Tatsunoko vs. Capcom - New Import, Ships Today

«©NCSX» If the Wii version of Tatsunoko vs Capcom wasn't shipping this year, NCS would have imported a coin-op kit. The Wii conversion allows us to get the game for under US$100 instead of the considerable expense required for the arcade version. Some quick notes from this morning's testing - a full synopsis will be posted soon:

» The game does not force a firmware update so if you're on firmware 3.2U on a USA Wii, you can use the Freeloader to boot the disc.
» The Classic Controller as well as the Gamecube controller can be used.
» Ryu and another kind of Ken have a special moment in the cinematic intro
» Doronjo or Tonzura serve as the emcees in the mode select menu.
» The mode select menu is entirely in Japanese but from the top to bottom, they are: Arcade, Versus, Survival, Time Attack, Training, Data, Option, Shop, Gallery, and Original Game (Mini-games).
» TvsC features 2-vs-2 2D fighting with a tag feature. Swapping characters during a battle is instantaneous. Note that a 3-button attack scheme is used for weak attack, medium attack, and strong attack.
» The announcer sounds like the same guy from previous Capcom games
» Viewtiful Joe must be unlocked before he's playable.

Chocobo to Mahou no Ehon - New Import, Ships Today

«©NCSX» Chocobo's friend Shido (Cid) is a masterful writer who has created a world with words and pictures that children around the world are enamored with. While working on his latest work "Aruvanika," Shido falls victim to a mysterious illness that leaves him unable to write. After some commiserating, Chocobo and a new friend named Shirma determine that Shido's affliction is being caused by turmoil in the realm of Fairy Tales. To get Cid back on his feet and writing again, Chocobo and Shirma venture into Fairy Tale land for some answers. In addition to the main Chocobo adventure, a large number of mini-games may also be enjoyed including one where Chocobo literally bounces off walls, simple puzzles games, thought-provoking exercises, and a game that's sort of like reverse Puzzle Bobble where bubbles must be collected instead of popped.

Taiko no Tatsujin Wii - New Import, Backorder

«©NCSX» Bang the drum (slowly and quickly) once again this winter when Namco ships Taiko no Tatsujin for the Nintendo Wii. The standard edition of the game ships with a special taiko/drum controller and a pair of thick plastic drumsticks. A wire from the back of the controller plugs into the Wii Remote so that gamers can drum wirelessly and unfettered by tethers.

Taiko no Tatsujin Wii features a 70-song tracklist which ranges the spectrum of J-Pop, animation, classical, and original music. Similar to previous Taiko no Tatsujin games, simple colored cues roll down a conveyer belt which are meant to elicit a Pavlovian response from the player. For example, when a Red Smiley Taiko rolls into the rubicon, hit the surface of the TataCon but a Blue Smiley Taiko requires a smack the edge of the drum controller. A nifty new feature in the Wii version of Taiko is the lyrics display mode where the lyrics of songs are displayed on the screen so players and/or onlookers can sing along to the songs.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - Wii de Asobu - New, Backorder

«©NCSX» NCS originally stocked the Gamecube version of Donkey Kong Jungle Beat in 2004 which was an innovative platform game controlled entirely with a drum accessory called the Taru-Konga. The Wii update of the game does away with the drums and revamps the control scheme so that everything is controlled with the Nunchuk and Wii Remote. The updated controls are as follows:

Nunchuk Thumbstick - Movement
Wii Remote A Button - Jump
Wii Remote B Button - Duck
Wii Remote or Nunchuk Motion - Clap

With the controller revamp, DKJB plays like a champ and making DK clap has never been easier where banana-sized fingers create a sonic boom. Kong also engages in fights with end-level apes and other bosses where the Nunchuk and Wii Remote are wagged to and fro to throw left hooks and right jabs. This type of ape-powered fighting puts the term "Jungle Beat" in a new light. In between stages, Kong engages in side challenges including one where he rides a wildebeest named Mooshin. «G-Notes»

Argus no Senshi: Muscle Impact - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» In the land of Argus, Princess Harmonia is congratulating a gladiator named Zane for his services to the Empire when the ceremony is interrupted by a trio of Titans. A winged Titan grabs hold of Harmonia and Zane rushes to her aid but he's smacked down by another Titan. After falling into a crumbling dungeon and given a weapon known as the Disk Armor by a disembodied voice, Zane's adventure begins...

The latest Argus game from Tecmo features a Story Mode which is played with a conventional control scheme and a Muscle Mode where Wii Remote whipping motion is in play. The Story Mode is fairly straightforward in execution - for example, Zane has to go to point A to trigger an entry to point B and in between the two points, a bunch of enemies have to be killed. The Muscle Mode features fighting action where Zane faces off against a procession of creatures on top of a rocky platform. In Muscle Mode, the Remote is jerked back and forth to simulate the throwing of the Disk Armor at crowds of enemy attackers. The execution somewhat unwieldy and suffers from lag but maybe we just need a little practice. To activate the Disk Armor, you'll have to press and hold the "A" button and whip the Remote forward or sideways. «NCS Game Notes»

Zwei!! + Bonus Soundtrack - New Import, Ships Today

«©NCSX» Originally released in 2001 for the Japanese PC, Falcom's addictive dungeon crawler made its way to the PS2 in 2004 where it enjoyed decent sales. Since you can't keep a good game down, Falcom ports Zwei!! to the portable confines of the PSP for another revenue-generating run.

As the story goes, two adventurers named Pipiro and Pockle venture forth on a quest to stop a group of conspirators from raising a demon lord. Players explore beautifully detailed dungeons, battle beasts, and solve puzzles. The fighting is performed in full motion action with the heroes swinging swords and using magic in real time. An interesting level-up feature in the game allows the heroes to level up by gobbling food that is won by defeating creatures or by finding them in treasure chests. Foods may be upgraded to higher level foods or rewards at the inn in Puck Village.

At the outset of the game, players may choose a pet cat named Tama or a pet dog named Pochi. The pet serves as a useful traveling companion during the adventure by gathering coins and attacking enemies in concert with its master.

The PSP conversion of Zwei!! features a BGM player, new re-arranged music tracks, and voice acting from Ryouko Shiraishi for the boy character Pockle and Hiromi Konno for the heroine Pipiro.

Large Knit Sackboy Plush - Photo Gallery Updated

«©NCSX» NCS received the Mini Knit Sackboy plushes last Friday and orders have been shipping out for a few days now. NCS received the Large Knit Sackboy plush toys yesterday which are about 8X larger than the Mini Knits. Two variants arrived as follows:

» Normal Sackboy - original version of Sackboy that's non-accessorized
» Pirate Sackboy - wears an eyepatch and wields a hooked right hand

Each Large Sackboy toy measures 25cm or 9.84" tall and is made of the same plushy brown material that the Mini Knit mascots are constructed of. Please note the Normal Sackboy is now completely sold out and an inventory check with our Japanese suppliers last night showed that they're also sold out.

Preorders have begun shipping yesterday and new orders are welcome. NCS is posting up our photo gallery today which shows the two Large Knit Sackboys and compares their size to the Mini Knits in a series of photos. New orders for Large Knit Pirate Sackboy are welcome to ship today.

figma Hatsune Miku Vocaloid - Recent Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Vocaloid (Vocal + Android) is a Japanese song simulator from Yamaha and Crypton Future Media where users type in lyrics and the software engine sings out the words in rapid fire staccato. Voice actress Fujita Saki provides the voice for Miku Hatsune in the software and she sounds like a mix between a munchkin and a generalized cartoon character. Vocaloid 2 has enjoyed strong sales since its release last year and Miku has been making the rounds on the merchandising circuit.

Max Factory and Good Smile Company team up to provide the toy collecting audience with a figma version (PVC and ABS construction) of Miku sculpted by Masaki Asai that's highly posable. Miku ships with a microphone, a microphone stand, and a pair of leeks. The package also includes an extra face which may be used to change Miku's expression and extra hands. The figure measures 14cm or 5.51" tall and is packaged with a standard figma display stand with mounting arm. Preorders have shipped already and new orders are welcome to ship this afternoon at JPY2500 or US$32.90 from NCS.

The Model 25 for Saturn Video-CD - Clearance

NCS Product Synopsis
Original Update: August 11, 1998
«©NCSX» A total of 25 Japanese models are featured in this photo-cd which may be viewed on a PC, a 3D0, Phillips CDI, PC-FX or on a Saturn equipped with the Video-CD/Photo-CD decoder.

Sale Offering
NCS' remaining inventory of the Model 25 Photo-CD for the Japanese Saturn Video-CD is new, factory sealed, and in excellent condition. Pricing is set at US$12.90 per unit which includes "free" shipping by USPS Media Mail within the continental United States. Media Mail normally delivers within 2-3 weeks but may take longer during the month of December.