Final Fantasy V

Originally released on the Super Famicom in 1992, Square Enix updates Final Fantasy V for the Gameboy Advance and continues the routine renewal of classic FF games. The GBA version of FFV features three new jobs - Cannoneer, Gladiator, and Prophet which all feature new abilities and add wrinkles to the adventure. Players who complete the game will unlock a fourth character job: Necromancer. A new bonus dungeon lorded over by the mage known as Enuo is also included in GBA FFV which allows for experience churning and a new spelunking experience.

Bleach: Blade Battles + Bonus

Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki lead another cast of old and new Bleach series characters in a blazing 3D fighting game where up to four players may participate at once. By using soul swords as well as special attacks, the warriors clash and weave magical blasts as they dash around the battlefield in a chaotic 2-on-2 challenge or a four man free-for-all.

At the outset of the game, the only playable characters are Ichigo, Rukia, Ishida, Sado, and Orihime but 18 additional fighters may be unlocked as conditions are met. In the Story Mode of the game, players choose one of the five characters and then engage in objective-based battles as well as collaborations with a COM-controlled fighter against another duo of warriors. The Story Mode features new interactive storylines for the characters to follow and starts off with a battle where Ichigo fights by his lonesome. In subsequent clashes, Ichigo teams up with fighters to battle opposing duos. A Mission Mode starts off with 5 available scenarios to enjoy but includes a total of 50 missions to play and dominate. The graphics are cel-shaded and the fluid animation lends itself nicely to an all-around competent fighting game. «NCS Game Notes»

Bonus Calendar
Every preorder will include a bonus 2007 calendar brimming with Bleach artwork which is encased in a CD jewel case. Along with the title leaf (shown above), six sheets are included with two months represented on each sheet. As the months pass, remove the sheet from the front and move it to the back to keep current... While supplies last, we will include the calendar with new orders.

Neverland Reportage

Idea Factory compiles a collection of Spectral Force / Neverland games from the original Playstation to the environs of the Playstation 2. The five games collected are as follows:

» Spectral Force 2
» Spectral Force: Itoshiki Jaaku (Lovely Wickedness)
» Spectral Force: Seishoujo Gaisen
» Spectral Blade
» Suna no Embrace: Eden no Sato no Never

The Spectral Force games are all strategy-rpgs where players marshal military forces led by colorful generals against opposing forces. All of the games included in Reportage were released between 1998 and 2000 for the Japanese Playstation.

In addition to the five games, a Neverland Encyclopedia is included which references the background story of the Neverland world and its inhabitants. A character illustration gallery and a collection of game cinemas are also tucked in the Encyclopedia for perusal. «NCS Game Notes»

The Taxi 2

The original "The Taxi" game was released in the spring of 2004 and went on to sell over 80,000 copies. NCS recalls brisk sales as allegations of Crazy Taxi clonage were bandied about in our offices. Two and a half years later, D3 Publisher looks to reprise their success with a new taxi driving game where the player shuttles passengers from point A to point B with as little pain and damage as possible.

The overall aim of the game is to earn a total of JPY1,000,000 per diem while under the wing of a grimacing boss/dispatcher. By earning oodles of cash, taxi cabs may be upgraded with performance enhancements such as speed boosters, a satellite navigation system, and improved cornering ability in addition to other upgrades. A tricked-out cab is conducive to getting passengers to their destinations quicker and lends to improved comfort for the ridership. Some passengers need to get to their destinations quickly while others are less pressed for speed but still demand a certain level or professionalism. Still other passengers may get carsick easily if your handling is less than optimal. Weather also plays a part in the game where the elements look to deter the passage of a cab through the canyons of the metropolis. «NCS Game Notes»

Princess Maker 4

Originally released on the Playstation 2 last year, Gainax updates the game with 30+ new events for the little Princess of the game title to engage in. A new fair-haired daughter wings her way into the heart of a doting father who provides guidance and scheduling for proper growth and refinement. The game starts off when the daughter is 10 years old. Poppy is not alone in raising the Princess however. A helper named Cube provides general assistance and fashion tips for the little girl to learn and absorb.

The main game screen is broken up into data points where the upper left corner shows the date and the upper right lists the daughter's name, age, and money. Below that, important data such as education level, height, weight, and even measurements are listed. Finally, the main action options are shown (in English) which allows father to perform the following actions:

STATUS - Check daughter's physical/mental attributes and stats
TALK - Command daughter to perform an action
HEALTH - Check daughter's health regimen
ITEM - View daughter's inventory of clothing and accessories
SHOP - Visit stores to procure goods and products
SYSTEM - Save data, load data, etc
SCHEDULE - View and/or plan upcoming activities for the month. «more»

Picno Parasa & Dinky Dinos

Sale of the Day: New copies of Parasa & Dinky Dinos Digital Coloring Software for the Konami Picno Learning System. It's highly unlikely that anyone in our customer base actually owns a Picno but the software may serve as an oddity in your personal shrine of obscure and old Konami products. Sidle the Parasa & Dinky Dinos product next to Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence and marvel at the divergent software offerings from the House of Konami.

Although the stock is new, please note that there is slight edge scuffing of the cardboard boxes from years of warehousing.

Pricing is set at US$16.00 per copy which includes USPS Priority Mail shipping anywhere in the contiguous USA. Priority Mail normally delivers in 2-3 days depending on your proximity to our location in New York City. Please note that our shop does not process transactions in real time and orders will be charged US$16.00 only. Please disregard the shipping quotation on our online shop.

PS3 Preorder Updates

«©NCSX» The remainder of the PS3 launch games have been posted up for preorder and confirmed for shipping on November 11 along with a GT Force RX steering wheel from Logitech. We normally receive the production quantity for Japanese software titles but the print run numbers are missing for the PS3 releases. However, we're assuming that software print runs for "sure things" such as Ridge Racer 7 and Gundam: Target in Sight will be ~100,000 to match the PS3 hardware launch production number in Japan.
11/06	GT Force RX	Logitech
11/11	ChillStream Controller	Logitech
	Genji: Kamui Souran	SCEI
	Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight	Bandai
	Resistance: Jinrui Botsuraku no Hi	SCEI
	Ridge Racer 7	Bandai
12/07	Motorstorm	SCEI

Silver PS2 Re-Design

The default color scheme of the PS2 has been black since its inception in 1999. For the Japanese market, a rainbow assortment of color variants have been released through the years including a Sakura Pink model, a Gold Gundam variant, and a Midnight Blue PS2. When Sony released their slim PS2 console in the USA and Japan, they also went with black at the outset and eventually shipped a Ceramic White variant to market in Nihon.

Instead of releasing a white slim-style PS2 for the U.S. market, Sony goes metallic with a silver Playstation 2 which includes a silver Dual Shock 2 controller. Scheduled to ship next week, the silver PS2 hasn't been released in Japan yet so it's a North American exclusive and we're looking forward to exporting a few dozen cases to customers in Asia and Japan. Pricing is set at the standard rate of US$135 and preorders are welcome. NCS recommends USPS Express Mail for our international customers which is a trackable and insured service which normally delivers within 3-5 days depending on unencumbered Customs clearance.