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.
Sports fans in both the United States and Europe have a lot to be excited about this week. The U.S. will soon play host to no less than three NBA-licensed basketball titles: SCEA's NBA 07, EA Sports' NBA Live 07, and 2K Sports' NBA 2K7. Europe, meanwhile, awaits the release of FIFA 07, the newest entry in EA Sports' long-running soccer simulation series.
Japan may not be joining in on the sports-related festivities this week, but Japanese gamers are no doubt looking forward to the release of numerous RPGs like Pocket Monsters Diamond, Pocket Monsters Pearl, and .hack//G.U. Vol.2 Kimi Omou Koe.
The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending September 30, 2006.
Games Released in the United States:
As improbable as it may sound, last week's colossal number of new U.S. releases has been topped, as a grand total of 65 titles are scheduled to see Stateside release this week. Even oft-neglected platforms like the GameCube and Game Boy Advance will see a lot of action in the coming days, ensuring that gamers across the country will have plenty of new titles to pick from, regardless of their console of choice.
A difficult decision awaits sports fans, who will soon have to claim allegiance to one of three different basketball sims debuting this week. EA Sports' NBA Live 07 and 2K Sports' NBA 2K7 will compete across a number of platforms, while SCEA's NBA 07 will join the fight on the PS2 and PSP.
The week will also see several titles representing less explored genres, including dancing sim Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova and the action-puzzler Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2. The DS will additionally host both Bubble Bobble Revolution and Rainbow Islands Revolution this week -- two updated Taito classics formerly exclusive to Europe and Japan.
Games Released in Europe:
While the United States sorts through a number of NBA-licensed basketball games this week, FIFA 07 will be the single sports title Europe's gamers will be eagerly anticipating. FIFA 07 has topped European preorder charts for the last several weeks, and should prove to be one of the year's best sellers for the region following its multiplatform release near the end of September.
Several other intriguing titles are to be found in Europe's list as well. Games like Raiden III, Bubble Bobble Evolution, Ape Academy 2, and Gitaroo-Man Lives! are all English localizations of Japanese titles that are currently exclusive to Europe for the time being, and the breakdancing sim B-Boy is a title not scheduled for release in any other part of the world.
Games Released in Japan:
While the United States and Europe busy themselves with sports simulations this week, Japan gears up for the release of two new titles in Nintendo's Pokémon series -- Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pocket Monsters Pearl. Older Pokémon titles routinely find their way into weekly best seller lists years after their release, and these new versions are expected to remain at the top of the Nintendo DS sales charts for months to come.
Also expected to lead sales this week are the faux MMORPG .hack//G.U. Vol.2 Kimi Omou Koe and the Japanese version of Dead Rising, which has enjoyed over a month of success in the United States. Both titles currently rank high in preorders, and should move big numbers in the coming week.
Game Boy Advance: - Alex Rider: Stormbreaker - Backyard Basketball 2007 - Backyard Football 2007 - Harlem Globetrotters World Tour - The Little Mermaid: Magic in Two Kingdoms - Princess Natasha: Student Secret Agent - Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots - Strawberry Shortcake: Sweet Dreams - Unfabulous - Uno/Skip-Bo GameCube: - Baten Kaitos Origins - The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy - Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2 Nintendo DS: - Alex Rider: Stormbreaker - Bubble Bobble Revolution - The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure - Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier - Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis - Rainbow Islands Revolution PlayStation 2: - Dance Dance Revolution SuperNova - The Fast and the Furious - Ford Bold Moves Street Racing - Greg Hastings Tournament Paintball Max'd - The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy - Just Cause - NBA 07 Featuring The Life Vol 2 - NBA 2K7 - NBA Live 07 - Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria PlayStation Portable: - NBA 07 - NBA Live 07 - Spectral Souls | Xbox: - Ford Bold Moves Street Racing - Just Cause - NBA 2K7 - NBA Live 07 Xbox 360: - Import Tuner Challenge - Just Cause - NBA 2K7 - NBA Live 07 PC: - Backyardigans: Mission to Mars - Barbie: Diary Mysteries - Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2007: 10th Anniversary Edition - Caesar IV - D.I.R.T.: Origin of the Species - Dora the Explorer: Dora's World Adventure - El Matador - Family Feud - Ford Bold Moves Street Racing - Go Diego Go! - G.T.R. 2 - Hidden Expedition: Titanic - Hollywood Posh Pets - Hoyle Bridge Club - Jaws Unleashed - Just Cause - Mage Knight: Apocalypse - NBA Live 07 - Pacific Storm - Paparazzi - ParaWorld - Pony LUV - ShopMania - Weekend Play Pack - World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions |
Game Boy Advance: - FIFA 07 GameCube: - FIFA 07 Nintendo DS: - FIFA 07 PlayStation 2: - Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny - B-Boy - Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition - FIFA 07 - Kingdom Hearts II - Raiden III Xbox: - FIFA 07 | PlayStation Portable: - Ape Academy - B-Boy - Bubble Bobble Evolution - FIFA 07 - Gitaroo-Man Lives! - Infected - Street Supremacy - Ys: The Ark of Napishtim PC: - Archlord - Company of Heroes - Dora the Explorer: Dance to the Rescue - FIFA 07 - G.T.R. 2 - The Guild 2 - Secret Files: Tunguska - The Ship |
Nintendo DS: - Jan Sangoku Musou - Nemurenai Yoru to Puzzle no Hi ni wa... - Pocket Monsters Diamond - Pocket Monsters Pearl - Remindelight - Shikakui Atama wo Maruku Suru: DS Joushiki, Nanmon no Shou - Shikakui Atama wo Maruku Suru: DS Kanji no Shou - Shikakui Atama wo Maruku Suru: DS Keisan no Shou - Zaidanhoujin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kounin: KanKen DS PlayStation 2: - .hack//G.U. Vol.2 Kimi Omou Koe - Aria: The Natural - Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers - Fuuraiki - Joshikousei Game's High! - Kyuuryuu Youma Gakuenki re:charge - Otome no Jijou - Pop'n Music 13 Carnival - Quartett! The Stage of Love - San Goku Shi XI - Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 28: Tetris Collection - Sekai no Zente: Two of Us - State of Emergency Revenge - Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter | PlayStation Portable: - Astonishia Story - Boku wa Koukuu Kanseikan: Airport Hero NaHa - Boxer's Road 2: The Real - Chronicle of Dungeon Maker - Kiyuu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki FC - Fish Eyes Portable - Fushigi Yuugi - Genbu Kaiten Gaiden: Kagami no Fujo - Jan Sangoku Musou Xbox 360: - Dead Rising - Full Auto - Project Sylpheed PC: - Shikigami no Shiro III |