Slither into the cockpit of a Ferrari and make sure your sweetheart in the passenger seat is comfy. Once settled, throttle onto winding highways which cut through scenic backdrops. Outrun 2 SP features 15 courses from OutRun 2 and 15 courses from the arcade version of Outrun 2 SP. Throw in the reverse-courses and a total of 60 tracks are available for reckoning.
New to the nuts and bolts of OutRun racing is the "SlipStream" element where following in a competitor's wake allows your vehicle to accelerate with smooth energy. Hairpin turns that twist in vicious angles may be navigated by tapping the brakes and wheeling the vehicle into the direction of the turn. Perform the maneuver well and you're drifting sideways while your passenger finds love in her heart for your skills. Botch the race however and you'll find yourself being assaulted by the once loving girlfriend. When the Ferrari makes contact with the sides of a race course, it'll bounce off like a bocce ball. If the Ferrari crashes and swivels 360°, it's no big deal - simply tap the accelerator and you're on your way again. Overlook the unrealistic nature of the game and you'll find yourself enjoying the ride with melodious tunes and an overly enthusiastic passenger.
New orders are welcome for Hori's third (canonical, not chronological) Real Arcade Pro Joystick which uses the same form-factor and case of the other Real Arcade Pro sticks. Similar to earlier HRAPs, the new stick uses actual arcade buttons and a clicky lollipop-style joystick to give gamers an authentic coin-op experience at home. A heavy duty base completes the package to give the controller a weight of nearly 6 lbs or 2600g.
The RAP3 features the same button arrangement found on the RAP2 with the eight standard buttons (face and trigger) in red and the START and SELECT buttons in a bright yellow patina. The RAP3 does away with the row of slide levers on the upper left corner of the stick which controlled rapid-fire on the RAP2. Hori uses a more elegant solution this time around and adds a "PS" button. The RAP3 connects to the PS3 by way of USB cable and the analog thumbsticks on the SixAxis controller may be emulated by toggling a slide lever which switches from D-pad, L-analog, or R-analog control. Preorders are shipping today and new orders are welcome.
Cooking Mama returns to the gaming wilds in a cooking contest where players prepare international dishes with a skilled hand, a chef's eye, and the ever-versatile Wiimote controller. As an all-around kitchen worker in addition to a cook, players cut ingredients, open cans, crack eggs, roll dough, boil vegetables, slice luncheon meats, and sautée morsels. If you're into seafood, you'll get to chop the pincers and legs off of an upside-down crab to prepare it for the oven. Various tools of the trade may also be used to prepare assorted foods including a meatball maker which squeezes ground beef into compact spheres of beef. A total of 300 dishes from 10 different countries may be prepared and created for true international flavor and diversity.
Some dishes take more preparation time than others. For example, a cake requires the mixing of flour and eggs, forming the cake, and then applying a layer of frosting on top and on the sides. All of the tasks may be accomplished with steady Wiimote manipulation within the time limit provided. The Wii version of Cooking Mama features a cook-off mode where two players compete against each other for the title of top chef. He who cooks the fastest and with the fewest mistakes, wins.
Tomytech eases off the Dots (.S) licensing parade and goes back to the basics with a simple collection of pegs and pegboards. Although the Dots Start Set is unattached to any one franchise or theme, the massive amount of pegs included is enough to create a diverse assortment of objects, characters, caricatures, and stylized pixel art. Each kit includes eight peg boards, eight connecting joints, and a whopping 2,240 pegs spread out in a spectrum of 17 colors. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late March 2007 at JPY3000 or US$29 per kit.
Kotobukiya has started preorders for two new PVC-based Evangelion figures which ship in mid-late June 2007.
» Asuka Langley Room Version - The red-headed Evangelion handler sits on a stool wearing a red/white bikini while a loose towel drapes over her belly. The measurement at 1/8 scale or 16cm tall from head to toe.
» Rei Ayanami BMX Trick - We barely recognized her but there she is, perched atop a BMX bike like Dave Mirra. Rei comes in at 1/12 scale or 15cm tall from the bottom of the rear wheel to the top.
Talent Agency K Dash Group has started preorders for two limited edition figure collections which feature in-house actresses in assorted "roles."
» Yoko Minamono (aka Nanno) 20th Anniversary Commemoration Figure. A collection of four figures which celebrate the roles of Nanno. Limited to 1000 sets only.
» Yu Yamada Figure Collection - Singer, actress, and emcee Yu Yamada is featured in three figures which re-enact her roles. Limited to 1000 sets only.
The 20th Bomé sculpt features the bunny-ear wearing Misty May of the fanboy-effacing "Otaku no Video" animation. Gainax released the video in 1991 and poked fun at their fan base as well as themselves to make sure everyone was in on the joke. In the upcoming Bomé release, Misty drops to her knees and props up her frame by thrusting out her right arm while her left arm is slung in an awkward position across her back. Red shoes cover her feet while purple stockings adorn her legs. Misty wears a white top with stylized bow and vamps it up with elbow-length gloves. Te figure measures 18cm or 7.08" in length. Two mascots named Nega-King and Posi King are also included in the blister pack to add value.
The Japanese release of Monsieur Bomé Vol. 20 ships in mid-late April 2007 but a North American version will ship in late June 2007 at the lower price of US$29. Preorders are welcome today for the Japanese version.
NCS hasn't really kept up with the X-Men comics ever since the team of Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Terry Austin disbanded about 2 decades ago. Every once in a while, we'll pick up a trade paperback on the cheap and skim it. From a round table poll of memorable Wolverine characteristics this morning, we gathered the following FACTS:
» Wolverine's skeleton is laced with adamantium, making it unbreakable.
» He says, "Bub" a lot and his claws pop out with a "SNIKT" sound effect.
» His pointy hair makes him look like a psychotic &$#!@#%.
» We don't remember if he ever married that Japanese chick Mariko.
Kotobikiya has started preorders for a 31cm (12.20") tall Wolverine Cold Cast where the berserker rises up with extended claws and a snarl on his face. The production quantity is limited to 300 pieces only and preorders will ship in mid-late April at JPY30000 or US$259 from NCS.
