PSP Puyo Puyo 7 - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» A new girl named Andou Ringo joins Amitie, Arle, and the rest of the gang in Puyo Puyo color-matching puzzle antics. She's a ginger with a cheerful demeanor, waif-like frame, and her character meshes well with the previous Puyo heroines mentioned above. The action in Puyo7 hews true to the previous volumes but with "Fever"-like puzzle matching interludes.

In the Story Mode of the game, the first puzzle battle is against a trio of Skeletons (Skeleton-T) but their skills are rudimentary and they don't pose much of a challenge. We knocked them out with a 5-string combo that ended with a double-color-match that made the skeletons scream in a somewhat comical manner. The next challenge is against the boy with the blue hair named Sig (Shigo) and he's got some skills but they weren't enough to match our quick color-combo-creation tactics. The Skeletons return in the third round and it's a race to see who can create the most matches. Raffine steps in for the fourth round with her billowing pink hair and baby blue eyes.

It took longer than usual but we beat Raffine too. The fifth challenge brings in Feli who's normally sweet but she shows her dark side in the interaction sequence with Ringo. After beating Feli, Ringo will appear somewhat smug as she tosses an apple on one hand. A decidedly different looking Amitie is the sixth competitor and she wears a different type of hat. The challenge gets a little tougher with Amitie on the other side of the screen but after two tries, we knocked her out too.

PSP Spectral Force Legacy - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Return to the world of Neverland and relive the original Spectral Force tactical adventure game which was first released on the Playstation in 1997. For the 2009 remake, Idea Factory updates the visuals and revamps the strategy and battle sequences with the Generation of Chaos game engine which allows players to fortify their castles and borders as well as mobilize armies against neighboring territories. When a conflict erupts, contingents of regimented soldiers face off against similarly arranged contingents on battlefields of varying terrain. Similar to the rules of engagement found in the Famicom Wars games, larger forces generally decimate smaller ones except tactical formations may also be used to gain an advantage against an army that's sizable.

In addition to the battles between states, players will also manage trade, diplomacy, and personal relationships to ensure a strong and functional country that can operate without hindrances. Neverland is split into 40 warring states led by different rulers but the main cast of characters in the game are as follows:

» Hiro - Redheaded progeny of Overlord Janus; half demon, half human.
» Orochimaru - Lord of Muromachi and a consummate warrior-general
» Chiffon - Used the demon-slaying sword Tenmaken to defeat Janus
» Little Snow - Winsome and willowy Queen who enjoys Jadou's company
» Jadou - Estranged brother of Hiro who isn't fond of humans

BOOK Street Fighter Artworks - Sorta New, In Stock

NCS Preorder Synopsis
Update: November 30, 2009
«©NCSX» Capcom celebrated two decades of Street Fighter earlier this year with a thick and heavy art book which rehashed a lot of great artwork from Street Fighter's esteemed history. The spectacular group shot from Hyper Street Fighter II is in there along with dramatic character portraits and assorted scenes from artists such as Shoei, Udon, Nishimura, Falcoon, and Shinkirou. To attract fans who may already own earlier Street Fighter art books which share a good portion of the same illustrations, Capcom also includes artwork from Street Fighter IV and new heretofore unpublished pieces from the various games. The book contains 320 pages and is printed on glossy and heavy paper stock.

From the Distributor
Kick start your Street Fighter 20th Anniversary celebration with the most complete collection of official Street Fighter artwork ever! Gathering over 1,500 illustrations created by Capcom's top artists over the past 20 years, this massive tome includes character designs, concept art, sketches, and promo artwork, plus many never-before-published pieces from both Street Fighter's past and from the all-new Street Fighter IV. Japanese text.

NDS Professor Layton Kyouju Kyara Cover DSi - New, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Wrap your Nintendo DSi in a pretty wine-red shell which comes in two pieces - a top shell which clasps onto the upper portion of the NDSi and a bottom shell which latches onto the lower portion of the NDSi. Once both shells are in place, you'll have a nifty Professor Layton design without much muss nor fuss. Officially licensed by Mori Games and designed exclusively for the NDSi.

NDS Professor Layton Kyouju Card Pocket 6+ - New, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Slovenly gamers (none of whom are in our audience) are apt to grab a handful of Nintendo DS game cards and stuff them in their pockets where the cards jangle around with lint, dust bunnies, and other unsightly detritus. Mori Games offers a better way to carry NDS game cards with the Layton Kyouju Card Pocket 6+ which holds six games in rock steady retainers and even has a slot to store an extra stylus. The whole shebang closes down with an nifty Layton lid with dual clasp.

NDS Professor Layton Kyouju Pocket Book Pouch - In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Layton is a learned and knowledgeable bloke who probably prefers a good book over the lure of television. Mori Games takes what Layton likes to heart and creates a Layton NDS storage pouch that's shaped and molded to look like a book. The kind that's secured with a zipper. The pouch opens up like a book and holds a Nintendo DS, a touchpen, and a small collection of game cards. The outer covering is cushiony and provides a measure of protection against accidental drops that might otherwise shatter an NDS into three pieces.

PSP Kenka Banchou 3 [The Best] - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The heroes of the previous Kenka Bancho games have shuffled off to greener pastures. We imagine Yasuo from the first game to be a shopkeeper nowadays, peddling individually wrapped pieces of sushi at JPY100 a pop. Tomoya from the second game is probably still a punk but one with a job. At the local "hostess" bar. Earning his keep as muscle.

The two earlier Kenka Bancho games were cult. They didn't reach the critical mass that would have engendered a wave of merchandising deals but the games were popular enough to ensure another release in order to bring the series to trilogy status. The new protagonist in Kenka Bancho is a fresh-faced youth named Takashi Sakamoto who's living on the wrong side of the school yard. He's tough, fast, and has got a serious problem with authority figures. To that end, he gets into fights with other toughs and bristles in the presence of teachers. Takashi does have one redeeming quality however. He's ambitious. He wants to be the top dog among all the gangsters in all the high schools across all 47 prefectures. To reach his lofty goal, Takashi battles other bruisers in a bid to become the king of all Japan.

Similar to the previous games in the series, Takashi can battle multiple enemies at once and engage in Menchi-Beam contests. Errands, missions, and objectives also pop up from time to time to give players a bit of variety in the action. At one point in the game, an incident causes Takashi to shear all of his hair off. We thought it was a symbolic rebirth of sorts.

NDS Nintendo DSi LL - Expected on Thursday

«©NCSX» The Japanese tend to make their game machines smaller as time goes by. The bulky PS3 slimmed down earlier this year to the aptly named Slim PS3 and the PSP-3000 is slightly slimmer than the PSP-1000. Nintendo reverses the trend towards smaller sizes by releasing the Nintendo DSi LL last week. It's a big'un and bigger than the NDS, NDS Lite, and NDSi. The prices for the NDSi LL are still higher than expected but they've moderated a bit since the launch last weekend. NCS will receive a batch on Thursday of this week and our pricing is set at US$259.90 for either the Dark Brown, Wine, or Natural White color variants. We'll be bringing them in on a weekly basis and prices will probably be stable this month. Blame the weak dollar.

The Nintendo DSi LL's screens measure 4.2" compared to 3.25" on the original DSi but it's also a larger and bulkier handheld to accommodate the larger screens. The battery lasts 13-17 hours according to Ninty. A selection of software is preloaded into the system as follows:

» DSi Internet Browser (standard software)
» Moving Memo - Create animations and share them (aka Flipnote Studio)
» Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters (Note: Japanese language)
» Brain Age Express: Math (Math is the universal language)
» Meikyou Kokugo Rakubiki Jiten (Japanese dictionary program)

Preorders are welcome to ship on Thursday of this week. Please note that NCS doesn't expect any supply shortages from Japanese suppliers but we're leery of importing bulk quantities at higher prices, especially with the yen near 14-year highs against the US dollar.

NEWS General Updates

Mushihimesama Futari v1.5 Regular Edition Update «©NCSX» Copies of Mushihimesama Futari v1.5 (Regular Edition) without the bonus Futari v1.01 DLC card have already been spotted in Japan over the weekend. We had a copy overnighted to us just so we could verify. The new printing of the game has a different product SKU (5AD-00004) and the pink circular sticker isn't pasted on the front cover. NCS' inventory of the game still contains the DLC card but we'll update our product description once they're gone and only the 2nd printing is available. Comparison photos.

Best Seller The best selling game over the weekend was the USA version of Backyard Football 2009 for the Nintendo DS. The regular edition of Xbox 360 Mushihemesama Futari was a close second runner-up.

NEWS Japanese Import Outlook - Arrivals on Friday

NDS	Kaijuu Busters	Namco
	Pretty Rhythm Collection	Sonata
	Relaxuma * Rhythm: Mattari Kibun de Da Run³	Rocket
	Yggdra Unison: Seiken Buyuuden	Atlus
PS3	FolksSoul: Ushinawareta Denshou (the Best Reprint)	SCEI
	Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 - (the Best Reprint)	Sega
PSP	Dice Dice Fantasia	Broccoli
	Dice Dice Fantasia Limited Edition	Broccoli
	KSG: Gundam vs. Gundam NEXT PLUS	Bandai
	LittleBigPlanet Portable	SCEI
	Phantasy Star Portable 2	Sega
	Phantasy Star Portable 2 Accessory Set	Hori
	Tokimeki Memorial 4	Konami
	Ys: Napishtim no Hako - Konami the Best	Konami
Wii	Kamen Rider Climax Heroes W	Bandai
	New Super Mario Bros. Wii	Nintendo
	Takumi Restaurant wa Daihanjou!	Dorart
	Tokyo Friend Pack II Ketteiban	Spike
	Wii Remote Controller Blue	Nintendo
	Wii Remote Controller Pink	Nintendo

NEWS USA Release Outlook - Arrivals on Monday-Wednesday

NDS	7 Wonders II	MJumbo
	Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel	Majesco
	James Cameron's Avatar: The Game	Ubisoft
	Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes	UbiSoft
	MX vs ATV: Reflex	THQ
PS3	James Cameron's Avatar: The Game	Ubisoft
	MX vs ATV: Reflex	THQ
	Rogue Warrior	Tri-Synergy
PSP	MX vs ATV: Reflex	THQ
Wii	James Cameron's Avatar: The Game	Ubisoft
	Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel	Majesco
360	James Cameron's Avatar: The Game	Ubisoft
	Rogue Warrior	Tri-Synergy
	MX vs ATV: Reflex	THQ

General Updates

New Import Arrivals «©NCSX» The rest of this week's new Japanese releases have arrived today including PSP Spectral Souls Legacy and PSP Higurashi Daybreak Portable Mega Edition. Three Professor Layton DSi accessories have also arrived and are shipping out today. We're short-staffed today so we'll post full product summaries and images for today's new arrivals on Monday of next week.

Mushihimesama Futari v1.5 Limited Edition Update «©NCSX» The remaining shipments of Mushihimesama Futari LE have arrived and we'll be able to process and fill pretty much everyone's order at the original price of US$109.90. We were short-shipped 8 copies of the game so we probably won't be able to fill 8 relatively recent orders. We've contacted vendors in Japan for potential LE restock but prices for the game have been hiked in the aftermarket. Some retail shops are quoting prices of ~JPY16,100 (US$185.34) but one seller on Amazon.jp wants JPY19,780 (US$228.07) + JPY440 shipping for his inventory. On the wholesale side of things, prices have increased to approximately JPY15,000 (US$172.68) from two vendors in our Japanese distribution network but everyone else is completely sold out. NCS does not plan on purchasing any additional copies at what we consider to be unreasonable prices.

UPS Holiday Schedule «©NCSX» Please note that UPS is not picking up or delivering UPS Ground packages today because they're on a (Thanksgiving) holiday schedule. Normal Ground delivery and pickups will resume on Monday of next week.

X360 Mushihime-sama Futari v1.5 - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Pilot Princess Reko atop her beetle Kiniro or take control of a lad named Palm who rides a beetle known as Hirow and shoot at waves upon waves of insect attackers. The Xbox 360 conversion of Mushihimesama Futari is based on the Arcade 1.50 version of the game but orders shipping today will include a bonus DLC card which unlocks the v1.01 revision of Futari which features different bullet patterns.

Mushihimesama Futari has the distinction of being the most difficult shooter in existence but it's mainly because the bullets from bosses rain down in sheets. Repeat: sheets. Literally, bullets upon bullets. Gamers can look forward to nonstop streaming shots, mesmerizing spiraling shots, and thick waves of rapid shots that afford 1cm of leeway. Even elite players who regularly conquer shmups of all stripes on one measly credit are confounded by Futari. We're of the opinion that Cave and arcade operators conspired to make sure that Futari cannot be completed on 1 credit. Top players will need at least 5-25 credits depending on individual skill level and hitbox alertness.

Please note that we cannot accept any changes to preorders as of today. We have a large volume of orders to process and we want to make sure everyone's order is shipped out this afternoon before the holiday.

X360 Mushihime-sama Futari v1.5 LE - New Import, SOLD OUT

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Pilot Princess Reko atop her beetle Kiniro or take control of a lad named Palm who rides a beetle known as Hirow and shoot at waves upon waves of insect attackers. The limited edition of Mushihime-sama Futari v1.5 includes a 2-CD Mushihimesama Futari Arrange Soundtrack which is bundled with the game in a special slipcase. Each CD contains 12 tracks with arrangements from various contributors.
Mushihimesama Futari has the distinction of being the most difficult shooter in existence but it's mainly because the bullets from bosses rain down in sheets. Repeat: sheets. Literally, bullets upon bullets. Gamers can look forward to nonstop streaming shots, mesmerizing spiraling shots, and thick waves of rapid shots that afford 1cm of leeway. Even elite players who regularly conquer shmups of all stripes on one measly credit are confounded by Futari. We're of the opinion that Cave and arcade operators conspired to make sure that Futari cannot be completed on 1 credit. Top players will need at least 5-25 credits depending on individual skill level and hitbox alertness.

As mentioned yesterday, NCS is able to process and ship 5/8 or 62.5% of our preorders for the Mushihimesama Futari Limited Edition today. Please note that we cannot accept any changes to preorders as of today. We have a large volume of orders to process and we want to make sure everyone's order is shipped out this afternoon before the holiday.

X360 Mushihime-sama Futari Joystick - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Hori releases a specially branded Mushihimesama Futari Ver. 1.5 Real Arcade Pro EX Joystick which is based on the default Hori Real Arcade Pro SE EX but the case is colored green and the top of the stick features an image of Princess Reko and Palm against a leafy-green nature backdrop. The joystick and buttons are from Seimetsu which is a manufacturer of arcade parts and devices. Thanks to the heavy bulk of the joystick, it's stable and sturdy even when players are wagging the stick and slapping the buttons with wild abandon.
Please note the joystick does not support Dual Shock vibration and connects to the Xbox 360 by cable/cord. All preorders are shipping today.

Wii Naruto Shippuden: Ryujinki - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Tomy celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Naruto franchise with a new Wii 3D action-adventure game that stars an older, lankier, and somewhat wiser Naruto. Sakura and Kakashi are in tow along with an assortment of friendlies as well as dragon enemies that can only be slain with Dragon Blades.
Sakura and Kakashi are in tow along with an assortment of friendlies as well as dragon enemies that can only be slain with Dragon Blades. Naruto and Sakura have new spiffy costumes they can wear along with nifty accessories. Characters from Sasuke's earlier upstart group Team Hebi (Jugo, Karin, and Suigetsu) also join the cast of characters.

The first production of Naruto will ship with a bonus messenger bag that's being given away by Tomy in 50% ratio.

NDS Layton Kyouju to Majin no Fue - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Three years before the events in Professor Layton and the Curious Village, the good professor and his young disciple Luke find themselves in another curious village with a strange legend. As the story goes, whenever the mysterious "Devil's Flute" is played, its haunting melody causes a giant to go berserk and subsequently "go to town" on the village. The new game also chronicles how Luke came to become Layton's little apprentice.

Similar to previous chapters in the Layton series, diabolical puzzles and thought-inducing scenarios prod gamers into using their brains to solve problems and help Layton, Luke, and a new character named Remi Altava proceed to new puzzles. After players complete the main game, a mini-game titled "Layton's London Life" is unlocked which tasks gamers with the duty of fulfilling special requests from the citizens who look to Layton for aid.

NDS Strike Witches: Aoi no Dengekisen RE - New, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» In an alternate reality, the Earth has been ravaged by the effects of an armed force known as the Neuroi. To counter their assaults, humanity has developed the "Striker Unit" which is an all-in-one device which grants wearers the power of flight, defensive measures, and enhances one's propensity for magic. In the world of Strike Witches, cat-eared girls serve as the warriors who don the Striker Units and thrust through the heavens to battle the insidious Neuroi.

The Nintendo DS game features the cast from the animated serial in an S-RPG which also includes a bevy of interactive sequences that help move the story along. A new character-protagonist named Atsushi Takei joins the cast of the NDS game. Early preorders will ship with a bonus NDS storage pouch designed to look like a girl's bloomers.