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Release This: Jeanne d'Arc Returns: Vegas
by Danny Cowan
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November 20, 2006
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Gamasutra's regular round-up of worldwide video game releases, "Release This!", takes a look at every game title we know to be shipping to stores this week, in an exclusively compiled list.
All's quiet on the U.S. release front in the week following the launch of the Wii and the PS3, with Superman Returns: The Videogame and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas being among the few standout titles finding their way to stores in the coming days.
Europe's release list sees slightly more vitality with games such as Guitar Hero II and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, while Japan offers curiosities like Culdcept Saga and Jeanne d'Arc.
The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending November 25, 2006.
Games Released in the United States:
Nintendo Wii:
- Need for Speed Carbon
Xbox 360:
- Cabela's African Safari
- College Hoops 2K7
- Superman Returns: The Videogame
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
PlayStation 2:
- Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2
- Delta Force Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre
- Drive to Survive
- Harley Davidson Motorcycles: Race to Rally
- Pimp My Ride
- Superman Returns: The Videogame
- Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit
Xbox:
- Bass Pro Shops Trophy Hunter 2007
- College Hoops 2K7
- Superman Returns: The Videogame
GameCube:
- Shrek Smash and Crash
Nintendo DS:
- Brain Boost: Beta Wave
- Brain Boost: Gamma Wave
- Dogz
- March of the Penguins
- Monster Bomber
- Superman Returns: The Videogame
- Totally Spies! 2: Undercover | PlayStation Portable:
- Hard Rock Casino
- SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2
- Tony Hawk's Project 8
Game Boy Advance:
- F-24: Stealth Fighter
- March of the Penguins
- Yggdra Union
PC:
- Agatha Christie: Murder on the Orient Express
- Backspin Billiards
- Bass Pro Shops Trophy Bass 2007
- Bass Pro Shops Trophy Hunter 2007
- Bricks of Egypt 2
- Dream Vacation Solitaire
- Dynasty
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Knights of the Nine Expansion Pack
- The Fifth Disciple
- Galapago
- Great Invasions
- Lawnmower Racing Mania 2007
- Timothy and Titus |
Last week's torrent of new titles that accompanied the launch of two consoles has left little to look forward to this week, resulting in a comparatively tame release list for the United States. This week's offerings consist largely of titles that were delayed from previously announced release dates, along with several budget-priced releases.
Notable titles like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas could still manage to find an audience among gamers who have recovered from the financial strain of the Wii's and the PS3's near-simultaneous launch, however. Superman Returns: The Videogame is another of the week's more anticipated offerings, and should hopefully prove to have benefited from its extra time spent in development provided by previous delays.
Games Released in Europe:
Xbox 360:
- Bionicle Heroes
- Eragon
- Phantasy Star Universe
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Superman Returns
PlayStation 2:
- Bionicle Heroes
- Call of Duty 3
- Cricket 07
- Crusty Demons
- Eragon
- Guitar Hero II
- Happy Feet
- Justice League Heroes
- NeoGeo Battle Coliseum
- Phantasy Star Universe
- Playwize Poker & Casino
- Rule of Rose
- Thrillville
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Party Edition
Xbox:
- Eragon
- Justice League Heroes
GameCube:
- Flushed Away
Nintendo DS:
- Asphalt 2
- Eragon
- Flushed Away
- Happy Feet
- Harlem Globetrotters: World Tour
- Princess Natasha
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
- Superman Returns
- Tenchu: Dark Secret | PlayStation Portable:
- Eragon
- Justice League Heroes
- Medal of Honor: Heroes
- Mortal Kombat: Deception Unchained
- Playwize Poker & Casino
- Prince of Persia: Rival Swords
- Reel Fishing: Life & Nature
- Thrillville
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Party Edition
Game Boy Advance:
- Barbie: Diary Mysteries
- Bionicle Heroes
- Eragon
- Flushed Away
- Happy Feet
- Harlem Globetrotters: World Tour
- Hot Wheels: World Challenge
- Justice League Heroes: The Flash
- Princess Natasha: Student Secret Agent
PC:
- Bionicle Heroes
- Catz
- Cricket 07
- Dogz
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Knights of the Nine Expansion Pack
- Eragon
- Happy Feet
- International Cricket Captain 06 Ashes Edition
- Phantasy Star Universe
- RACE - The WTCC Game
- Warhammer: Mark of Chaos
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Party Edition |
In a rare turn, Europe's release list comes out on top out of all regions this week, both in terms of numbers and in variety. Europe's releases this week include a few big-name titles that have previously seen success elsewhere in the world (Guitar Hero II, Phantasy Star Universe, and Sonic the Hedgehog being among the most notable) along with several cross-platform licensed games spanning many genres.
Fighting game fans in particular should be surprised by the inclusion of NeoGeo Battle Coliseum on this week's list. While the title saw limited release in U.S. arcades, the European release of the PS2 version of NeoGeo Battle Coliseum will probably be the only English-language home port any region will ever receive. A U.S. release is unlikely, given the declining popularity of the once-vital 2D one-on-one fighting genre.
Games Released in Japan:
Xbox 360:
- Culdcept Saga
- Dead or Alive Xtreme 2
- NBA Live 07
- X-Men: The Official Game
PlayStation 3:
- Mahjong Taikai IV
PlayStation 2:
- K-1 World GP 2006
- Guitar Freaks V2 & DrumMania V2
- J-League Winning Eleven 10 + Europa League 06-07
- Kohitsuji Hokaku Keakaku! Sweet Boys Life
- NBA Live 07
- Tenshou Gakuen Gekkou Hasumi
- White Breath: Kizuna | Nintendo DS:
- Bokura no Taiyou: Django and Sabata
- Gotouchi Kentei DS
- Jump Ultimate Stars
- Nippon Curling Kyoukai Kounin: Minna no Curling DS
- Oshare Majo Love and Berry (DS Collection)
PlayStation Portable:
- Jeanne d'Arc
- Riviera: Yakusoku no Chi |
The Xbox 360 receives a much-needed shot in the arm in terms of new Japanese releases this week. Both Culdcept Saga and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 have made for popular preorders over the last few months, and should prove to be important system-sellers for Microsoft in the days following their release.
A number of significant releases are also in store for portable consoles this week in Japan. Jump Ultimate Stars serves as sequel to last year's popular fighting title Jump Superstars, and Bokura no Taiyou: Django and Sabata is a heavily retooled successor to the Game Boy Advance's Boktai series. The release of Jeanne d'Arc should also be of interest to RPG fans; the Level-5-developed strategy title recently earned high praise in Famitsu, including a rare perfect score of 10 from one of the magazine's critics.
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