Friday, May 29, 2009

Juicy Honey Rookie Edition 2009 - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» A new trio of rookies are inducted into the Juicy Honey major leagues this spring with Mint's new Juicy Honey Rookie 2009 collection. The new girls featured are as follows (from the left and moving right):

» Sakura Cocomi - New S1 JAV idol (DOB: 12/18/88)
» Miri Yaguchi - Pixie-ish JAV actress with a yen for tennis (DOB: 10/30/89)
» Saori Hara - New SOD idol who's 3/4 Japanese and 1/4 German

Saori was a popular gravure model before her recent JAV debut (Saori Hara - Miracle AV Debut SOD Star) in early 2009 and we're guessing she'll garner a sizable fan base over the course of the next year or so. Sakura made her debut in November 2008 in a movie which included a scene where she played a nurse and Miri debuted in a movie titled First Flower Hatsuhana Cutie Student which was released in February. All preorders have shipped as of yesterday and new orders are welcome to ship today. «Shots»

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days - New Import, Restock Soon

«©NCSX» Organization XIII is full of Nobodies. Not just any average nobody that trudges or scurries across the Earth however. These Nobodies are a group of powerful beings who literally have no hearts and cause major problems for the Disney/Square heroes of Kingdom Hearts. In the new Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days game, producer Tetsuya Nomura tells the story of Roxas' work experience with Organization XIII and his eventual "self awakening" which leads him to quit the group. A fourteenth Nobody named Xion is introduced in 358/2 who's shown sitting with Roxas and Axel in one of the previews on Square's official 358/2 site. She's a blue-eyed girl with shabby black hair and a piercing sadness about her.
KH358/2 is a 3D action-adventure where Roxas battles enemies in fast and fluid motion while interaction sequences move the story along.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Protect Case - New Import

«©NCSX» Back in March of this year, NCS started preorders for a special limited edition Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Nintendo DSi which featured a Vuitton'esque design scheme but reservations closed fairly quickly. For gamers who missed out on the Vuitton'esque NDSi but nonetheless desire a Kingdom Hearts design themed NDSi, there's always the Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Protect Case DSi. The special case from Hori wraps any Nintendo DSi handheld in a protective shell which features black and white illustrations of the three heroes in the game - Roxas, Axel, and Xion. To the right of their portraits, the Disney, Square Enix, and Kingdom Hearts logos are etched. A cutout located on the lower right corner of the shell allows the NDSi's top camera to peek through and take photos.
Split Shipment Alert: Please note that a partial shipment of the Protect Case arrived today but the remainder should arrive by early next week.

Gyakuten Kenji e-Capcom Limited Edition - New Import

«©NCSX» The e-Capcom exclusive edition of Gyakuten Kenji includes a bounty of bonuses for fans of the Gyakuten series to appreciate. The extras in the special edition are as follows:

1) Gyakuten Meets Orchestra 2008
2) Gyakuten Meets Orchestra Mini CD which contains 5 tracks
3) Character Artwork Booklet
4) Gyakuten Kenji Cards and Card Case
5) Memories of Gyakuten Trailers DVD

All preorders will be shipping today and new orders are welcome.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Chokuretsu SOS Coll. - New, In Stock

«©NCSX» The Suzumiya Haruhi no Chokuretsu LE package includes a bonus Nintendo DS Lite pouch, a special Haruhi Choro Q Mazda RX-7 toy car, a card storage sleeve, postcards, and a sheet of SOS Brigade character stickers.

Drama. Haruhi would be lost without it since she craves drama like the sand craves the surf. Haruhi even wants drama when attending summer school and she recruits the members of the SOS-Brigade to help her uncover the "Seven Mysterious Secrets" of North High School.

Sega presents an original storyline set in the Suzumiya Haruhi Universe which takes place inside the confines of North H.S. The game starts innocently enough with an SD version of Kyon setting things in motion with news of the "Mysterious Secrets" followed by Haruhi's steadfast determination to ferret them out. A lengthy introductory sequence sets up the story in visual novel style but eventually gives way to a point and click action game where Kyon is moved and controlled around the school. By interacting with the student body as well as fellow members of the SOS-Dan, Kyon and friends uncover the mysteries of their school.

Skip Beat! Limited Edition - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» In the Skip Beat! manga serial, male readers learned that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" is an adage that should be heeded. As the story goes, Kyoko Mogami is a young woman who has feeling towards a lad named Sho Fuwa and things seem hunky-dory. When she finds out that he's just using her as a stepping stone on his way to becoming a top pop idol, Kyoko loses it. She's so angry that she resolves to also become a pop idol and beat Sho at his own game. Whether or not she has any talent is immaterial. A woman has been scorned and the person who did the scorning must pay.

(цак)Genterprise adapts the Skip Beat manga for the Playstation 2 with an interactive adventure game which features an original scenario that was written especially for the game. Two new characters who were not in the animated series also appear in the adventure. The voice actors from the television serial were also hired to provide the voices in the game.

The limited edition of Skip Beat includes an Original Soundtrack CD and an Original Strap which are only available in this bundle. The two items won't be sold in any other capacity in the Japanese marketplace.

Utawareru Mono Portable - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Originally released on the PC in 2002 by Leaf and on the PS2 in 2006, Utawareru Mono makes the jaunt to the PSP this year. The PSP conversion is based on the PS2 game which features full voice acting, an updated battle system, a new character, and new visual events.

The storyline centers around a series of wars set in ancient times and the ascension of a hero named Hakuoro. As the story begins, two young sisters named Eruru and Aruru are foraging in the forest when they stumble across a wounded young man who is wearing a mask. The siblings decide to bring him back to their village. With the help of their grandmother Tusukuru, the family eventually nurses him back to health. From humble beginnings, Hakuoro eventually leads a rebellion against the oppressive emperor of the land and becomes the king of a new country that he names Tusukuru, after the grandma and village elder who took care of him.

Once on the throne, Hakuoro soon learns that running a country is hard work and wars are inevitable. As his renown grows, he attracts like-minded peoples and supporters from surrounding countries who join the kingdom of Tusukuru's sphere of influence. Utaware Rumono mixes interactive sequences with tactical battles which be familiar to anyone who's played a strategy-RPG such as Disgaea, Phantom Brave, or Makai Kingdom. An introductory training tutorial is narrated by Eruru and a sometimes sleepy Aruru which teaches players the rudimentary basics of control and fighting in the game along with elemental alignments.

Agarest Senki [Compile Heart Selection] - New, In Stock

«©NCSX» In a world known as Agarest, five continents hold sway over the lineage of a family which spans five generations. The game starts off with an aristocrat-cum-knight named Leonhardt who's decked with feathered hair and wears a crisp military uniform with white Versace overcoat. Leonhardt has been assigned to a guard post but deserts the military life after much disenchantment with war. In the process of going AWOL, he's mortally wounded by a conspiracy of events but he's given a second chance at life by a deity named Dishana. In exchange for his services, Leon is revived and made into a Soul Container which allows him to live a normal life and sire offspring with one of three possible maidens to continue his bloodline.

Agarest Senki mixes interaction with tactical turn-based battles where Leonhardt hunkers down to strategize on skirmishes and then develops a relationship with a girl. After Leonhardt's chapter is over, his son Radius takes over the family business and woos a bride to continue the bloodline... and so on and so forth for a total of five generations.

Weekly Famitsu Vol. 1068 - Annual Subscriptions Only

«©NCSX» Games and events afforded coverage in Weekly Famitsu 1068:

» Preview for Ninokuni: The Another World from Level-5 which looks like a cartoon come to life on the Nintendo DS. The cast of characters is introduced and the back story is fleshed out.
» Famitsu scoops Danboru Senki which is headed to the PSP from Level-5.
» The Review Crew ranks NDS Gyakuten Kenji (9/9/8/8), NDS Tactics Layer Ritelina (7/7/7/7), NDS Claymore (5/6/5/5), NDS Witch Tale (7/6/6/6), PSP Yuusha 30 (8/9/8/8), PS3 Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (8/8/7/7), and NDS Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (9/9/9/9).
» Mini play guide for Wii Takt of Magic which was released last week.
» NDS Gyakuten Kenji article which includes a character relationship chart and a look back at the earlier games in the series.
» This week's Pick Up Food section focuses on sandwiches from Subway, a strangely plastic-looking burger from MOS Burger, the Bacon Potato Pie from McDonalds, and pomme frites from Lotteria.
» Smash Girls checks out Tomita Maho and her recent Crimson Star CD.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 DSi - Shortage Update

«©NCSX» Vendors in Japan aren't able to supply the special Kingdom Hearts DSi but we've sent an update to our customers earlier this morning. They may be able to purchase the units for us from retail shops in an arrangement that's similar to the Death Smiles LE debacle. However, even
at higher prices, we're not sure if they'll be able to get enough to fill our original request due to the high demand for this particular DSi. If you submitted a preorder for the Kingdom Hearts DSi, please check your inbox for an email notification.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Claymore Gingan no Majo - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Clare is a silver-eyed killer who's a Claymore - a mercenary of sorts who has the ability to discern humans from monsters-hiding-as-humans. Clare carries a claymore as her weapon which she uses to slice and dice monsters with clean-cuts that lop off arms, legs, and even shears abdomens apart like paper. Digital Works Entertainment's new Claymore game features side scrolling platform action where Clare jumps, attacks, and lunges with stilted abandon.
When roaming the world of Claymore, Clare's a stiff-limbed and rigid warrior as she explores and faces off against adversaries. Maybe Clare is so disciplined that she maintains a proper posture even when she's jumping and hacking away. The supporting cast of characters from the manga such as Raki, Priscilla, and others who also appear in the game.

Days of Memories 3 + Bonus - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» SNK's popular romance-interaction series of games reaches its third stride this Spring on the Nintendo DS. The new Days of Memories 3 gathers together another compilation of love games (Days of Memories Series 7 through 9) which were originally released for the Japanese cell phone market. Players get to woo a number of SNK heroines and perhaps find a little love in a harsh world. Characters who may be doted upon include Athena Asamiya, Nakoruru, Kula Diamond, King, Mina Majikina, Iroha, and many more. If you've ever dreamt of having a virtual relationship with a goddess like Mina, here's your chance. Since the setting for the games take place in modern Japan, the maidens are dressed like well-attended young ladies. In addition to the main game, SNK also includes a BGM sound player, a character Album, and a Ending Gallery in the software program.

Tactics Layer Ritelina Guard Senki - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» On a world in crisis that's beset by Satan (who looks like a hipster) and his demonic cohorts, the denizens cry out for help. That call is answered by an unsuspecting traveler from another world. A heroine named Lisa is destined to save the world from ruin and she's going to accomplish that ponderous endeavor by way of cosplay. By wearing different uniforms, Lisa gains the abilities that each uniform symbolizes and encompasses. For example, when Lisa dons her nurse costume, he can heal members of her party while one of the offensive powers of the sailor suit is a commuter stampede of salarymen and students. Lisa's party includes a heroine named Jericho who can wear a J-Pop-ish outfit which allows her to perform music attacks. Tactics Layer plies the S-RPG trade with maps that are isometric and parties that face off against each other on grid-based battlefields.

Gyakuten Kenji - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Miles Edgeworth comes into his own in Capcom's Gyakuten Kenji where the gray-haired legal eagle takes up the position of lead prosecutor. Resplendent in his crazy eccentric purple outfit, Miles looks the part of an old school court dandy but he's dead serious about the law. By using wits, his legal know-how, and a confrontational attitude, Miles gets to the bottom of four cases featured in the latest Gyakuten game.

The first episode is titled "Turnabout Visitor" where a deceased police detective named Shinji Nakamado is discovered by Miles in his office. Soon afterwards, police investigators and Dick Gumshoe are on the scene but Gumshoe is accused of the crime by a prosecutor named Makoto Yuki. It's up to Miles to help his friend by finding the truth and setting Dick free. Miles' job is to investigate crime scenes, gather clues, and present a rock-solid case.

Witch Tale Mirai Majo to Seven Hime - New, In Stock

«©NCSX» It's been a millennium since a rampaging coven of witches was sealed in a tome by a goddess named Alice. Enter an apprentice witch named Ridell who unsuspectingly breaks the seal and releases the beastly witch coven into the world once more. Mournful of her folly, Ridell resolves to venture forth and recapture the witches and seal them all into the tome once again. To accomplish her quest, Ridell teams up with a vampire named Louis and travels to seven different kingdoms to find the goddess Alice and some much needed answers. Along the way, she'll also level-up, attract cohorts, and gain enough experience to tackle the Witch Queen herself. The controls are handled entirely through the NDS stylus where tapping the touch screen triggers attacks, magic, and other actions. The "Revolver Icon System" in the game also allows for dragging commands into action.

Suzumiya Haruhi no Chokuretsu - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Drama. Haruhi would be lost without it since she craves drama like the sand craves the surf. Haruhi even wants drama when attending summer school and she recruits the members of the SOS-Brigade to help her uncover the "Seven Mysterious Secrets" of North High School.

Sega presents an original storyline set in the Suzumiya Haruhi Universe which takes place inside the confines of North H.S. The game starts innocently enough with an SD version of Kyon setting things in motion with news of the "Mysterious Secrets" followed by Haruhi's steadfast determination to ferret them out. A lengthy introductory sequence sets up the story in visual novel style but eventually gives way to a point and click action game where Kyon is moved and controlled around the school. By interacting with the student body as well as fellow members of the SOS-Dan, Kyon and friends uncover the mysteries of their school.

Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Warring States are in play once again in Koei's new Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires which features 3D warfare where a single general basically acts as a one man army. The Empire Mode of the game features tactical action where players make decisions as to the stewardship of a territory in Ancient China. Players may choose to become a lord, an officer General, or take on both roles. By establishing diplomatic relations with neighbors while waging war against others, a wise ruler eventually gets to elevate his station and gain reign over the entirety of the nation. The game introduces a new card system where a ruler's control over his empire may be handled by using simple cards to make decisions and set policy.

SSM5 Empires brings back the Edit Mode which allows up to 100 characters to be created from pre-fabricated archetypes which you may then customize with colors, hair, body type, facial structure, clothing, glasses, eyepatches, and more. New characters in the game include Cao Pi, Ling Tong, Yue Ying, Taishi Ci, and an androgynous warrior named Zhang He. Downloadable content will be made available to bolster the SS5E experience.

Yuusha 30 - New Import, In Stock

«©NCSX» Humans and demons have warred against each other for five centuries. Satan has grown tired of the battles and he's started to cast a devastating magical spell to obliterate the world. Before that happens however, a party of valiant heroes has 30 seconds to rise up, defeat the demons, and save the world from certain doom. To enforce the 30-second rule, a timer on the top of the screen keeps track of how much time has elapsed in each bite-sized portion of the game. To reset the clock, players may run into towns and donate gold to goddess statues to gain another 30 seconds. The first donation to the goddess is invariably 100G but grows in size at every turn. The world exploration sequences are viewed from an overhead perspective while battles shift the view to a side scrolling interlude where monsters are mowed down by barreling forward. Yuusha 30 boils the conventional RPG down to it's base elements and crams what usually to take hours in a conventional RPG into the space of a few seconds. The visual style of the game hearkens back to the 8-bit heyday but with 32-bit gloss.

NCS completed 10 self-contained adventures this morning in the space of 20 rapid-fire minutes. Each quest takes less than 2 minutes to complete from start to finish and your hero's stats reset after every adventure. The formula for every quest is identical however which can lead to tedium. The basic framework for every single adventure is as follows: Roam the land, battle monsters to level up and gain gold, reset the clock, and then go after the enemy boss who resides in his castle. That's pretty much it and there's few hundred quests like that...

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Juicy Honey Special Edition Kirara Asuka - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» Earlier this year, trading card purveyor Sakurado celebrated JAV actress Kirara Asuka with her very own collection of cards dubbed the Kirara Asuka Official Card Collection. We got an eyeful of Asuka back then and it looks like we're going to see even more of her this summer.

Mint has announced their own collection dedicated to Kirara Asuka which features the actress in Jersey Cards, Photo Cards, Nipple Stamp Cards (no typo), and the highly valuable DNA Cards which contain a strand of Kirara's card. Y'know, just in case you want to clone her sometime in the future. Mint also touts a new type of card called the "Action Card" which may show Ms Kirara in some sort of kinetic pose. We're assuming Asuka's going to be photographed in a scene that's sports related such as throwing a baseball or flinging a javelin. Maybe she'll go fishing for some rainbow trout.

Preorders for the Juicy Honey Special Edition Kirara Asuka cards are welcome to ship on July 25, 2009 at JPY6300 or US$75.90 per box from NCS.

Kujikawa Rise 1/8 Scale Swimsuit Version - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» Wave has already started preorders for their Kujikawa Rise figure but Alter one-ups them with a new Kujikawa figure that's in direct contrast to Wave's dark-garbed rendition. Alter's version of Rise is as bright as the beach under a noontime sun where the idol wears a two-piece "Persona 4" bikini that's colored yellow and orange. If you look closely at the right cup of the bikini top, the URL for the Persona 4 website may be viewed.

The Kujikawa figure is sculpted to 1/8 scale and measures 22cm or 8.66" tall. A pair of matching strappy sandals may be seen on Rise's feet and her hair appears to be shabby. The wind rolling in from the ocean tends to be strong and will dishevel even well coiffed idols. Accessories included with the Kujikawa figure include a pair of beach glasses that may be mounted on her face and a cell phone attached to a miniature Kuma strap that may be gripped by Kujikawa's right hand.
Preorders are welcome to ship in late September 2009 at JPY 6800 or US$83.90 from NCS.

Smile Slime Aloha Shirt - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» Hawaiian shirts are so 70's but they still hold some charm thanks to their wild colors, jagged designs, palm trees, and Slimes. That's right, SLIMES. When Square Enix ships the Smile Slime Aloha Shirt this summer, randy wearers will be able to show off their sense (or lack) of style.

Only one size is being offered by SQEX - a Medium Free-Size made of 100% cotton which measures 71cm (27.95") from collar to hem and 58cm (22.83") across the chest. If you're bigger than those sizes, take note that Square Enix doesn't want your business and plot your revenge accordingly.
Preorders are welcome to ship in late July 2009 at JPY5800 or US$63.90.

Smile Slime Cap - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» Square Enix has started preorders for three Dragon Quest Slime caps which are expected to ship sometime in July. The three styles are:

» Ivory "I'm Not a Bad Slime" 100% cotton cap
» Green "A Slime Appears!" 100% cotton cap
» Black "The Slimes Merge into a King Slime" polyester cap

Preorders are welcome to ship around the time that the Dragon Quest IX is released for the Nintendo DS (July 11, 2009). Pricing is set at JPY2800 or US$33.90 per cap from NCS.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Gyakuten Kenji Premium Edition NDSi - New Import

©ncs Miles Edgeworth comes into his own in Capcom's Gyakuten Kenji where the gray-haired legal eagle takes up the position of lead prosecutor. Resplendent in his crazy eccentric purple outfit, Miles looks the part of an old school court dandy but he's dead serious about the law. NCS expected a silhouette of Miles to make an appearance on the Gyakuten Kenji Premium Nintendo DSi but Capcom wouldn't have any of that. Miles isn't on top of the DSi but a court jester is. Well, it's really Taiho-kun aka Blue Badger who's the jester-esque mascot of the Los Angeles Police Department in the Gyakuten game series. Taiho-kun is plastered on top of a badge to give him a sort of "official" appearance but he still looks like a clown to us. Not that there's anything wrong with clowns or jesters.

Preorder requests for the Gyakuten Kenji Premium Edition will ship today and new orders are welcome. Due to limited supplies, please note that vendors hiked prices which are reflected in NCS' retail pricing today. Please note the e-Capcom version of Gyakuten Kenji LE will arrive on Thurs-Fri.

Hello Kitty Limited Edition MP3 Player

©ncs Eikoh borrows a page from the Apple School of Design and announces an official Hello Kitty Limited Design MP3 player which measures a mere 5.5cm or 2.16" square. That's about the size of a Post-it Note. There's no built-in memory in the player but it'll accept 1GB SD Memory Cards filled with your collection of music. Since there's no screen on the player, you'll basically have to listen to songs in the order that they're stored on the card. Eikoh includes a pair of bud earphones and a USB cable in the package. Preorders ship in September 2009 at US$33.90 from NCS.

ASCII Pad Pingu Version for Playstation - Clearance

NCS Sale of the Week Offering: May 25, 2009
Original Release in Japan: Dec 22, 1999

«©NCSX»
New and factory boxed ASCII Pad Pingu Version for the original Playstation which was released roughly a decade ago. NCS' remaining inventory is in excellent condition but please note that some boxes may have slight corner dings and/or dents caused by years in warehouse storage and warehouse-to-warehouse transportation.

The ASCII Pad looks like Sony's official Dual Shock controller but the finger grips on the bottom of the pad are gone. In their place are stubbier grips which don't provide much surface area to wrap your fingers around. The shell of the controller is transparent so gamers can look inside and see the layout of the pcboard and how the plastic shell has been molded around the innards. It's compelling viewing if you're into stuff like that.

Sale Offering
:
Pricing per ASCII Pad Pingu Version is set at US$23.90 each. If you reside in the USA, you may select USPS Media Mail shipping on our shop which is about $2.50. International customers are encouraged to select USPS First Class Airmail at a cost of approximately US$10 to most destinations. «Photo and Screenshot Gallery»

Friday, May 22, 2009

Weekly Famitsu Vol. 1067 - Annual Subscriptions Only

«©NCSX» A sampling of the contents and notable features in the 1067th issue of Weekly Famitsu Magazine include:

» A preview of the Monster Hunter 3-tri Limited Edition which is an e-Capcom exclusive. We'll post an update if we start accepting reservations. The article also checks out characters and monster slaying techniques.
» PSP Lunar Harmony of Silver Star remake details.
» Pokemon Famichudan article which checks out the upcoming "Heart Gold" and "Soul Silver" games which feature the monsters Ho-oh and Lugia.
» This week's PICK UP FOOD section takes a look at packaged pastries including the "Fuwa Mochi Steamed Cake", the "Gouda Cheese Pastry," and the highly appetizing "Fried Cake of Minced Meat."
» Cover idol Erina Mano allows herself to be photographed on a bike, the great outdoors, and against a draped window.
» Gyakuten Kenji character information and screenshots.
» Preview for SaGa 2: Goddess of Destiny which is expected sometime in 2009 and is part of Square Enix's SaGa 20th Anniversary celebration.

Zettai Zetsumei Grip - New JPN Import

«©NCSX» Irem's Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 3 game shipped for the Playstation Portable last month and Japanese manufacturer MSY has created a special accessory which holds the PSP and prevents it from slipping out of your hands. When playing games such as ZZT3, the excitement level can ramp up which causes sweaty and slippery palms to be the order of the day.

The Zettai Zetsumei Grip holds the PSP in its confines and is designed with a special "cracked asphalt" appearance which mimics the broken city that the game takes place in. The ZZ Grip may also be used as a stand since it has a support on the back which may be used to prop the PSP upright on a tabletop. The Grip may be used with the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 models.

Revolutionary Road - New Release, In Stock

From the Publisher
Frank and April, a married couple in the 1950s, have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives based on higher ideals. So, as soon as they move into their new house on Revolutionary Road, they proudly declare their independence from the suburban inertia that surrounds them and determine never to be trapped by the social confines of their era. Yet for all their charm, beauty and irreverence, the Wheelers find themselves becoming exactly what they didn't expect: a good man with a routine job whose nerve has gone missing; a less-than-happy homemaker starving for fulfillment and passion; an American family with lost dreams, like any other.
Driven to change their fates, April hatches an audacious plan to start all over again, to leave the comforts of Connecticut behind for the great unknown of Paris. But when the plan is put in motion, each spouse is pushed to extremes--one to escape whatever the cost, the other to save all that they have, no matter the compromises.
» Official Street Date: June 02, 2009

General Updates

NEWS Memorial Day Holiday
Monday (May 25) is a national holiday in the United States and NCS will be on hiatus. Please note that orders submitted over the coming weekend and Monday will ship on Tuesday (May 26). Thanks.

NEWS iNFAMOUS Update
All remaining backorders and new orders for PS3 inFAMOUS will ship today.
NEWS Xbox Live 1400p Restock
Japanese Xbox Live 1400p cards have been restocked and new orders are welcome for same-day (M-F) processing on orders submitted before 6PM.

He's Just Not That Into You - New Release, In Stock

From the Publisher
Remember that really cute guy who said he'd call...and didn't? Maybe he lost your number. Maybe he's in the hospital. Maybe he's awed by your beauty, brains or success. Or maybe "He's Just Not That Into You". An all-star cast - Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson and Justin Long - looks for love and finds laughs in this savvy, sexy, right-now romcom. Based on the runaway (like some guys you know) bestseller by "Sex And The City" series writers Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, "He's Just Not That Into You" sparkles with zingy 'aha' moments any survivor of the dating wars will recognize. See it with someone you'd like to love.

Blu-Ray Features

English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD; "Baltimore Blade: The Relationship Issue"; "How 6 Simple Words Inspired A Book And A Movie"; "Director Ken Kwapis Uses A 'Duet for Telephones' Moment to Reveal How Film Techniques Enhance The Punch Of A Conversation Scene"; Digital Copy of Feature Film; Additional Features Via BD-Live(TM), Deleted Scenes, Director Commentary.
» Official Street Date: June 02, 2009

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Ore ga Omae wo Mamoru - New Japanese Import

«©NCSX» Romance games in Japan are generally interactive in nature with little if any joypad action. That all changes with Idea Factory's Ore ga Omae wo Mamoru for the Nintendo DS. Geared toward players of the fairer sex, the game features 2D side scrolling action where the white-haired and highly androgynous male hero Len hacks and slashes beasts in deep dungeons. From afar, the hero looks similar to Soma Cruz of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow but Len is far more androgynous. The story takes place in Edenvale which was once paradise but is now ruined and in disrepair. It's up to a pair of heroes to delve deep into the dungeons of Edenvale and recover a "Demon Stone" which can potentially revive Eden's grandeur. The top NDS screen shows the platform action whilst the touch screen depicts a map of the overall area and allows for menu navigation. The first printing of the game will include a bonus Drama CD in 100% ratio.

Sloan to MacHale Nazo no Monogatari - New JPN Import

«©NCSX» Paul Sloane and Des MacHale have collaborated on a number of "lateral thinking puzzle books" including Outside-the-Box Lateral Thinking Puzzles which was released on paperback earlier this month. Lateral thinking puzzles are situation puzzles which are roughly a paragraph long. The puzzle presents a scenario and asks a question. Your job is to think about the situation and come up with a solution.

The debut release in Level-5's "Atamania" casual gaming brand is based on Sloane and MacHale's published works but presents them with more panache than a book could ever do. There's stylized illustrations, narration, music, and sound effects to accompany each puzzle. What you'll need to bring to the table are your reasoning skills, ability to use your imagination, and the wherewithal to think the puzzle through to its logical conclusion.

Takt of Magic - New Japanese Import

«©NCSX» A lad named Orwell and his childhood companion Charlotte are patrolling the woods when they see smoke billowing above the tree line in the direction of their village. They race home to find the entire town under assault by enemy forces. Fireballs rain down on the houses and everything's aflame. Furthermore, the King has been assassinated and the enemy forces now turn their attention to Orwell and Charlotte...

Takt of Magic is a real-time strategy game where the Remote is used to move the player's party across battlefields to engage enemy forces. There's no conventional attacks on the part of the protagonist Orwell and his offensive moves are entirely magical in nature. To activate spells, some simple maneuvers through the Nunchuk and Wii Remote are performed to shoot fireballs, set up barriers, blow out wind attacks, and even heal party members. Later in the game, traps may be set to trigger when enemies step upon them. A rune/sigil system is used to activate magical effects which requires that the Remote be moved in the shape of such as a reverse "Z" (barrier), a crescent (conical magic blast) or an upward pointing arrow (arcing fireball). A total of eight runes are available and two runes may be doodled in sequence to create new and powerful magical effects. The most difficult rune to draw looks like a pretzel... «More details and spoilers»

Final Fantasy Versus XIII Tumbler Noctis - New Import

«©NCSX» Last week, NCS stocked two gloomy Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Tumblers which featured Cloud Strife and Sephiroth in very depressing scenes. The FFXIII Tumbler featuring Noctis Lucis Caelum is also gloomy but at least the hero of FFXIII looks up and appears vigilant. The artwork is from Square's official Fabula Nova Crystallis -> FFVSXIII website and enterprising tumbler creators can probably make their own by printing out a high quality scan and wrapping it around a cup.

Each tumbler holds 457ml or 16 ounces of liquid and is made of shatter-resistant plastic. Notice that we didn't describe the tumbler as "shatter-proof" because we had a couple that arrived damaged due to poor handling by our courier. New orders are welcome to ship today. Please note NCS' pricing reflects the special arrangements required to import the tumblers into the United States from Square's online shop.

SaGa Series 20th Anniversary OST Premium - Preorder

«©NCSX» The very first "SaGa" game was Makai Toushi SaGa which was released on the original Gameboy in December 1989. Square followed up with two sequels on the GB and eventually expanded the franchise with three Romancing Saga games on the Super Famicom and the Saga Frontier/Unlimited Saga/Minstrel titles on the Playstation consoles. That's a lot of games and a lot of music was created for those games. A single CD nor even a quadruple CD package could hold all those tunes. There's so much music that Square's 20th Anniversary SaGa OST contains 20 CDs which hold over 500 music tracks for your listening pleasure. In addition to the CDs, Square's also throwing in a Creator's Interview DVD and a special 20th Anniversary Commemorative illustration. Preorders ship on Aug 26, 2009.

inFAMOUS - inSTOCK, Ships TODAY

«©NCSX» Sony's inFAMOUS will be in stock later today and orders placed this afternoon will ship today before 5PM EST. If you reside in the USA and order the game with USPS Express Mail, you will receive the game on Friday.

From the Publisher
A massive explosion rips through six square blocks of Empire City, leveling everything and killing everyone in its path... everyone, except you! From the creators of the award-winning Sly Cooper series, Sucker Punch brings you inFAMOUS, an open-world action-adventure title exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3 system. Players will feel what it's like to be granted incredible powers... how you use them is up to you. The consequences of your actions will affect you, the citizens, and the city around you. You'll develop and grow your powers, and eventually uncover the purpose of it all. Feel what it's like to wield extraordinary electrical-based powers; and grasp the responsibility that comes with it. Battle against powerful iconic villains and uncover your true purpose.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Ichigeki Sacchu!! HoiHoi-san ID-3 Toy Figure - Preorder

«©NCSX» When Konami released Ichigeki Sacchuu! HoiHoi-San on the PS2 back in 2003, they also shipped a limited edition bundle which included a HoiHoi-san toy figure. She's the blonde robotic moppet in the maid's uniform with an unusual job. HoiHoi is an insect killer. She was designed by Maazu Pharmaceuticals to exterminate bugs with a variety of weaponry including guns, swords, and super-strength bug spray. Kotobukiya celebrates HoiHoi-san with a new action figure which includes a sword, a spray-gun, a broom, and an extra pair of hands. The figure measures 11cm or 4.33" tall which is 1:1 scale. Preorders ship in late Sept 2009 at JPY3150 (US$35.90).

Ikkitousen Kanu Unchou School Uniform Noir - Preorder

«©NCSX» Kanu Unchou of Ikkitousen fame has reached a pinnacle in Japan where she'll probably be sculpted into perpetuity. Year after year, toys bearing her likeness will be released in the Japanese marketplace for devoted fans who'll continue to pay homage (literally) to their PVC Queen. The latest Kanu figure from Taki Corp is a school uniform rendition but it's not just any school uniform. Kanu's apparently been fighting again and her clothing is "battle-damaged" which means gratuitous viewing for voyeurs. Preorders ship in June 2009 at JPY8800 (US$92.90).

Ultraman EX Jamirah - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» An Ultraman toy revival is about to hit Japan but NCS is unsure if we'll participate in all of the histrionics. Sure, Ultraman is legendary but he's kinda hokey when viewed against the backdrop of 2009. Besides, he wears spandex. Red spandex. Ultraman's adversaries are a more interesting lot and Bandai will release a number of Ultra Monsters Series toys which begins with EX Jamirah in July. Following him will be Megasamu in August, EX Bakishimamu in September, and EX Armor Gurozamu in October. A number of other Ultraman toys are scheduled to ship between July and December but we'll update again if we decide to import them.
Jamirah looks like Lurch from the Addams Family but J has more personality. The EX Jamirah toy measures 15cm or 5.90" tall and preorders will ship in a cardboard backed blister pack sometime in July 2009.

Full Metal Alchemist Coin Bank - Import Preorder

«©NCSX» The new Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood television series made its debut in Japan last month and NCS anticipates another spate of product merchandising and video game adaptations later this year. Bandai's the first to announce a new product in the form of two Full Metal Alchemist Coin Banks which feature Edward Elric and Roy Mustang respectively.

Edward's Coin Bank is colored red to match his cloak and a little LCD screen on the front displays little spot animations that feature the brothers Elric in short gimmicky sequences that are accompanied by sound. Roy's Coin Bank is painted blue and also sports an LCD screen on the front which plays little animations of Roy Mustang whenever a JPY100 coin is inserted. For stateside savers, please note that a standard nickel can be used in place of the JPY100 coin since the dimensions are very similar. Preorders are welcome to ship in June 2009 at JPY3800 or US$48.90 from NCS.

General Updates

TRC Juicy Honey Rookie Edition 2009 Released
The latest Juicy Honey collection was released a couple of days ago to Japanese distributors and NCS expects our shipments to arrive next week. The trio of idols featured in Rookie 2009 are Saori Hara, Sakura Cocomi, and Miri Yaguchi. Preorders will ship upon arrival and new orders are welcome.

OST SaGa Series 20th Anniversary Original Soundtrack Update
We were just going to order one from the Square-Enix online shop for our own little Square Enix shrine but if anyone's interested in picking up the
SaGa Series 20th Anniversary Original Soundtrack Premium Box also, we'll probably open up preorders in the next day or two. The price may be kinda high due to the size and weight of the package but we'll finalize details over by tomorrow.
The collection spans a total of 20 CDs which contain over 500 tracks. If you put them all on your iPod and set it to shuffle, you'll be listening to SaGa songs for days. The Premium Box will also include a bonus Creator's Interview DVD and a special 20th Anniversary Commemorative illustration.