narutimett Hero but the world is rendered in 3D which twists and turns with the action on screen. There's also cut-scenes that are shown during a fight when a special attack or weapon is triggered. The animation serves to break up the flow of the battle and perhaps energize the gamer with a feeling of authority and power. «more»

Super Robot Wars Original Generations

Banpresto gathers together two Super Robot Wars games that were originally released on the Gameboy Advance and completely overhauls the graphics, adds hundreds of battle animations, and upgrades the games with new features. The two games contained on the DVD are:

» Super Robot Wars Original Generation (Debut: Nov. 22, 2002)
» Super Robot Wars Original Generation 2 (Debut: Feb. 03, 2005)

In addition to the games, an OPTION setting on the main menu contains a BGM library, a movie gallery, and a useful Q&A section which answers any questions you might have concerning the game play in either title.

A large contingent of new characters and ships have been added to the roster along with a Weapon Change System preview and the mega mighty Twin Battle System. To trigger the TBS, move one unit right next to another unit and then combine your attacks on an enemy target.
Bonus: Approximately 1/2 of our preorders will ship with a bonus Super Robot Wars booklet Sadly, we didn't receive enough to include one with every preorder. «more»

Tales of Fandom 2: Luke fon Fabre

The original Tales of Fandom discs were released in early 2002 and featured characters from Namco's Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Destiny, and Tales of Eternity. Per the game title, the content was designed to appeal to fans of the Tales releases with an interaction game, a puzzle game, character skits, and a gallery of images.
Fast forward five years later and Namco issues another Tales of Fandom which features core casts of characters from Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Abyss. Unlike the first Fandom which allowed the different games to be chosen from a menu, Fandom 2 takes an interactive approach where the games and interaction sequences are selectable from a world map. At the outset of the game, the parties from all three Tales games have been transported to a central location where they're holed up in their respective bastions. Players move a cursor around the world map to select the different adventures as well as a casino located to the north which features Black Jack, Poker, Baccarat, and Slots. A purse of 1000 credits starts the player off but note that playing Baccarat requires an ante of 1000 credits. Lose once and you're wiped out. To bolster the fan service, copious amounts of voice acting are featured in the game. «more»

Tales of Fandom 2: Tear Grants

The original Tales of Fandom discs were released in early 2002 and featured characters from Namco's Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Destiny, and Tales of Eternity. Per the game title, the content was designed to appeal to fans of the Tales releases with an interaction game, a puzzle game, character skits, and a gallery of images.

Fast forward five years later and Namco issues another Tales of Fandom which features core casts of characters from Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Abyss. Unlike the first Fandom which allowed the different games to be chosen from a menu, Fandom 2 takes an interactive approach where the games and interaction sequences are selectable from a world map. At the outset of the game, the parties from all three Tales games have been transported to a central location where they're holed up in their respective bastions. Players move a cursor around the world map to select the different adventures as well as a casino located to the north which features Black Jack, Poker, Baccarat, and Slots. A purse of 1000 credits starts the player off but note that playing Baccarat requires an ante of 1000 credits. Lose once and you're wiped out. To bolster the fan service, copious amounts of voice acting are featured in the game. «more»

Chuukana Janshi Tenno Painyan

Chuukana Janshi Tenno Painyon Special was originally released on the PC in 2005 and the character-driven mahjong game makes its way onto portable handhelds this week. The game is a mix of mahjong, pachislot, cheerful characters, and voice acting. The setting is a meshing of the Western world and Meiji-era Japan where the Tokugawa Shogunate has been overthrown and the Meiji Restoration is well underway. However, dark forces are conspiring to disrupt the government and the only way to allay the political drama is mahjong. That's right, mahjong where cute characters test their MJ handling skills against other adorable players. The ultimate mahjong contest will be fought against a mighty nine-tailed fox demon but before that, lower ranked opponents must be beaten.

New features in the portable versions of Chuukana Janshi Tenhoo Painyan include updated animation sequences and new snippets of speech that take place throughout the mahjong action. The PSP port features a new opening cinema with ebullient theme song. Four new characters designed by renowned manga artist Kenichi Sonoda also make their way onto the NDS and PSP ports. A total of 12 characters are featured in the game including a Meiji-era waitress wearing a cherry-blossom smock, a samurai warrior, a delightful shrine maiden, a fox girl with tail, and two pink-haired moppets with extreme moxie. «more»

Secret of Evangelion Portable

Originally released on the Playstation 2 in December 2006, the Secret of Evangelion makes its way to the Playstation Portable half a year later. The game's background is Tokyo-3 and the subterranean Geofront where the threat of Angels with devastating offensive power is always present. Since conventional weaponry is ineffective against the Angels, superior forces are called into action. To combat the random invasions, a team of teenagers is trained to pilot mighty mecha known as Evangelion which are capable of halting the assault of the Angels.

Players take on the role of a NERV operative named Kyoya who wears shades at all times. Early in the game, it's established that Kyoya is an old school chum of both Misato and Ritsuku and the two women are comfortable with him. Misato expresses some reservations about Kyoya's assignment but brushes it off....

Exclusive features in the PSP version are as folllows:
» New in-game scenes which are interspersed within the storyline

» A new Evangelion Quiz Game which offers three levels of difficulty for beginners, average EVA students, and highly obsessed devotees of the workings of NERV, the characters, and plot points. Fifty questions are collected in the database and each quiz session contains 10 randomly selected questions. «more»

Secret of Evangelion Limited Edition

The limited edition of Secret of Evangelion includes three bonus items as follows:

» Black PSP carrying case with a red NERV logo design on the front
» Screen filter for the Playstation Portable

In Secret of Evangelion Portable, players take on the role of a NERV operative named Kyoya who wears shades at all times. Early in the game, it's established that Kyoya is an old school chum of both Misato and Ritsuku and the two women are comfortable with him. Misato expresses some reservations about Kyoya's assignment but brushes it off. Throughout the adventure, Kyoya will come into contact with Shinji, Rei, and Asuka and his goal is to raise their level of trust in him so that information about the inner workings of NERV can be gleaned. «more»

Exclusive features in the PSP version are as folllows:
» New in-game scenes which are interspersed within the storyline
» A new Evangelion Quiz Game which offers three levels of difficulty for beginners, average EVA students, and highly obsessed devotees of the workings of NERV, the characters, and plot points. Fifty questions are collected in the database and each quiz contains 10 random questions.

Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race

Donkey Kong and friends strap a pair of rocket bongos to their waists and go on races. To reach maximum speed, the bongos must be banged by moving the controllers up and down in steady fashion. The motion scheme is sort of like smacking bongos and the game would work well with the Donkey Konga controller if one was made for the Wii. The maneuvering in the game is also handled entirely through the Wiimote and Nunchuk. For example, to sidle to the left of the race course, simply move the Nunchuk up and down by its lonesome and Donkey Kong will tilt leftwards to reach bananas or navigate curves. Since the controllers are always in motion to maintain speed, the game engine occasionally interprets the rhythmic beat of the controllers as a jump move which is performed by jerking both controllers upwards momentarily.

Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race features a total of 16 courses across seven worlds with the first race taking place in a jungle setting that features a breathtaking waterfall. The second stage starts off on a beach but quickly dives into the ocean for an underwater excursion through the glittering depths. The game is suitable for solo players raring to race but up to four competitors can join in the action. «more»

Japanese Warehouse Blues

Our distributor in Japan dispatched our shipment on Wednesday but it was inexplicably warehoused in Japan for the night by a "Clearing Agency." It's been released however and the entire shipment is now scheduled to arrive tomorrow. As such, all preorders for PS2 Super Robot Wars OG and the rest of this week's new releases will ship to our customers on Friday.

Spiderman 3 Age Sofubi

If you should ever encounter the interpretation of Spiderman shown here on the street, you might mutter, "Spidey, why so paunchy?" Japanese manufacturer Asunaru Sha latches onto the Spiderman phenomenon with a 16cm soft vinyl figure where the hero raises both pudgy arms as if preparing to shoot some webs. Preorders ship in September 2007.

Final Fantasy Miniature Figures Vol. 1

Square Enix has announced a new toy collection which features characters from the Final Fantasy games. The first volume features five figures which measure 6cm or 2.36" tall and is scheduled to ship in October 2007. Pricing is set at JPY350 per toy or US$35 per factory box of nine randomly packaged figures. The characters in volume 1 are as follows:

Cloud Strife - The lead character in Final Fantasy VII
Yuna - Female lead in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2
Vaan - Sky pirate from Final Fantasy XII and FFXII Revenant Wings
Penelo - Accompanies Vaan on his adventures and explorations
Rinoa Heartilly - A stalwart of the rebel force in Final Fantasy VIII

Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2007.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow Statue

In the recent Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End movie, Jack Sparrow resides in Davy Jones' Locker and finds himself aboard the Black Pearl. The ship is lousy with Jack's imaginary crewmembers that are carbon copies of... himself. Jack shoots one doppleganger in order to obtain a morsel of food and barks out orders to his hallucinations. Jack eventually swings off the boat but instead of being enveloped by the salty sea, he's lands on hard baked ground. Scuttling crabs later appear en masse and heft the Black Pearl to the ocean where Jack is reunited with his compatriots.
Japanese manufacturer Wecle Ats Inc has started preorders for a Jack Sparrow resin figure which measures 1 meter x 70 cm x 1.9 meters in dimension. That's 38.37 x 27.55 x 74.80" which means it'll ship in a box that can accommodate a medium-size refrigerator. The statue depicts Jack in a sort of reverie that's reminiscent of his hallucination-filled episode aboard the Black Pearl. Preorders are welcome today to ship in September 2007 at JPY180,000 per statue or US$1600 from NCS.

Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi: Iroha PVC Figure

The warrior maiden named Iroha made her first appearance in the Samurai Spirits Tenkaichi game and the rest is history. She's captured the fancy of toy sculptors and fans alike with her attractive disposition and her winged-outfit in black and white. Previous sculpts of Iroha have depicted her with blades flaring but in Griffon's upcoming 16cm tall rendition, the weapons named Hourin and Ousai lay flat to her side. Iroha is becalmed and perhaps even reflective as she sits on the ground and looks to the left. She also shucks off her shoes. Preorders are welcome to ship in Sept 07.

Stranja: Sword of the Stranger PVC Figures

Bones, the production house behind Full Metal Alchemist and Eureka Seven is prepping a new animated movie named "Stranja" which is set to bow in September 2007. In the bloody and violent film, a ronin endeavors to save a lad from leagues of assassins.

Square Enix ties into the film with the announcement of two PVC fixed-pose figures of the lead hero and his primary antagonist which ship in September 2007. Each figure measures 20cm or 7.87" tall and preorder pricing is set at JPY7500 or US$68 each from NCS.

Japanese Import Schedule - Updated

Nintendo DS
8/09	I Love Dolphin	Starfish
8/23	Bikkuriman Daijiten	3 O Clock
8/30	Eiken-Ou Jun-2-Kyuuhen	Gakushuu
	Love Cat Life	Braintoys
	Picto Image DS	Sega
	Simple DS Series Vol. 21 The Hohei	D3
	Summon Night Twin Edge Seireitachi no Kyoumei	Banpresto
	Tsunde Tsumikisu	Red
9/18	Biz Taiken DS Series: Hanashin no So	Kokuyo
9/27	Juushinden Ultimate Beast Battlers	Konami
10/18	Saiki Chizu Shiki: Yume Bihada - Dream Skincare	Konami
Playstation 3
7/26	Playstation 3 Console 20GB + Minna no Golf 5	Sony
	Playstation 3 Console 60GB + Minna no Golf 5	Sony
Playstation Portable
9/13	Fate/Tiger Colosseum	Capcom
Nintendo Wii
8/31	Fighting Stick Wii	Hori

Simoun: Shoubi Sensou - Fuuin no Remersion

Take a jaunt to the planet of Daikuriku where the children are all female. When they hit the age of 17, the young adults then decide if they want to be male or stay female. Now, focus your attention on the land of Simulacrum which is patrolled by flying machines known as Simoun. Within the machines are young pilots called Sibyllae who haven't reached their 17th birthday yet. The Simoun have a unique magical attack that is capable of laying waste to wide swaths of enemy forces. When ancient ruins are found on the border territory of Simulacrum, the Sibyllae and their ships are sent to secure the area but are met by forces from a neighboring principality. Conflict arises and the Simoun airships are marshaled into war against the malcontents.
The Playstation 2 game follows the general storyline of the animated source material where the girls are caught up in a war but also have time for a little interaction and possible romance. The adventure is broken up into 14 chapters where a scenario is presented followed by a turn-based tactical-strategy game where forces are sent into battle. In addition to the aerial Simoun, the game features a seafaring model that is an original machine designed for the PS2 game's storyline.

Simoun: Shoubi Sensou - Fuuin no Remersion LE

The limited edition of Simoun: Shoubi Sensou ships in a cardboard slipcase with alternate artwork for the cover. The slipcase houses the game DVD and three bonus items as follows:

» Art booklet which contains character illustrations by Asako Nisida

» A Simoun: Shoubi Sensou manga

» A data CD which contains desktop accessories for your PC and a collection of background music from the game.

Simoun: Shoubi Sensou tells the story of a group of girls who pilot mighty airships to defend their nation against would-be usurpers. In the world of the Simoun, all children are born female but decide their final sex at age 17. In the animated series, a nation known as Argentum invades Simulacrum and the Simoun are sent into war to protect the homeland from the attackers. Since the girls are almost of age but their skills are needed to wage war, they are granted an extension upon which to decide their sex.

Mana-Khemia: Gakuen no Renkinjutsushi Tachi

Vain Aureolus is a student at a school of alchemy where younglings learn the ways and means of mixing reagents with over 400 assorted bits to craft new and wonderful creations. Together with his fellow students Philomel Hartung, Gunnar Damm, and Titil Mimi Nike Mele, Vain goes to class in weekly increments and then stalks out into the wilds to gather ingredients and battle monsters. Vain's interaction with party members serves to strengthen the bond between them which leads to a cohesive battle unit. Quests serve as homework in the world of Mana-Khemia and a passing grade is granted upon each quest's successful completion.
In addition to Vain's core group of friends, a cast of characters provide conflict as well as support during the school semester. Pamela Ibis, a ghost who first appeared in the Atelier games also makes appearances on the grounds of the school. The battle system features the use of conventional attacks as well as special abilities and skills to defeat enemies. An updated version of the Burst Mode originally used in Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm is used in the game sans the spam. When exploring dungeons, the appearance of the underground areas change depending on whether it's daytime or night.

Mana-Khemia: Gakuen no Renkinjutsu Shitachi LE

The Premium Box edition of Mana-Khemia includes a 1/8 scale figure of the pink-haired alchemist named Philomel Hartung that's made of PVC and ABS plastic alloy. Philomel is seated on the floor with a white and beige colored schoolbag to her right. She holds an opened book on her right hand while her left hand is used to prop up her frame from behind.
Mana-Khemia is a new brand from the makers of the Atelier series so the Philomel figure won't be in demand currently. However, if Mana-Khemia becomes a long running and popular franchise similar to the Ateliers, Philomel will be in demand... perhaps a decade from now.

Caltoy UJ Elephant Plush

Elephants have remarkable memories. A study published in 2001 established that matriarchs of elephant herds are able to recognize other elephant faces from years and even decades ago. Elephants may all look the same to you and me but an elephant is able to distinguish pachyderm tics, tusk nuances, trunk notches, and other little details that mere humans would miss. Since elephants aren't usually found in the plush toy realm, Sega's Caltoy has decided to show them some love.
The elephants are set to march in September 2007 and measure 40cm or 15.74" in length. Three color variants are on offer: Grey, Blue, and Pink. We're partial to the blue one and we'll throw up photos when they arrive.

Hokuto no Ken Bottle Opener

Have you ever busted out a bicuspid because you used your teeth to pop the cap on a bottle of cola? Chomping on the jagged edge of a bottle cap is a dangerous proposition in the first place but wrenching it open with mouth strength can cause major damage. That's where the Hokuto no Ken bottle opener comes into play. Jam the clenched Hokuto fist on top of a bottle cap and let it do the hard work and save your teeth. You know, those teeth that you'll have to rely on for the rest of your life. Preorders ship in November 2007 at US$9.50 per fist.

Hello Kitty Speakers

Hello Kitty is sort of like the matron saint of womankind. She's attractive, politically inert, has no opinion on abortion, and accessorizes with everything. From little girls to old mature women, Kitty potentially serves as a stamp of femininity that just about everyone can approve of.
Hello Kitty generally isn't found in technology products but Sega has announced a pair of speakers that are housed within the simple facial structure of a Kitty toy. The clamshell design allows for compact storage and a retractable cord can be reined in when the speakers aren't in use. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late November 2007.

General Updates

X360 Trusty Bell Bundles All remaining backorders for the Trusty Bell (aka Eternal Sonata) Xbox 360 bundles will ship today. We're sold out again as of this morning however.

NDS Zelda Phantom Hourglass Restock arrived this morning and backorders, new orders will ship this afternoon. Pricing remains at US$45.90.

Wii Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting Revolution A restock shipment of Hajime no Ippo that arrived today included the bonus booklets and we'll package them again with all new orders.

Japanese Import Outlook

PS2 Super Robot Wars OG leads import preorders for the week.
NDS	Chuukana Janshi Tenhoo Painyan Remix	Jaleco
	Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! DS Frame Rumble	Takara
PS2	Baroque	Sting
	Busou Renkin	Marvelous
	Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M	IFactory
	Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M LE	IFactory
	Neon Genesis Evangelion Battle Orchestra	Broccoli
	Neon Genesis Evangelion Battle Orchestra DX Pack	Broccoli
	Super Robot Wars Original Generations	Banpresto
	Tales of Fandom Vol. 2 - Luke Version	Namco
	Tales of Fandom Vol. 2 - Tia Version	Namco
PSP	Chu~Kana Janshi Tenno Painyon Remix	Jaleco
	Secret of Evangelion Portable	Gainax
	Secret of Evangelion Portable Limited Edition	Gainax
Wii	Donkey Kong Taru Jet Race	Nintendo