Final Fantasy XI

PC: Final Fantasy XI  JPN  US$90  BUY
   Perusing the back of the Final Fantasy XI packaging, Square lists the game as compatible with Windows 98/98SE/ME/2000/XP and as a minimum, a P3 800MHz processor with 128MB of ram. 5 gigs of hard drive space are also required for the installation. Up until we hit the bit about the NVIDIA GeForce video card, we were doing fine but the DELL office PCs we use just aren't beefy enough for Square gaming. We play Freecell and the occasional round of 3-D Pinball from the WinXP installation...
   In any case, some links for using FFXI and news on the release:  
PC Benchmark Test (Video refresh rate sensitive)
http://www.playonline.com/ff11win/wina2.html
How to set WinXP to Japanese character encoding
http://ffxionline.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=898
News of the release in Japan
http://www.gameking.com.cn/news-new/0211/08/08.htm
 

Ground Breaker: Cloudia

PS2: Ground Breaker: Legend of Cloudia  JPN  US$60  BUY
   In the year 2093, on a planet called Cloudia, two factions declare war and race for control of the world's resources. With precision tactics, management skills and brute mecha force, the strongest wins and the loser fades. Unlike earlier editions of Ground Breaker which showcased tactical strategy and movement on world maps, the latest G-Breaker features 3-D fighting action in the style of myriad Gundam games and Armored Cores. Robots available to armies include the heavily armored GT-K (Gun Blaze Knight Hood, red, on the cover) and squatter but heavily armed models such as the GT-B and the GT-I. Characters from the Sunrise animation series of the same name make their appearance and act up in cinematic sequences which prelude levels. In addition to 3-D skirmishes and overall war, players develop terrain for resource collection and management in order to keep the factories chugging along.
   Playing the game this morning, the battle sequences run fast with the morphable mechs doing a lot of dashing and "skating" on battlefields. With the action running hot, the task of locking on and hitting an opponent is difficult but we're certain that practice will improve our marksmanship...
 

 

 

Sankyo Fever 6

PS2: Sankyo Fever 6  JPN  US$53  BUY
   Pachinko's closest cousin in the USA would have to be pinball. Sure, they're dissimilar but we're talking close kin here and there's nothing else like it in North America. Whereas pinball has met extinction in the USA, pachinko lustfully thrives in Japan where it co-exists deftly with arcade machines. A simple exercise this pachinko, a player maneuvers a dial to position a little cannon on the lower-left portion of the machine. Once satisfied with the firing angle and attendant trajectory of the balls soon to fly, player shoots off metals balls which click and clack down a maze of pegs, spinners and other obstacles arranged on the playboard. Well shot balls fall into bonus pots for winnings while poorly traveled balls drop into oblivion. As if to prove the durability of pachinko, ICS releases yet another Sankyo Fever game which boasts three beautifully crafted machines - Fever Pachi League which features a well designed baseball theme, Fever Saint which plies whimsical characters and pastel colors, and finally Fever Wanted appears to be based on an old west saloon with wood panel patina and glittery parts.   
 

Fushiginokunino Angelique

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Sakura LE timepiece

NEWS: Assorted Updates  JPN 
   Also in stock today, a re-release of PS1 Fushiginokunino Angelique in which the future Queen, Angelique, and her rivals play a board game filled with mini-games. Roll the dice, land on a square and perform the required action as indicated. Pricing at US$25.  

   PS2 Suikoden III [USA] was restocked today along with Platinum Gamecube [USA] consoles and XBX Shenmue 2 [USA]

   Preorders were opened up overnight for the regular and limited edition of PS2 Sakura Taisen: Atsuki Chishioni Ni which ships in February 2003. We'll post more information and possibly open up preorders on Monday.
Unfortunately, the special edition of Sakura appears to be very limited and we'll assess the preorder situation with our vendors. If they are able to assure at least 30% fulfillment of our reservation quantities, we'll know how to proceed and parcel out our preorders among the various suppliers we purchase from. We shall see.   
 
Summary of the Week
Monday PS2 Final Fantasy 1 & 2 Premium Pack REMAINDER, Vara Noir LE  NEWS Week Outlook
Tuesday NEWS Photo Galleries for FF Premium and Vara Noir LE, Assorted updates  
Wednesday NEWS Godzilla X MechaGodzilla Candy Toy madness in November 
Thursday NEWS Delays with shipments - now expected tomorrow morning, Some toy updates
Friday PC Final Fantasy XI  PS2 G-Breaker: Legend of Cloudia, Sankyo Fever 6  NEWS Sakura on PS2
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