Release This: Super Robot Salaryman XO

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 the action is focused in Japan this week, which will bring the Japanese launch of the Nintendo Wii and the release of anticipated titles like Odoru Made in Wario, Super Robot Taisen XO, and Final Fantasy VI Advance. The United States and Europe will see a milder week of releases in comparison, though titles like Yoshi's Island DS and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas are still likely to impress. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending December 2, 2006. Games Released in the United States: After recent weeks of impressive releases across all platforms, this week's U.S. release list feels somewhat lifeless in comparison. The major multiplatform releases of previous weeks have been replaced with licensed titles and games delayed from their original release dates, with few standouts garnering specific attention or significant preorder numbers. This is not exactly unusual, however, as the launch of new consoles and the subsequent phasing out of last-generation hardware presents a transition period wherein significant software releases are sparse. This will hopefully change in the weeks leading up to the holiday season, but in the meantime, gamers in the United States have few "must-have" titles to choose from among this week's offerings. Games Released in Europe: Much like last week, Europe once again receives a slightly better release lineup than the United States. The two regions may share a large quantity of licensed titles, but Europe will additionally receive higher-profile releases like Yoshi's Island DS, Viva Pinata, and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas in the week prior to the launch of Nintendo's Wii. Games Released in Japan: The Nintendo Wii launches in Japan this week, and along with it comes the debut of several titles that have not yet seen U.S. release. Notable among these are the Nintendo-published Odoru Made in Wario and Hajimete no Wii -- also known as WarioWare: Smooth Moves and Wii Play, respectively -- neither of which will be released in the United States until 2007. On other platforms, Super Robot Taisen XO brings yet another popular Japanese series to the Xbox 360, and judging by its preorder numbers over the last few months, it should be just as popular as other recent Japanese 360 hits like Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 and Culdcept Saga. Another popular preorder in recent weeks has been Final Fantasy VI Advance, a title that could very well mark the last significant Japanese Game Boy Advance release, as no other GBA titles appear to be scheduled for release in Japan at any point in the near future.