Finally got my hands on a NGPC Slim, the 2nd and final revision of the system released only in Japan. Size and slight shape change aside, no other changes to the system are noticible.
Also finally bought Dark Arms: Beast Buster '99. This game has a seriously dark vibe to it, and yet so far ahead of it's time where story and concept ae concerned. Basically some manner of undead apocalypse has transpired and your out to re-kill the undead. Clearly the creator(s) of "The Walking Dead" must have played this game at some point... they just opted to avoid the occult story elements.