TOYS Shooting Game Historica 3 SP - Import Sale $88.90

NCS Product Synopsis
Update: August 3, 2009
«©NCSX» The third series of Shooting Game Historica gashapon toys celebrate a jetfighter, a tank, a submarine, and even a robot which can rest on 2 or 4 legs. The default ships featured in the new set are as follows:

» Wolf Fang - Blue armored mech which carries a blaster rifle
» Raiden - Sleek Raiden mk-II (Red) with movable boosters
» Soukyugurentai - S.O.Q-004 Toryu with multiple movable parts
» Kaitei Daisensou: In the Hunt - Squat submarine designed by Irem
» Maneuver Cepter Granada - A blue tank with moxie and a gun turret
» Star Soldier - The Ceaser which features a transformable cockpit

   View NCS Shooting Game Historica 3 SP photo gallery

   Each of the six aforementioned ships is also accompanied by a color or style variant in each box of 12 toys as follows below:

» Wolf Fang - Model variant with shoulder cannon and no shoulder struts
» Raiden mk-IIb (Blue color variant)
» Soukyugurentai - S.O.Q-004 (Blue color variant)
» Kaitei Daisensou: In the Hunt (Blue color variant)
» Maneuver Cepter Granada - Model variant with two additional parts
» Star Soldier - Red trim color variant; the cockpit hatch is colored blue

   Every factory sealed box of Shooting Game Historica 3 SP toys contains all 12 ships listed above. Both versions of the Wolf Fang toy also include an additional pair of legs and a platform-pelvis to attach the legs to. The Wolf Fang figure may be detached at the torso area from his normal legs and then plugged into the platform-pelvis to create a spidery version of Wolf Fang that may be wheeled along like a little race car.

   Although the quality of the ships in SGH3 is good, NCS advises taking some precautions when fiddling around with the Soukyugurentai ships since the wing hatches are delicate. They also open only one way so take care to inspect our photos to see how the hatches should be oriented and opened. The other ships are pretty sturdy and unlikely to snap or crack under the weight of your fingers. 
 

PS2 Shooting Game Pack Vol. 1 - Import Sale US$39.90 Free shipping

NCS Product Synopsis 
    Two new and factory sealed Japanese Playstation 2 imports as follows:

 » Chaos Field New Order (Japanese territory)
 » Underwater Unit (Asian territory, Japanese PS2 compatible)

    Pricing US$39.90 which ships for free within the United States. Orders placed before 4PM EST ship today.

MAG Shooting Gameside Vol. 1 - New Japanese Import

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» If NCS was savvy enough to convince investors to pony up for the publication of a print magazine, we'd probably do something like Shooting Gameside. In our magazine, there'd be a feature on Soukyugurentai, a pictorial for Muchi-Muchi Pork!, and a 8-page spread on developer Treasure which looks back at their games and enthralls readers with information on the development of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. The centerfold of the magazine would be a three-pager featuring the entire cast of Death Smiles, EspGaluda, Sol Divide, and Mushihimesama. We might even throw Samus in there just for the hell of it. Alas, we're not savvy enough.

   The publishers of Shooting Gameside Vol. 01 are savvy and they're producing a new magazine that's almost entirely about shooting games. The shoot' em ups covered in the magazine include Battle Garegga, Darius Burst Another Chronicle, Do Don Pachi Daifukkatsu, Senko no Ronde DUO, and Space Invaders Infinity Gene. Articles in the magazine include a 10-page feature on developer Eighting/Raizing and an interview with composer Hitoshi Sakimoto who has worked on games such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII.  A partial table of contents follows:

p04-19 Darius Burst Another Chronicle illustrations, info, and bosses
p20-26 Space Invaders Infinity Gene overview, interview, and images
p27 KOF Ultimate Shooting and King of Fighters Sky Stage
p32-33 DoDonPachi Daifukkutsu v1.5 for Xbox 360
p34-35 PinkSweets and Muchi-Muchi Pork Xbox 360 preview
p36 Guwange for Xbox LIVE
p38-41 Espgaluda II on iPhone
p44-45 Rajirugi Massive for X360
p46-47 Astro Tripper for Playstation Network (Only 500 PSN points)
p65-80 Special retro-gaming feature on Hudson's library of shooters including Star Soldier, Gunhed, and Soldier Blade.
p88-95 Interviews with Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata, Mitsuhiro Kaneda, Kimihiro Abe, Noriyuki Kamikura, and more.
p97-128 Gameside looks back at Japanese developer Raizing/Eighting's shooter works as follows: Sorcer Striker, Kingdom Grandprix, Battle Garegga, Soukyugurentai, Batrider, Battle Bakraid, and Dimahoo.
A two-page feature on Brave Blade's illustrations and game information is also include. After the game features, general information on the company and bits of history are included in the article.
p130-131 Details on Space Giraffe which is available for XBL and PC.
p134-141 "Shooting Talking" feature which includes information on Phelios, R-Type, Xexex, Cho Aniki, Forgotten Worlds, Parodius, and more.

MAG Shooting Gameside Vol. 01 - New Import, In Stock

NCS Product Synopsis
«©NCSX» If NCS was savvy enough to convince investors to pony up for the publication of a print magazine, we'd probably do something like Shooting Gameside. In our magazine, there'd be a feature on Soukyugurentai, a pictorial for Muchi-Muchi Pork!, and a 8-page spread on developer Treasure which looks back at their games and enthralls readers with information on the development of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. The centerfold of the magazine would be a three-pager featuring the entire cast of Death Smiles, EspGaluda, Sol Divide, and Mushihimesama. We might even throw Samus in there just for the hell of it. Alas, we're not savvy enough.

   The publishers of Shooting Gameside Vol. 01 are savvy and they're producing a new magazine that's being released in Japan this weekend. The shoot' em ups covered in the magazine include Battle Garegga, Darius Burst Another Chronicle, Do Don Pachi Daifukkatsu, Senko no Ronde DUO, and Space Invaders Infinity Gene. Articles in the magazine include a 10-page feature on developer Eighting/Raizing and an interview with composer Hitoshi Sakimoto who has worked on games such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. All preorders are shipping today JPY1260 or US$25.90 from NCS. Depending on how sales for the first issue goes, a second volume of Shooting Gameside may be published.

MAG Shooting Gameside Vol. 01 - Import Preorder

NCS Preorder Synopsis
«©NCSX» If NCS was savvy enough to convince investors to pony up for the publication of a print magazine, we'd probably do something like Shooting Gameside. In our magazine, there'd be a feature on Soukyugurentai, a pictorial for Muchi-Muchi Pork!, and a 8-page spread on developer Treasure which looks back at their games and enthralls readers with information on the development of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. The centerfold of the magazine would be a three-pager featuring the entire cast of Death Smiles, EspGaluda, Sol Divide, and Mushihimesama. We might even throw Samus in there just for the hell of it. Alas, we're not savvy enough.

   The publishers of Shooting Gameside Vol. 01 are savvy and they're producing a new magazine that's being released in Japan this weekend. The shoot' em ups covered in the magazine include Battle Garegga, Darius Burst Another Chronicle, Do Don Pachi Daifukkatsu, Senko no Ronde DUO, and Space Invaders Infinity Gene. Articles in the magazine include a 10-page feature on developer Eighting/Raizing and an interview with composer Hitoshi Sakimoto who has worked on games such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. Preorders are welcome to ship on or around October 17, 2010 at JPY1260 or US$25.90 from NCS. Depending on how sales for the first issue goes, a second volume of Shooting Gameside may be published.

Shooting Love, 200X - New Import, Partial Shipment

«©NCSX» You love shooters, right? We do too. Love 'em. Damn the RPGs, the FPS, and the puzzle games. Give us a shoe box filled with classics such Gradius, Salamander, Soukyugurentai, Radiant Silvergun, etc and we're set. Over the course of the past year, the Japanese Xbox 360 has become the go-to console of choice for home conversions of shooters. NCS isn't sure why the X360 has carved out this unique niche for itself but maybe Microsoft is subsidizing the ports to attract the shoot 'em up collective/hive/audience. Our numbers are legion. Sort of.

To add to the Xbox 360s shmup library, Triangle Service serves up two of their coin-op shooters - Exzeal and Trizeal Remix in a bundle of joy dubbed Shooting Love, 200X. The company also throws in a "Shmups Skill Test" on the DVD which features short but sweet shooting exercises that will check the twitchy trigger fingers of gamers. Finally, a fourth shooting game included on the DVD is a little number called "Minus Zero" which we haven't explored adequately this morning but we'll post some more information once we get around to it.

The first printing of the game includes a bonus Insanity Capture DVD which shows expert players who are so skilled that they blow through Exzeal without losing a single ship. By observing their approaches to the shooting action, maybe you can mimic their moves. The DVD also includes audio commentary (in Japanese) from the players as well as deftly handled demonstrations of the Shmups Skill Test.

Shooting Game Historica 2 Synchronized Phenomenon

Yujin's Shooting Game Historica 2 SP boxes arrived last Friday and preorders have shipped already. As mentioned earlier, we are SOLD OUT of the boxes but we still have the Gashapon version of the toys in stock and available to ship today. The "SP" in the product title now means "Synchronized Phenomenon" as opposed to "Second Product" for the first Shooting Game Historica volume.

Photos of the Shooting Game Historica 2 SP's product packaging have been uploaded today. NCS' galleries of the toy ships may be viewed on our original update which was uploaded on August 14.

Psyvariar Complete Edition for PS2 - Clearance

Psyvariar Medium Unit was originally released for Taito's G-Net arcade hardware and the game did decent numbers during it's run in Japan's coin-op arenas. Publisher Success followed up their... success with Psyvariar Revision which also found its fair share of fans. The two games are included in Psyvariar Complete Edition for a double dose of buzz shooting action. Both games are vertical shooters and the wrinkle is the "Buzz System" where you maneuver your ship so that enemy fire just barely misses the spacecraft. Perform skillfully and your firepower boosts up to stronger levels. Ample chances for close-calls abound as bosses release ridiculous amounts of laser blasts and scattershot. Do Don Pachi got nothing on this game.

Sale Offer: NCS' remaining inventory of Psyvariar Complete Edition is new, factory sealed, and in mint condition. Price: US$45.90 per copy which includes "free shipping" within the United States by USPS Media Mail Service. Product SKU: SLPM-62139

PC Engine Best: Soldier Collection - Import Preorder

The golden age of the PC-Engine was a wonderful time for gamers. NCS still recalls the first time we ever played R-Type on the Engine which was on a meager 4M Hu-card. The conversion was nigh perfect and a testament to the power of console. There were many more shooters back in the day which were coin-op conversions as well as original fodder for shmup fans to eat up at JPY5800 a pop. Over the years, one of the publishers that produced a steady stream of shooters for the Engine was Hudson and their flagship franchise was the Star Soldier series.

From 1990 to 1992, Hudson released four Star Soldier games as follows:

» Super Star Soldier
» Final Soldier
» Soldier Blade
» Star Parodier

Nearly two decades after Super Star Soldier, Hudson compiles all four games onto a single UMD for the Sony PSP. To give fans a little something extra, a gallery section includes bonus material including video of a perfect player blowing through the games without making a single mistake. Preorders are welcome to ship on September 25, 2008 at JPY2800 or US$28.90 from NCS.

Shooting Game Historica 2 SP - Import Preorder

NCS started preorders for the Shooting Game Historica 2 gashapon toys in April which feature the following spacecraft:

» R-Type III - R90 Ragnarok
» Fantasy Zone - Opa Opa
» Raystorm - R-Gray1
» Star Luster - Gaia
» Star Blade - Geo Sword

The gashapon toys are packaged in plastic capsules which is the usual delivery method for miniature PVC toys in Japan. To follow up on the SGH2 preorder offering, Yujin has now opened up preorders for the SP (Second Product) version of the toys which are packaged in ornate cardboard boxes. NCS is supplying the toys in complete factory cases of 12 toys at JPY4800 or US$49.90 to ship in Sept 2008. Preorders are welcome.

Partial Shooting Historica Sets - In Stock

Due to the events of last Tuesday, we have a few thousand Shooting Historica ships to sell. Thanks, Yujin. Without further ado, here they are - three ships from the Shooting Historica Gashapon set as follows:

Gradius featuring Vic Viper T301
Gradius 2 featuring Metarion
Darius Gaiden featuring Silver Hawk (Note: Either Blue or Red Version)

Pricing is set at US$12.50 + default media mail shipping at $2.55. Photos

Shooting Game Historica Gashapon - New, Sets Sold Out

Yujin appeals to the shmup collective by releasing a gashapon collection which fetes the shooters we've known and loved through the years. Why hasn't anyone done this before? We're not sure but the adage "Better late than never" might apply here. The five games and their attendant ships featured in the Shooting Game Historica set are:

R-Type featuring R-9A Arrow-Head
Image Fight featuring 0F-1 Daedalus
Gradius featuring Vic Viper T301
Gradius 2 featuring Metarion
Darius Gaiden featuring Silver Hawk (Note: Either Blue or Red Version)

There was an unequal quantity of red and blue Silver Hawks so we'll include either version in each set. There are no color variants for the other ships but please note that the boxed version of the Shooting Game Historica toys which are scheduled to ship in February 2008 will feature color variants for four of the ships.

Please note that there was a shortage of two ships in all of the cartons that we received from Yujin. There was not enough of the "R-9A Arrow-Head" and the "0F-1 Daedalus" ships to create enough complete sets to fill all of our preorders. We will contact customers by email within 1-2 days if we are unable to fill your preorder - there aren't too many but it still stings.

We have asked our Japanese distributors for additional supplies but we won't know if there will be another shipment available for us until the end of December 2007. As mentioned earlier, Yujin will re-release the same toys in February 2008 which will be packaged in cardboard boxes and may be viewed though this preorder link. View the NCS Photo Gallery.

SR Shooting Video Game History Gashapon

Yujin has started preorders for a collection of toys which fete the shooters we've known and loved through the years. The five games and their attendant ships featured in the toy set are:

R-Type featuring R-9A Arrow-Head
Image Fight featuring 0F-1 Daedalus
Gradius featuring Vic Viper T301
Gradius 2 featuring Metarion
Darius Gaiden featuring Silver Hawk

Preorders will ship in early December 2007. Please note that we do not process or charge preorders until an item is in stock and ready to ship.