November 8^th, 2004 (10:35pm) - Bandai America has announced that Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is shipping to retail stores throughout North America today.

Available exclusively for the PlayStation2, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is a thrilling third-person action game based on Masamune Shirow’s pioneering anime series. The game is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB, with a suggested retail price of $49.99.

“With its breathtaking graphics, compelling storyline, and incredible arsenal of futuristic weaponry, ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’ will immerse players in a high-tech world punctuated by heart-pounding action,” said John Soller, Marketing Manager of Bandai America. “The game’s satisfying gameplay and amazing visuals are sure to delight ‘Ghost in the Shell’ fans while offering newcomers the perfect introduction to the cybernetic universe of ‘Major’ Kusanagi.”

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex thrusts players in to the cyber-crime ridden streets of the Tohoku Autonomous Region, a metropolis lost between technology and humanity. As ‘Major’ Motoko Kusanagi, Section 9 officer Batou or Think Tank Tachikoma, players must utilize cutting-edge weaponry, bone-crushing martial arts and gravity-defying cybernetic agility to overcome a villainous menace and restore peace to the area. Players can also hack into fallen enemies and machinery to solve mission-specific puzzles and turn the tide of battle. The game’s futuristic storyline is told through over 20 minutes of meticulously crafted CGI cut-scenes that immerse the player in the title’s futuristic setting. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex also features exciting multiplayer gameplay, allowing up to four players to engage in a wide variety of cooperative and competitive play modes across a selection of “Ghost in the Shell” locales.