Famitsu Wave DVD [Oct 2007]

The October 2007 issue of Famitsu Wave DVD features print and video coverage of the following software titles and events:

» PS3 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
» Metal Gear 20th Anniversary Party
» PS3 Soul Calibur IV
» PS2/PC Phantasy Star Universe
» Wii Takarajima Z
» ARC Sengoku Basara X
» PS3/X360 Assassin's Creed
» PS2 Shiju Hachi
» ALL Need for Speed Pro Street

There's also general interest features, interviews, and a segment where the editors clown with an Intellivison that's in remarkably good condition.

Oni Zero Sengoku Ransei Hyakkaryouran

The world of medieval Japan is the focus in Oni Zero where sixteen unique and colorful characters explore and engage each other in an interactive adventure game. Depending on the character that is chosen as your onscreen protagonist, the other cast members will have either affinity or enmity towards your hero. In the end however, everyone in the game is out for himself or herself in a bid to win a tournament.
In addition to the interactive drama, there's a battle system in the game where the stylus is used to touch markers on the screen within a set amount of time to trigger an attack. As a character levels up, new battle techniques may also be learned which require different stylus swishing action to enact exotic attacks.

Simple 2000 Vol. 119: The Survival Game 2

The first The Survival Game (Simple 2000 Series Vol. 56) was met with scorn and ridicule... which is par for the course in the world of dodgy Simple 2000 software. The developers went back to the drawing board to tweak the game engine and perhaps improve it a tad. Three years later, D3 Publisher releases the sequel to the Survival Game and we're saddened to report that the scorn and ridicule continues.

Players take on the role of an air gun assailant who assembles a team and then invades the Tokyo Marui BB Sports Field to take on other teams of air gun agents. At the outset of the main game, five heroes are selected and then two are chosen to go into the battlefield. The action runs at a clumsy pace although the controls aren't bad. The spray from the airsoft guns is somewhat accurate and the visuals are pedestrian but get the job done. Where the game falls flat on its face is the poor quality of the enemy AI. There were times when members of the computer-controlled team stood facing a wall instead of actively roaming the field hunting for targets. Hunting and shooting is sort of the point of the war games that The Survival Game attempts to simulate. Despite its failings, NCS still invested about an hour in the game. We're suckers for the Simple 2000 Series....

General Updates

Hitman on Tuesday Due to a later release in Japan, our shipments of PS2 Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn! Dream Hyper Battle have been rescheduled to Tuesday of next week.

Playstation Network Tickets ... are back in stock as of yesterday. New orders are welcome.

Views from our office building A sampling of the views from our office.

Labor Day Holiday NCS will be closed for business on Monday (Sept. 3, 2007).

One Piece Gear Spirit

Twenty characters from the One Piece universe gather together in a 3D battle royale where an assortment of 130 spirit cards are used to trigger special attacks. The top screen shows the action and the bottom screen shows the character touch cards that may be tapped to trigger special effects and body blows. Luffy can throw a monstrous elongated punch whilst Sanzi performs a power-kick. With a single cartridge, up to four players can participate wirelessly to engage in a all-out battle royale by way of Download Play.
Our supplier forgot to include the bonus Jolly Roger pouches but we'll ship them separately to our customers next week when they arrive.

Summon Night: Twin Edge

A lad named Aldo and a lassie known as Reha quest within a 2D overhead viewed action-adventure brimming with monsters, treasure, and fierce fighting action. Along their travels, they'll meet up with characters sympathetic to their cause such as the green-haired swordsman Nasl, the blue-maned Ain, a blonde gal named Lila, Tica the archer, and the glasses-wearing Murdin, among others. The NDS touchpen is used for movement, attacks, and magic which may be launched at monsters or drawn to create temporary barriers that damage enemies when they draw near. There's a "Beast Making" feature where monsters are conjured up inside a jug and then used in battle. By depositing them into the battlefield, the monsters will fight alongside your crew of characters against a common enemy.

Ecoris (aka Ecolis)

In the day-to-day of evil kingdoms, progress generally means construction, encroachment, and the consequent destruction of nature. The forest and its inhabitants featured in Ecoris face such destruction and the first signs are the murky tendrils of industrial waste and pollution. To combat the malaise headed their way, a spiky orange behemoth named Dorian and three species of rodents conspire to save their forest. The animal friends featured in the game consist of a pink squirrel named Ecoris, a toothy beaver who answers to Ecoby, and a blue flying squirrel known as Ecomon. Note the "ECO" friendly names. By using real time strategy moves, players use guile and tactics to stop the progress of the kingdom.

Simple DS Series Vol. 21: The Fuhyou

As the last surviving member of a battalion, the protagonist of "The Fuhyou" wouldn't be faulted if he went AWOL. As in vamoose and gangway to calmer shores. But he's not that kind of guy. Resolute and determined to finish the job that his battle group set out to accomplish, he trudges on into enemy territory like a super trooper. Think of him as a poor man's Solid Snake... without the style nor the substance.

After completing a few missions, the soldier reunites with his command temporarily before venturing forth on more theaters of conflict that take place in the jungle and within a somber east European city. All by his lonesome as a one man army capable of wreaking big havoc.