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.
While North America prepares for the launch of
Turok and a handful of new
Bomberman titles, the majority of this week's release activity centers around Japan, which will see numerous big-name debuts and sequels in the coming days, including
Devil May Cry 4,
Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi, and
Dairantou Smash Brothers X.
The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending February 2nd, 2008.
Games Released in the United States:
Nintendo Wii: - Bomberman Land
Xbox 360: - Turok
PlayStation 3: - Turok
Nintendo DS: - Bomberman Land Touch! 2 | PlayStation Portable: - Bomberman Land - Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice
PC: - Pacific Storm Allies - Pet Vet 3D Animal Hospital: Down Under - The Sims: Castaway Stories |
Gamers in North America can expect another slim release lineup this week, with highlights including the Xbox 360 and PS3 franchise relaunch of
Turok, new
Bomberman games for the Wii, DS, and PSP, and the PSP action/driving sequel
Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice.
Devil May Cry 4 will find its way Stateside next week, along with
Culdcept Saga and the multiplatform release of
Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.
Games Released in Europe:
Nintendo Wii: - Kidz Sports International Football - Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Xbox 360: - Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom - NFL Tour
PlayStation 3: - Conflict: Denied Ops
PlayStation 2: - Casper Scare School | Nintendo DS: - Fish Tycoon - Holly Hobbie & Friends - Nancy Drew: Deadly Secret of Olde World Park - PDC World Championship Darts 2008 - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 - The Spiderwick Chronicles - Zoo Hospital
PC: - Conflict: Denied Ops - Medieval II Total War: Gold Pack - The Sims: Castaway Stories |
While the UK catches up with recent U.S. releases like
Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom,
NFL Tour, and the Nintendo Wii port of
Puzzle Quest, the week also features a number of region-exclusive debuts. The first-person shooter sequel
Conflict: Denied Ops will premiere in Europe several days before it hits the States, and
Casper Scare School along with many of this week's European Nintendo DS releases are not currently scheduled for release elsewhere.
Next week is expected to bring the simultaneous U.S. and UK launch of
Devil May Cry 4, while Europe will additionally receive titles like
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for the Nintendo DS and PSP remakes of
Final Fantasy and
Final Fantasy II.
Games Released in Japan:
Nintendo Wii: - Dairantou Smash Brothers X - Family Ski - Need for Speed ProStreet
Xbox 360: - Devil May Cry 4 - Need for Speed ProStreet - Sega Rally Revo
PlayStation 3: - Assassin's Creed - Devil May Cry 4 - Makai Senki Disgaea 3 - Need for Speed ProStreet - Sega Rally Revo
PlayStation 2: - Izumo 2: Gakuen Kyousoukyoku - Double Tact - Need for Speed ProStreet - Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi - Taiheiyou no Arashi: Senkan Yamato, Akatsuki ni Shutsugekisu - Tales of Destiny Director's Cut - Xyanide Resurrection - Your: Memories Off Girls Side | Nintendo DS: - Hiromichi Oniisan no Oyako Taisou Navi - Houkago Shounen - Jouchi Daigaku Tsuchiya Takahide Kyouju Kanshuu: Ryoukiki Exercise: Riron no Migi-te to Kansei no Hidari-te - Kaiun Kenkyuuka - Utsukita Mahiro Kanshuu - Mainichi Kokorobics: DS Uranai Happiness 2008 - Loopop Cube: Loop * Sarada DS - Nushishi: Amakudaru Sato - Simple DS Series Vol. 31: The Chou-Dangan!! Custom Sensha - Simple DS Series Vol. 32: The Zombie Crisis - Umezawa Yukari no Yasashii Igo
PlayStation Portable: - Sega Rally Revo - Taiheiyou no Arashi: Senkan Yamato, Akatsuki ni Shutsugekisu
PC: - Monster Hunter Frontier Online Season 2.0 |
This week is expected to be a memorable one for Japanese releases, as several major titles will see near-simultaneous release across all platforms in the coming days. Leading the pack is
Dairantou Smash Brothers X, Nintendo's highly anticipated and oft-delayed sequel to the GameCube brawler
Super Smash Bros. Melee. The U.S. version,
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, is not scheduled for release until March, making this week's Japanese release a hot item for eager importers.
The
Wii Fit Balance Board-driven skiing simulation
Family Ski is also proving to be a popular Wii preorder item at Amazon.co.jp and other retailers, due to the popularity and high install base of the peripheral. Other platforms see a majority of preorder interest divided between the Capcom-developed
Devil May Cry 4, the anime-licensed
Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi, and
Tales of Destiny Director's Cut, Bandai Namco's awaited PlayStation 2 RPG remake.