Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Made in Ore - New Import, Restock Soon

«©NCSX» If you're a creative type who wants to design games but refuses to invest the time required to build an RPG, you might fare better with micro games. Nintendo's Made in Ore allows designers to create 5-second games that are primitive, simple, and potentially likable. The software includes a music editor, a simple graphics program, and the engine to bind all the components together to create an interactive challenge. A tutorial (in Japanese) also gives basic pointers on design mechanics and rudimentary tips on making an enjoyable micro game.

Sample micro games featuring Nintendo stalwarts such as Mario, Goomba, and Starfox are included on the game card to show players and designers how the professionals at Ninty do it.

Dragon Ball Kai Saiyajin Laisyuu - New Import, Rstk Soon

«©NCSX» Goku, Piccolo, and other DBZ superheroes participate in an action-adventure game that follows the arc from the beginning of the DBZ anime. As the story goes, Goku has wed a lassie named Chi-Chi and they have a son named Gohan. One day, a badass known as Raditz kidnaps Gohan which forces Goku to team up with Piccolo to trek through assorted challenges to rescue his baby boy.

The game looks good with sharp hand-drawn graphics and battles are fought in classic RPG style where Goku and friends are assembled on the right side of the screen. Enemies are arrayed on the left side of the screen and the two contingents bout it out in a turn-based fisticuffs and power-blast theatrics. When traveling, the camera takes in the action from overhead where Goku is shown as a diminutive hero walking the Earth.

Naruto Shippuden Shinobi Retsuden III - New, In Stock

«©NCSX» One-on-one Naruto fighting action revisits the Nintendo DS with the latest Naruto Shippuden Shinobi Retsuden III game. Players choose a combatant from a sizable roster of 42 characters and fight it out in 3D action that runs at 60fps. The battles take place on the top NDS screen and are accompanied by touch screen elements that are triggered during battle by tapping on icons. Along with conventional bouts, Naruto and friends may also challenge mighty creatures which dwarf their frail human frames such as a galloping blue wolf and a bear with razor-like claws.

Gamers may enjoy the Story Mode where Naruto travels through towns and meets up with assorted friends and fights foes, a Versus Mode, or wireless VS modes where two players battle against each other.

Death Smiles Real Arcade Pro EX Joystick - New Import

«©NCSX» The Death Smiles Hori Real Arcade Pro Joystick is an Amazon-exclusive product which was released last week and our shipments arrived today. The controller is basically a Hori RAP EX (Sanwa stick) with Death Smiles artwork on top. NCS generally covets this sort of stuff so we're working with a number of Japanese agents to order the sticks from Amazon. Sadly, this level of manpower means increased costs in addition to yen conversion and deputy charges. Preorders are welcome to ship on April 23, 2009 at the lofty price of US$239.90 each. Please accept our sincere condolences. Note the Death Smiles Arcade Stick does not include a copy of the Death Smiles game.

Tir-Na-Nog - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» The Japanese PC was the first platform that Tir Na Nog (Land of the Young) reached a few years ago but the game gets ported to two more platforms this week. According to legend, Tir Na Nog is where the gods once lived but they were defeated in battle and forced underground. The gods became known by later generations as fairies. The PS2 version of the game features dungeon crawling action that hearkens back to the early 90s heyday of action-adventure games when graphics were sorta gritty and sounds were kinda rudimentary. Tir Na Nog is built on Celtic mythology and features a fantasy world where heroic archetypes travel the land and explore, roust up some treasure, and battle armies of enemy warriors.

The PS2 conversion features two brand new scenarios that aren't in the PC original, new events, and big bosses to battle. The interface has also been streamlined for more efficient control of the action. Upon beginning a new game, the "Scenario Generation System" kicks into gear and creates a set of scenarios, characters, items, structures, and dungeons that are unique to each game. The publisher touts 10 billion possibilities so it's a good bet that e
very new adventure is unique. A large assortment of weapons is also available including daggers, swords, axes, halberds, and more to slay malcontents.

Persona - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» When Atlus released the original Persona in 1996, the portable handheld of choice was the Gameboy. The very first Gameboy. It didn't have color nor a backlight but that didn't stop Nintendo's wunderkind from dominating the portable gaming landscape. It wasn't until 1998 that the Gameboy Color arrived on the scene. The GBC didn't have a backlight either.

Fast forward 13 years and technology has gotten to the point where games like Persona can now be played on portables such as the Playstation Portable. In living color and backlit to light up the night. Atlus upgrades the game with new cinemas, visual updates, brand new dungeon levels, and user-friendly options such as a quick save feature. A stylish new intro is also featured in the game which is replete with stark, dark imagery with a peppy background track sung by
Yumi Kawamura. The chipper song is designed to provide contrast against the morose visuals. Shoji Meguro provided director and composer services while Kazuma Kaneko served as art director.

The heroes of Persona are a group of high school students who all possess special abilities that allow them to utilize offensive magic. Battles are fought on an isometric platform with two sides arrayed against each other while melee attacks and magic blasts ripple through the ranks. The PSP update doesn't feature voice acting but the cast of characters do make yelping sounds and other utterances when fighting enemy agents.
The first production of the game will ship with a bonus Persona Soundtrack CD which was given away in 30% ratio from the publisher.

Tir-Na-Nog - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» The Japanese PC was the first platform that Tir Na Nog (Land of the Young) reached a few years ago but the game gets ported to two more platforms this week. According to legend, Tir Na Nog is where the gods once lived but they were defeated in battle and forced underground. The gods became known by later generations as fairies. The PSP version of the game features dungeon crawling action that hearkens back to the early 90s heyday of action-adventure games when graphics were sorta gritty and sounds were kinda rudimentary. Tir Na Nog is built on Celtic mythology and features a fantasy world where heroic archetypes travel the land and explore, roust up some treasure, and battle armies of enemy warriors.

The PSP conversion features two brand new scenarios that aren't in the PC original, new events, and big bosses to battle. The interface has also been streamlined for more efficient control of the action. Upon beginning a new game, the "Scenario Generation System" kicks into gear and creates a set of scenarios, characters, items, structures, and dungeons that are unique to each game. The publisher touts 10 billion possibilities so it's a good bet that e
very new adventure is unique. A large assortment of weapons is also available including daggers, swords, axes, halberds, and more to slay malcontents. Character classes in the game have attributes that determine their performance in battle and the overall adventure such as strength, technique, wisdom, and charm. Attack and defense values are also imparted to each character depending on the weapon or armor that's equipped.