Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Dissidia Final Fantasy Official Poster - Preorder

«©NCSX» Square's Dissidia game was a sales success in Japan but NCS expected a lot more tie-in merchandising. The potions were released last month and a strap has been announced along with a set of Trading Arts figures. The fourth Dissidia tie-in product on the way is a poster which depicts the soldiers of Good and Evil arrayed against each other. Note how the warriors in the foreground are sedate but the fighters in the background are getting ready to slash. A cloudy ochre color wafts behind the cast of characters and serves as the backdrop for war.

The poster measures 84.1 x 50.20cm (33.11 x 19.76") in area and will be rolled in a tube from the manufacturer. Preorders are welcome to ship in mid-late February 2009 at US$16.90 from NCS.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable - Preorder

«©NCSX» The arcade version of Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna (Bonds of the Battlefield) is an immersive gaming experience where players enter a capsule called a P.O.D. (Panoramic Optical Display). Once seated inside the P.O.D., the senses are absolutely overwhelmed with bright lights and blaring sound. The game uses an overhead projector to beam a 180° panoramic image of the battlefield action onto the screen which is... overwhelming especially when your mech is in motion. Two control levers (sorta like twinsticks) are mounted on the front panel for movement and weaponry while two foot pedals may be thumped to ignite the Gundam's boosters. It's the closest thing to actually piloting a Gundam mech that we've seen thus far and the game is coming to the PSP.

While the game won't be as impressive on the flat and smallish screen of the Playstation Portable, the missions are intact along with 8-player versus action where a 4-player team battles another 4-player team. Preorders are welcome to ship on March 26, 2009 at JPY5800 or US$63.90 from NCS. Early reservations will include a bonus Gundam Strategy Guide that is being given away by Bandai in 50% ratio.

Bokujou Monogatari: Sugar Mura to Minna no Negai - Preorder

«©NCSX» Sugar Village is a pretty sweet place but a real estate developer has targeted it for destruction. Instead of homely farms and the simple life, the developer plans to turn the village into a resort within 2 years. A young boy is recruited by a nature goddess to stay in the village and help it remain green, quaint, and homely. To this end, the protagonist engages in farming, animal husbandry, and even fulfills special requests from the townfolk to improve Sugar Village. By performing his job well, the hero and the villagers work together to fend off the impending development.

The start of the game kicks off like previous Bokujou Monogatari (Harvest Moon) games where a young lad arrives at the village and gets to work by clearing the field of detritus. Once the soil has been cleared of debris, it's time to sow seeds and water the seedlings so they'll grow up nice and strong. After the first crop is harvested, enough capital is gained to buy livestock to improve one's lot in life. Slowly but surely, a little farming empire is built from the ground up. In addition to the rote farming activities, players may also do a bit of mining, logging, and fishing.

When things are going well in Sugar Village and the people are happy, special events will happen to improve the overall condition of the town. The publisher Marvelous touys over 300 special events and 200 requests from the townfolk that may be fulfilled. A number of female villagers also provide potential love interests so that the protagonist can get married and start a family. Preorders are welcome to ship on March 19, 2009.

Makai Senki Disgaea 2 Portable - Preorder

«©NCSX» When the King of Demons casts a curse, you can be sure that his targets are going to suffer. Malevolent and spiteful, the demonic overlord known as Xenon curses the home world where the protagonist Adel lives and gradually causes the population to change into demonic creatures with horns, wings, and other appendages that shouldn't be there. Strangely, Adel is not only free from the curse but apparently has the wherewithal and destiny to help the people revert back to normal.

One day in a fit of delirium as evidenced by her untimely laughter, Adel's mother (Ma Ma) puts three of her demonically afflicted children in a cauldron and endeavors to summon Xenon himself to the world. After playing a tune on a flute, fireworks spew from the cauldron but instead of Xenon, they get the overlord's daughter Rosalinde. As she drifts downwards, she's surprised at her manifestation in Adel's world but it's quickly decided that she has to return to her homeworld...

Makai Senki Disgaea 2 Portable is an S-RPG which is based on the PS2 original but a new scenario has been added to goad previous buyers into opening their wallets once again. In addition to the regular edition of the game, Nippon Ichi is also releasing a limited edition which includes a 2-CD original soundtrack which contains a total of 40 tracks ripped from the game and a second CD which contains two new songs. Preorders for both editions are welcome to ship on March 26, 2009 at JPY5200 (US$56.90) for the regular edition and JPY7200 ($75.90) for the limited edition.

Sarugechu Piposaru Senki: Record of Piposaru War - Preorder

«©NCSX» The peak-point-helmeted apes of the Sarugechu Piposaru franchise have been inducted into a number of mini-game collections and a racing game but they've never been in an RPG. Until now. Released just a few days ago on the USA Playstation Store for download, the Japanese edition of Ape Quest will be a full-fledged release on UMD priced at JPY4800 or US$53.90 from NCS.

In the early minutes of the adventure, the Prince of the Toqsica Kingdom absent-mindedly eats a talisman in the shape of a banana and unwittingly releases the Apetron and their minions. To make up for his folly, the Prince goes on a quest that's filled with mini-games, drama, and battle sequences where he uses a mallet on one hand and a bow on the other to beat back foes. Preorders are welcome to ship on March 19, 2009.

Pride and Glory - New Release, Ships in 24-48 Hours

From the Publisher
Four cops down: two dead, two likely. An NYPD drug bust has gone horribly wrong, and Detective Ray Tierney heads the investigating task force. He already has ties to this case. His brother was commander of the ambushed officers. His brother-in-law, a fellow officer, often partnered with them. The more Ray uncovers, the more those family ties are tested. And the more the fraternal order starts to fray. Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich star in a gritty, tension-packed tale of a multigenerational family of cops facing hard realities and tough choices. Set and filmed in Manhattan's Washington Heights, "Pride And Glory" draws you into a grippingly raw real world... and into a house divided. The son of a New York City police officer, Gavin O'Connor serves as director and co-screenwriter of this tale of family, loyalty, and corruption.

Blu-Ray Features
English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD; 67 Minute Comprehensive Documentary: "Source Of Glory: The Making Of 'Pride And Glory'"; With Digital Copy Of "Pride & Glory", Bonus Disc/Video.

RocknRolla - New Release, Ships in 24-48 Hours

From the Publisher
"I own this town." But owning is getting expensive for old-school London gangster Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson). A wealthier foreign mob is moving in with a riverfront property swindle. A small-timer (Gerard Butler) and his crew think they can play both sides and become big time. Now add a hard-as-ice accountant (Thandie Newton), a rocker playing dead to boost sales, wannabe music moguls (Jeremy Piven and Chris Bridges), a missing painting and a mad mosh of money and muscle, and you've got a real "RocknRolla". From Guy Ritchie ("Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch") comes a fierce and funny caper, a smash-mouth cinematic smackdown of sex, thugs & rock 'n' roll.

Blu-Ray Features
Dolby TrueHD; "Guy's Town": Guy Ritchie shapes a crime saga around London's evolving landscape; "Blokes, Birds And Backhanders": Explore the world of "RocknRolla'; Digital Copy of Feature Film, Actor Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Director Commentary, Featurette.