Konami of Europe is throwing down the gauntlet to its army of Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, with the launch of Yu-Gi-Oh!™ Ultimate Masters Edition - World Championship Tournament 2006, due for release for Game Boy Advance™ in March. In addition to providing an all-new challenge, the new game also marks the first Yu-Gi-Oh! game from Konami to feature a wealth of elements from the new Yu-Gi-Oh! GX TV series.

The official game of the 2006 Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championships, Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters Edition - World Championship Tournament 2006 is the most advanced simulation of the ever-popular Trading Card game imaginable. Containing over 2000 cards - the most in the series' history - the key elements of using traps, monsters and spells remains the same, but with more attacking and defensive possibilities than ever before. The new game includes many of the latest 'Structure' decks from the Trading Card game, including 'Dragon's Roar' and 'Spellcaster's Judgment', and 80 cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX universe - their first appearance in a video game.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters Edition - World Championship Tournament 2006 can be enjoyed solo or with a friend via the Game Boy Advance's link capabilities. The game has had an aesthetic and gameplay make-over that has improved the screen layout to make the use of icons and selecting cards simpler, while players can also unlock cherished Trading Card Game cards by using the points accrued during the game. The new game also includes new game modes to test the player, including 'Duel Puzzle', 'Limited Duel', 'Theme Duel' and 'Survival Duel.'

These new modes add new fun elements to the duels, with 'Duel Puzzle' setting the player challenges that must be completed with just one turn, while the 'Limited Duels' set specific limitations regarding the structure of deck, or moves available to the player - with the player attempting to overcome such limitations including not using traps or not setting a card.

Likewise, 'Theme Duel' works by giving the player a certain theme, wherein he has to win the duel by satisfying conditions, such as performing ten recalls in a duel, or using magic 20 times. Even if the player wins the duel, they will not gain access to the next if the conditions aren't met. 'Survival Duel', on the other hand, is a test of the player's skill to duel against a variety of rivals. The player is given a pre-determined number of Life Points. Losing points will weaken the player's chances against the next challenger, and the mode ends if the Life Points reach zero.

The World Championship Tournament games are amongst Konami of Europe's most successful titles, and Yu-Gi-Oh! fans will be eager to take on this new, ultimate edition. The game will also form the basis of this year's World Tournaments which will see Europe's greatest players heading to Japan to take on players from all over the globe, which Konami will detail at a later date.

And in another first for the game, Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters Edition - World Championship Tournament 2006 features a new character on the packaging - Jaden Yuki - who is a hero from the new Yu-Gi-Oh! GX TV series, and will feature prominently in forthcoming Konami titles.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters Edition - World Championship Tournament 2006 will also contain three limited official Trading Cards from the new GX universe.

"Yu-Gi-Oh! Ultimate Masters Edition - World Championship Tournament 2006 is the ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh! title for Game Boy Advance," offered Christopher Heck, Brand Manager of Konami of Europe: "Fans of the series will also be given their first look at the new Yu-Gi-Oh! GX series, which will whet their appetites for when it starts airing across Europe, this Spring."

© 1996 KAZUKI TAKAHASHI