Release This: Sonic and the Secret Crackdown

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. This week will see the multi-region release of Microsoft's Crackdown -- a long-awaited action title whose popularity has soared in the weeks leading up to its release. Gamers in the United States will also receive anticipated releases like Sonic and the Secret Rings and Virtua Fighter 5 this week, while Europe gets Final Fantasy XII and Japan gears up for Fire Emblem: Akatsuki no Megami and Monster Hunter Portable 2nd. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending January 24, 2007. Games Released in the United States: It should come as little surprise that the Xbox 360's Crackdown comes out on top as the week's most anticipated new release across all platforms. Pre-order numbers have increased significantly in the weeks following an announcement that the title would come bundled with an invitation to the Halo 3 beta. Crackdown is also being received warmly by critics, giving gamers even further purchase incentive. Titles like Sonic and the Secret Rings and NBA Street Homecourt also rate big in gamer awareness and purchase intent, though Sega's Virtua Fighter 5 is seeing surprisingly little attention, considering its high-profile status, running behind Chris Taylor's major RTS Supreme Commander for PC. The PlayStation 3's relatively low installed user base could potentially be to blame for this, as hardware sales have dramatically slowed in the months following its release, and few gamers seem willing to make a major console purchase based on the strength of Virtua Fighter 5 alone. Games Released in Europe: Europe comes up a little short in new release volume compared to other regions this week, though a number of intriguing titles make for an interesting lineup overall. Final Fantasy XII in particular should prove to be one of the week's most popular releases, as the title continues to be a best-seller in the United States several months after its release there. Exclusives like Rainbow Island Evolution and Kororinpa should otherwise occupy the time of many European gamers this week. Kororinpa is an especially curious case -- the game was a Wii launch title in Japan, and is not expected to debut in the U.S. until late in March. The game remains a critical favorite among those who have played it, as well, making it all the more alluring for intrigued Wii owners. Games Released in Japan: Japan's release list dwarfs all other regions' this week, with a lineup that includes more than a dozen new games for the PS2 alone. With a variety that appeals to both the mainstream (SimCity DS) and to more specific tastes (Dreamcast shooter Trigger Heart Exelica), gamers of all sorts should find something to like in this week's Japanese offerings. The week's most anticipated Japanese releases include Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (currently leading preorders across all platforms at Amazon.co.jp), and Fire Emblem: Akatsuki no Megami, the first Wii installment in the popular Fire Emblem series of strategy RPGs. [About IGN GamerMetrics: IGN GamerMetrics is an interactive tool designed to report the real-time behavior and interests of visitors to IGN Entertainment's network of gaming enthusiast web sites. Using data collected from IGN's readers, GamerMetrics shows the levels of consumer awareness, engagement, and purchase intent in every video game title released in the U.S. market.]