TOYS Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini 4 - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Five more Final Fantasy figureheads are immortalized in sculpted PVC when Square Enix ships the Final Fantasy Trading Arts Mini 4 toys later this year. The five inductees are as follows:

» Sephiroth / Final Fantasy VII
» Yuffie Kisaragi / Final Fantasy VII
» Vivi / Final Fantasy IX
» Zidane / Final Fantasy IX
» Yuna / Final Fantasy X

Square Enix is packing 9 figures in every factory sealed box of toys so you'll get a full set of five and dupes. Preorders ship in mid-late Dec 2009.

PS3 Tekken 6 - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Namco released Tekken 6 in Japanese arcades about 2 years ago and we recall the debate we had on whether or not we'd import a complete operator setup. Back then, the market was starting to look weak and we eventually decided against the nearly $40,000 cost of importing the whole shebang. We did play the game at a local NYC arcade but it wasn't the same. Namely, we had to stand in line and insert coins by the handful.

When October 2009 rolls around, we'll finally get our chance to completely own Tekken 6 for under $100. Compared to the cost of $40,000, we think we're getting a sweetheart deal. Please note the USA version of Tekken 6 will be released 2 days before the Japanese version.

In addition to the regular edition of the game, Namco will also release a Tekken 6 Collector's Box in Japan which is bundled with a wireless joystick that features a Tekken 6 theme. The preorder solicitation doesn't mention what the joystick is based on but the button arrangement and joystick placement is the same as the Real Arcade Pro 3. In addition to the game and joystick, Namco's also throwing in a 96-page hardcover Tekken 6 art book which is brimming with character illustrations, Tekken scenes, and other Iron Fist eye candy.

Preorders for the regular edition of Tekken 6 and the Collector's Box edition are welcome to ship on October 29, 2009 at JPY7980 (US$83.90) and JPY16,980 (US$239.90) from NCS.

PSP Macross Ultimate Frontier - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Last year's Macross Ace Frontier was a pleasant surprise since Macross games are generally hit or miss. Bandai built the game on the PSP Gundam Battle engine which is capable code so they'd have to really botch the development to make MAF a bad game. To capitalize on their previous success, Bandai's releasing another chapter on the PSP dubbed Macross Ultimate Frontier which ships in a few months. Not much has changed in the play mechanics (this is a good thing) but Bandai has included new features and tweaks that improve the handling and experience of piloting a Valkyrie. Some of the Macross series featured in the game are as follows:

» SDF Macross: Do You Remember Love?
» SDF Macross Plus
» SDF Macross 7
» SDF Macross Dynamite 7
» SDF Macross Zero
» SDF Macross Frontier

The game features over 120 missions and 100 types of Valkyries to pilot. Bandai opened preorders for Macross UF last night and they're also accepting reservations for a Limited Edition of the game which includes a video UMD which contains an interview with Shoji Kawamori who has worked on pretty much every Macross animated serial and vintage Macross video footage. Preorders for both versions will ship on October 1, 2009.

PS3 White Knight Chronicles EX Edition - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» When we look at White Knight Chronicles, we think back to the winter of 2008 when the US dollar got decimated against the yen and the end of the financial world was nigh. Iceland had gone bankrupt and doomsayers notched it as the first domino to fall. Fear was rampant and we watched the market tumble with majestic velocity. The dollar liquidation got so bad at one point that we were paying a little over US$82 per copy of WKC at the wholesale level... before shipping costs. The dollar has since rebounded although it's still under pressure and the global financial markets probably won't implode like dancing dominos. At least in the near future.

It was with jaundiced eye that we stared at the preorder solicitation for White Knight Chronicles EX Edition this morning. Price: JPY3619. It felt like a cruel joke but we're not going to dwell on the past... too much. With the EX Edition, Sony's releasing a fully patched version of the game which incorporates the First Wave and Second Wave updates onto a Blu-Ray disc for players who prefer hardcopies of their hard-earned games. The official updates log may be viewed on Sony's Shirokishi website which chronicles the first wave of changes and the upcoming second wave of updates. Preorders for WKC EX Edition are welcome to ship on October 8, 2009.

PSP Atom (Astro Boy) - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Treasure's vision of Astro Boy on the GBA a few years back was inspiring. The controls, the visuals, and the overall feel of the game gave us new respect for Astro Boy.
There's another Astro Boy game winging its way to the marketplace but this time around, it's from D3 Publisher of Simple 2000 gaming fame. The release of Atom for the PSP will precede the launch of the new Astro Boy theatrical film that's opening across America on October 23 by a couple of weeks. The screenshots don't look bad but we'll reserve judgment until the game's in our hands. Preorders are welcome to ship on October 8, 2009 at JPY4800 (US$53.90).

PSP Gran Turismo - Import Preorder

From the Publisher
The highly acclaimed Gran Turismo® makes its highly anticipated debut exclusively on the PSP® system, introducing the most ultra-realistic racing experience ever on a handheld. Buckle up as you prove your driving skills on 35 tracks and trade and share up to 800 stunning cars. With its unrivaled graphics, Gran Turismo continues to lead the pack on the PSP system.

Game Features
• Slick Visuals — Runs on a new graphics engine designed for the PSP® system that delivers stunning visuals at a crisp 60 frames per second.
• Depth and Variety — Up to 800 licensed vehicles from international automakers by completing challenges, races, and sharing and trading with friends.
• Hit the Road — Race on 35 licensed and fictional tracks, with 60 track layouts total.
• Bragging Rights — Prove your driving skills against up to four friends in matches using Ad Hoc mode.

Game Notes
Gran Turismo (PSP) will be released first in North America and Europe on October 1. The Japanese version will ship on October 8. Sony is supplying the game on physical UMD as well as a download on the Playstation Network. Preorders for the Japanese version of Gran Turismo are welcome to ship on October 8, 2009 at JPY5219 or US$58.90 from NCS.

TOY Mushihime-sama Futari: Reko Figure - New, Restock Soon

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The original Mushihime-sama was a fine shooter with an attractive heroine named Princess Reko who battled hordes of insects while straddling her beetle-steed Kiniro. Reko and Kiniro flew through the air with deft maneuvers and blasted away with blazing lasers. Reko reprised her role in Mushihime-sama Futari which was released in 2006 for the coin-op market but an X360 conversion is on the way. Despite the time that has passed since the Mushihime-sama games, Max Factory releases a statuesque fixed-pose Reko figure which is sculpted to 1/7 scale and measures 24cm or 9.44" tall.

Reko is dressed in a belly shirt with a wisp of loincloth draped around her hips. White thigh-high stockings cover her legs while a pair of purple pumps are fitted onto her feet. It is important to note that there is more volume and material in Reko's hair than in her entire outfit. When we first spotted this Reko figure up for preorder a few months ago, we disliked the hair. It was transparent and cheap looking. Now that we have the figure and get to inspect Reko closely, we still dislike the hair. The face isn't the greatest rendition of Reko either but we can live with it. Other than those two niggles, we're somewhat pleased with the figure. All preorders have shipped yesterday and restock is expected within the next few days.

TOYS Kanu Uncho Black School Uniform Version - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The love affair between toy sculptors and Kanu Unchou continues unabated and the latest shop to toss their hat into the ring is Aizu Project. Sculptor Takayuki Shiragami's repainted rendition of Kanu is called "Kanu Unchou Kuro Seifuku Ver" which places the heroine in an awkward and vulnerable pose that's almost uncomfortable to look at. The operative word being "almost."

Kanu's pushing a broom with both hands in an apparent stint as a janitor while wearing her school uniform and knee-high leggings. The coldcast figure is sculpted to 1/7 scale and measures 24cm or 9.44" in height. A circular display base is included. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late October 2009 at JPY16000 or US$185.90 from NCS. Please note this item is a dimensional weight product that will incur a 12 lb shipping rate.