PSP BlazBlue Portable - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Join Ragna the Bloodedge, Jin Kisaragi, and Noel Vermillion as they face off against a motley assortment of fighters who seem oddly familiar. If you look at the design for Iron Tagar, he looks awfully like Potemkin from Guilty Gear X while Bang Shishigami is sorta like Sol-Badguy. If we squint, Haku=Men could be mistaken for Justice. The character similarities shouldn't be much of surprise however since BlazBlue is the successor to the Guilty Gear X franchise from ArcSys. Toshimichi Mori is the lead designer for BlazBlue and 12 fighters are featured in the game who fight on sharp and brilliantly colored 2D stages. The presentation hearkens back to Arc System's GGX series with bright visual polish, snappy animation, bold voices, and feverish action that's executed with nary a hiccup.

The PS3 and X360 versions of BlazBlue were released earlier this summer and a PSP conversion is expected to ship in February of next year. New features include updated skills for all 12 fighters and a special "Legion Mode" where a hero leads forces against enemy contingents. An ad hoc linkage facility allows up to four players to hook up and participate in 1-on-1 bouts. Preorders are welcome to ship on February 25, 2009 at JPY4800 or US$53.90 from NCS. Early reservations will include a bonus Soundtrack CD which is being given away in 50% ratio by Arc System Works.

PSP God Eater - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» Sometime in the future, "gods" known as the Aragami appear across the planet and decimate the population. Despite the devastation, humanity rebuilds and scientists develop weapons called "Jinki" which are powerful enough to destroy the gods. One unique property of the weapons is that they bond to the warrior's arm and enhances his/her battlefield prowess. The Jinki also allows the wearer to consume (eat) the Aragami's attributes and powers in order to defeat them. Thus, the "God Eaters" are born to beat back the Aragami scourge. The protagonists in the game are part of a crew of God Eaters named Rindo, Soma, Kouta, Alyssa, and Sakuya. At the outset of the adventure, players create and customize a character from a number of parts for hair, facial features, color, clothing, and voice. In addition to the 1-player game which features computer-controlled party members, a 4-player collaborative ad hoc adventure may also be explored.

We've been playing the God Eater demo from the Japanese Playstation Network since last month and we're of the opinion that it's one of the more enjoyable games we've tried this year. The action runs fast with copious amounts of monster butchering. The monster minions aren't too challenging but the bosses are formidable with their powerful attacks and gang-up tactics. The game features over 100 missions and Namco will provide special downloadable content to extend and enhance the base game.
Preorders are welcome to ship on February 4, 2010 at JPY4980 or US$55.90. Early reservations will include a bonus DLC card that's being given away by Namco in 50% ratio.

Wii Rajirugi Noah (aka Radirgy Noah) - Import Preorder

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The Naomi coin-op version of Rajirugi Noah was location-tested late last year in Japan, released in February of this year, and is making its way to the home market early next year. Arcade operators have likely recouped their investment on the game already so the Wii conversion won't engender too much ill will from that beleaguered crowd.

Rajirugi aka Radirgy is a Milestone shooter which we didn't think would get a sequel because it was a fairly average game in terms of play mechanics and aesthetics. Rajirugi was apparently profitable for the company since they had enough confidence to release a sequel. The follow-up subtitled "Noah" didn't light a fire amongst the Japanese shmup literati but we're sure it'll grab a few sales on the Wii and possibly make its way to other territories either as a standalone release or as part of a compilation.

In the game, players control a ship that's capable of shooting, shielding, and slashing. The "slashing" is in the form of a little sword which swishes to and fro like a windshield wiper. By shooting and slashing, the ship levels up both offensive functions for improved performance. "Noah" features a simultaneous 2-player option and is viewed in the Yoko (horizontal) aspect which allows enough room for both gamers to maneuver and takes sides. Bosses in "Noah" include a bald-headed homo sapien in yellow pants who performs a spin attack that launches fireballs and an aerial platform that disappears in a puff of clouds when destroyed. The Wii conversion also features a special mode which allows for game customization and arrangements. Preorders are welcome to ship on February 10, 2009 at JPY5800 or US$63.90 from NCS.

MAG Famitsu Wave DVD January 2010 - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» The January 2010 issue of Famitsu Wave DVD includes print and video coverage of the following games and/or events:

» PS3 Final Fantasy XIII and a tidbit on Sugawara Sayuri's theme song
» PSP PSP Go features and functionality
» NDS Kyoukugen Dasshutsu 9 Jikan 9 nin 9 no Tobira
» Footage of Famitsu's crew wandering around the floor of the Tokyo Game Show 2009 wrap up the magazine's coverage of this year's exhibition.
» Wii Calling Kuroki Chakushin
» PS3 Bayonetta
» PS3 World Soccer Winning Eleven 2010
» Game Camp checks out WipEout HD (PS3) and Last Mission (XBL)
» Porno Suzuki tests Nerf toys such as the Raider CS-35

The images silkscreened on top of the two Famitsu DVDs are of Snow Villiers on DVD1 and his paramour Serah Fallon on DVD2.

NEWS Japanese Import Outlook - Arrivals on Thursday-Friday

NDS	Again: FBI Chou-Shinri Shousakan	Tecmo
	Kyoukugen Dasshutsu 9 Jikan 9 nin 9 no Tobira	Spike
	Luminous Arc 3 Eyes	Marvelous
	Monochrome Boo & Baby Boo: Kururin Boo	Creative
PSP	Bleach: Soul Carnival 2	SCEI
	Fuun Shinsengumi Bakumatsuden Portable	From Soft
	Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimett Accel 3	Bandai
	R-Type Tactics II: Operation Bitter Chocolate	Irem
360	Samurai Spirits Sen	SNK
Wii	Fullmetal Alchemist: Tasogare no Shoujo	Square
	Tales of Graces	Bandai
	Tales of Graces Wii Bundle	Bandai
	Toshinden	Takara

NEWS USA Release Outlook - Arrivals on Monday-Wednesday

NDS	The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks	Nintendo
PS3	Saboteur	EA
PSP	James Cameron's Avatar: The Game	Ubisoft
360	Saboteur	EA
Wii	Silent Hill: Shattered Memories	Konami