New Arrivals - Games & Hardware
All the latest games, hardware, figures, merchandise, gaming magazines etc that have recently arrived in store are here. Use the filter below to select your console and narrow your search
All new arrivals. Use the menu to narrow your search.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Shoot Em Up
To truly celebrate the 40th anniversary of Gradius (or Nemisis) comes this mighty compendium tribute to the master blaster with Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius II, Life Force, Salamander, Salamander II and Salamander III. A true labour of love for the series fans with the different regional versions plus plenty of modes included such as training, easy mode and a tour of the graphics that make up the series.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Kiaidan 00 was a rare PC Engine title even back in the day, so its happy days many can discover its power laser rays. Final Zone II is a gritty run and gun overhead scroller – you can almost taste the metal of the grenade pin in your mouth as you pile in all guns blazing. Browning is also of the PC Engine stable along side Legion, which shows Telenet’s fair hand at shoot em ups.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Platform
Another irresistible Superdeluxe offering going back to Konami’s Gothic opus this time with a cracking array of titles from the much loved series. Includes the original Akumajo Dracula, a graphically enhanced remake version, Castlevania II Simon’s Quest, Akumajo Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu, Dracula Densetsu II, the rare Mega Drive Vampire Killer and Akumajo Special Boku Dracula Kun. Don’t have nightmares!
Switch
Platform
Another mighty fine delve from Superdeluxe into Castlevania’s dank dungeons coming up trumps with the much-sought after GameBoy Advance versions. Pixel-perfect platforming action awaits those pure of heart and with iron will.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Irem does have a sublime line of arcade shoot ’em up heritage to raid and this third instalment proves there is plenty still to come with the PC Engine fave Mr Heli, coin-op exclusive Mystic Riders which utilises a broomstick for close up blast encounters and finally Dragon Breed which utilises the shield element of the dragon’s tail in its blasting escapades. Really bring the flavour of the arcade era home to savour.
🥇Game of the Week
Game of the Week Switch
Shoot Em Up
Flying Shark, Fire Shark, Tiger Heli, Ultimate Tiger, Out Zone, Fixeight, Batsugun and Dogyuun make up the dream team for the first instalment of crystallised, sheer shoot em up fun with Out Zone and its sequel Fixeight being run and gun to give blasting variety. A real pleasure to get introduced to the others with Dogyuun being an arcade exclusive we had yet to encounter. Not that Genki would have been brave enough to drop in a few hundred Yen coins to be subjected to public scrutiny of ones shooting tactics.
PS2
Sports
Any game with that boasts Cha Kato in his underwear and glasses cant take itself too seriously all the time. Plenty of tight pants and tight spots with clearly distinguishable wrestlers each having their own signature moves to help manipulate your spine into impossible contours. Known as WWE Smack Down in the West.
PS2
Sports
Each wrestler makes a dramatic introduction complete with visual razzmatazz to get the adrenalin flowing pre-bout. Plenty of care and attention has been laden on the gameplay rather than just on each wrestler’s persona making for a fluid grapple. Square’s RPG eye for detail remains firmly intact with spots of blood remaining in the same place during the bout. And as innovatively as ever the controls are implemented by the analogue sticks making pulling off a special an achievement rather than a piece of cake adding much reward to a victory.
Super Famicom
Platform
Conversion of the fantasy quest coin-op where the goal of trying to reach the top of the tower is given an added twist by being able to rescue NPC’s on the way including a brute of a man, a ninja, a reptile man, a Knight and a monk amongst others that follow as your backup. Classic Capcom attention to detail and high production values.
PS4
Shooter
Few will forget their first blast on Kikikaikai. The initial barrier was to be able to pronounce it to the local importer in the pre-internet days. And despite being just the early nineties, few gamers were sufficiently cross-pollinated with games of its ilk to understand the ensuing cultural chaos. Not that it requires understanding with fast paced shooting fury the order of the day. Yet a randy raccoon tanuki friend that can deflect shots with his tail did raise a few eyebrows. The Shinto inspired Japanese blaster draws on mythology as necks extend inexplicably and one-eyed umbrella ghosts hop past. Cultural references aplenty all in a luscious sprite-based world driving gamers on to see more. Unrelenting pace as you the priestess battle against all the evil of underworld armed with nothing more than a purification branch. A Super Famicom classic well-worthy of this fine update and hopefully new and old audience with new playable characters. Known in the West as Pocky and Rocky.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
A mouth watering compilation of Flying Shark, Sky Shark, Fire Shark and Wardner no Mori in various Famicom, Mega Drive and Arcade incarnations to savour. Fire Shark shows Toaplan in fine fettle with the player taking the controls of a fighter plane with some stupendously powerful weapons to pick up and power up including the gratifying flamethrower in this WWII airborne shooter. Brash, big sprites and nice attention to detail at ground level with soldiers running around and vehicles getting stuck and no hint of slowdown. Just watch the reverse, gunner. Wardner no Mori is no stranger to Mega Drive fans and adds nice variation in this solid platform game set in a spooky forest where the lead man shoots fire from his fingers to scythe through to a cinder the evil ghouls and demons lying in wait. Strangely compelling in spite of the coin op based, money grabbing difficulty requiring pixel perfect jumps.
PS4
Shoot Em Up
Another superb shmup release in the series with the human character used, as opposed to mechanical ship, adding much to the connection between player and intriguing character. It also seems to help create a greater sense of vertical depth. A real labour of love.
Dreamcast
Rhythm
Pop a couple of maracas in the hands of a non-gamer and sit back and enjoy the show. Mould breaking, pure distilled fun from the Sonic Team.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Another superb shmup release in the series with the human character used, as opposed to mechanical ship, adding much to the connection between player and intriguing character. It also seems to help create a greater sense of vertical depth. A real labour of love.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Insane amount of projectiles on screen as the wee witches avoid the harmful ones whilst swooping on their brooms to grab the power ups needed to keep reciprocating the bullet barrage. Lovely graphical style to suit the witches theme.
Switch
Shoot Em Up
Reaching back into what feels to Genki like the near past in compiling three precious (and fairly exclusive) Saturn shooters in Cotton 2, Cotton Boomberang and Guardian Force. Cotton 2 exemplifies all the hit points that made the Saturn a mean 2D machine. Cute sprite graphics and good pacing. Boomerang is not a full sequel to Cotton 2, more feeling like a very slick update as there wasn’t anything really in need of correcting in the prequel. The controls have been revamped along with gameplay additions of a special charge projectile and the facility to switch between three different players. As such the energy bar has gone: each player now represents a life. The in game graphics have been given a lick of paint with some impressive effects hurtling the player into more on screen insanity. The presentation has also been spruced up with hi resolution cut sequences and an intro to give twitchy fingers a break. A true success saving the best until last. Guardian Force is a unique take on the shooter formula with players taking the role of tank driver to blast through enemy lines. No mere gimmick though: in a refreshing twist the tanks turret can rotate through 360 degrees making it possible to pound enemy installations whilst making a hasty retreat. The simultaneous two player option is the icing on the pretty looking cake. A dream team compilation and a real blast.
Sega Hardware
Controller
Sound controller from the fine up and coming Columbus Circle stable. Snug ergonomics and nice feel to the button press with snappy black and red contrasting colour scheme.
Animal Crossing Figures
Figure
Looking very dapper in top and tails, Jack’s deadpan expression reveals his character. Fine tribute to a wonderful series.
Sega Saturn
A Bit Special
The Tokimeki phenomena is absolutely immense in Japan and as such fan service releases such as this go down a treat there. But Konami have kept an eye out for the growing band of overseas fans with some English language messages and menu translations when accessed via a PC. On the Saturn the disk is crammed with media with music video clips, art gallery presentations even the chance to play paper, scissors, stone with your favourite Tokimeki character.
Sega Saturn
Shoot Em Up
Lushly pastel shaded vertically scrolling shoot ’em up from the reliable Konami stable celebrating ten years of Twinbee. Off – shoot of the Gradius and Parodius series. Shooter heads may find its frivolous gameplay a little easy, but everyone will enjoy the ride.
Sega Saturn
One on One Beat Em Up
Subtitled: Darkstalkers’ Revenge. The Saturn was made for titles of this ilk: wonderfully balanced characters hammering it out in 2D bliss. You can feel Capcom’s spark return in this Saturn classic.