Update: December 8, 2006
«©NCSX» The island of Hokkaido serves as the backdrop for the sixteenth stride in the beloved Momotaro Dentetsu game. Summers in Hokkaido are something of a misnomer since temperatures generally don't go above 75° F but winters are aptly named because subfreezing temperatures dominate.
To reflect the reality of Hokkaido, the storyline in Momotaro Dentetsu focuses on bitter cold. A powerful blast of freezing air hits Hokkaido and settles in for a long winter's nap. It's so cold that planes, trains, and automobiles are incapacitated and commerce is suspended. Such a condition can't last lest Hokkaido's economy suffer immeasurably. A world renowned geologist looks at the situation and comes up with a brilliant idea. Let's move the entire island of Hokkaido further to the south so that the island can thaw out...
Similar to previous Momotaro Dentetsu games, the protagonist takes control of a train and competes against adversaries to trek across Hokkaido. Along the way, gain capital, buy up properties, and create monopolies in order to build up a business empire. Eight new monsters join the bestiary to provide angst for budding entrepreneurs.
View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.
NCS Game Notes
» The date of the video footage shown in the game intro is August 4, 2006. The video shows the work in making a Momotaro Dentstsu float with designers, artists, and craftsman building a magnificent Momotaro statue for a parade. Cut to the actual parade and watch the fully lit float as it travels through the streets. People are dancing around it and it's a spectacle.
» After the intro, assorted snowmen appear on an icy area. After a few seconds, people burst out of the snowmen and start twisting and shaking around before the Momotaro train conductor appears and fills up the entire screen.
» Start a new game and 9 player options appear as follows
1 Player + 1 COM
1 Player + 2 COM
1 Player + 3 COM
2 Player + 0 COM
2 Player + 1 COM
2 Player + 2 COM
3 Player + 0 COM
3 Player + 1 COM
4 Player + 0 COM
» Eight characters may be chosen as your protagonist including 2 humans and 6 monsters. If you've opted to play with COM players, you can choose their protagonists as well. After getting all of the options set, a memory slot save menu appears where you can create a save file. Each memory card can store 10 saves.
» Once the game starts, every player controls a train which moves according to the value of a die toss. Each train toots with steam from its chimney before motoring along the track. On the landscape are bustling city buildings and flowers and strawberries that animate with spot tics. Move around the city earning money and picking up bonuses. It's also possible to buy property to build up your empire.
» Between each full round of turns is a full screen animation of characters in action. There's one where five explorers are hanging around a tomato cage with brown and black beetles clowning around with them and another that takes place on a beach where animals and humans are enjoying the surf and watermelon from the concession stand. Another one checks out a pumpkin catch with a cemetery in the background and ghosts flying around while a purple garbed witch flies overhead and a guy catches ghosts with his net. There's also a Christmas theme animation with big parade floats and a tree with shining lights.
» A helicopter shuttles trains to various spots.
» Monsters appear on the track to torment the railroad ops. Eight new gigantic beasts join the other monsters from earlier games to challenge the train operators.
» A black bird that flies around will take away 1000Y if it touches your train.
» When your train rolls into a station, cheering crowd celebrates your success along with a table of food and announcers. Stations in the game include:
Mori St. - The food is fried squid with a bunch of live squid around the cook
Tsuchiura St. - Sliced turnips
Fukaya St. - Green onions
Kamogawa St. - Orca and seals
Nakatsugawa St. - Steamed Buns
Gujyo St. - Dancing girls in kimono
Gifu St. - Fisherman and ducks
Hitoyoshi St. - Bottles of beverage
Tenegashima St. - Turtles and chaps in triangle shaped hats
Takushima St. - Hokkaido area map.
Amamioshima St. - Bard with beverages and birds
Getsumen City St. - Bunnies on the moon.
» Landing on red squares deducts money. Yellow Square - bonus selection. Blue garners money - all selections are on a rolling list.
» After every few rounds, the announcers in the game chart the progress of the players and checks out who's leading. The opportunity to save your progress to memory card is also offered.
» Momotaro games are highly addictive. Once you sit down to play, hours may pass before you look up and realize that you've been sitting there like a potato for 3 hours instead of the 30 minutes you thought had passed.
Region Lock-out
Please note Japanese Playstation 2 games will not boot on
USA or European PS2 consoles due to the inherent region-lockout on Playstation 2 game discs.
This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.
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