Release This: U.S. Gets PS2 Rock Band, NiGHTS; Patapon, FF4

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. As the UK's release schedule goes into hibernation until the end of the year, the United States will find a pair of anticipated debuts this week in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams and a PlayStation 2 port of Rock Band. Japan gears up for another busy week filled with dozens of new titles, meanwhile, including Final Fantasy IV, Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimate Accel 2, and Patapon. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending December 22nd, 2007. Games Released in the United States:
Nintendo Wii:
- NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams
- Rig Racer 2

Xbox 360:
- MX vs. ATV: Untamed

PlayStation 3:
- MX vs. ATV: Untamed

PlayStation 2:
- Dai Senryaku VII: Exceed
- MX vs. ATV: Untamed
- NeoGeo Battle Coliseum
- Rock Band Nintendo DS:
- Elements of Destruction
- Indianapolis 500 Legends
- Luxor 2
- MX vs. ATV: Untamed
- Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command

PlayStation Portable:
- Atari Classics Evolved
- Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge
- MX vs. ATV: Untamed

PC:
- The Lost Crown
- Quest Pack
A PlayStation 2 port of Rock Band and Sega's long-awaited NiGHTS Into Dreams sequel NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams serve as the biggest highlights in this week's North American release lineup. Judging from preorder data at Amazon and other retailers, Rock Band promises to be just as popular on the PlayStation 2 as it has become on other platforms, despite recent announcements that certain gameplay features would not be present in the new PS2 edition. Former (and current) Sega Saturn owners, meanwhile, are likely to find interest in the first sequel the Saturn-born NiGHTS Into Dreams has seen since its original debut in 1996. NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams has received large amounts of press coverage and fan interest since its release was first announced earlier this year, and quickly became one of the Wii's most anticipated upcoming titles of the year in the months thereafter. Games Released in Europe: UK retailer GAME.co.uk reports that no new titles will be shipping in Europe this week. Regular UK release schedules are expected to resume at the beginning of the new year, but in the meantime, no further titles are listed as having 2007 release dates. Games Released in Japan:
Nintendo Wii:
- Crazy Climber Wii
- FIFA 08: World Class Soccer
- Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Wii Ketteiban
- Lewis to Mirai Dorobou
- Nyanko to Mahou no Boushi
- Spongebob to Nakamatachi: Toybot no Kougeki
- Wanko to Mahou no Boushi
- Yukinko Daisenpuu

Xbox 360:
- FIFA 08: World Class Soccer

PlayStation 3:
- FIFA 08: World Class Soccer
- Medal of Honor: Airborne
- Time Crisis 4

PlayStation 2:
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri: Kakera Asobi
- Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 14 Chou Ketteiban
- Lewis to Mirai Dorobou
- Myself; Yourself
- Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimate Accel 2
- Pia Carrot e Youkoso!! G.O. Summer Fair

PlayStation Portable:
- Hajime no Ippo Portable: Victorious Spirits
- Maplus: Portable Navi 2
- Patapon
- Sora no Kiseki FC&SC Kanzenban
- Sora no Kiseki Material Collection Portable Nintendo DS:
- Dokodemo Pilates
- Dorabase: Dramatic Stadium
- DS Puzzler: Numpla Fan & Oekaki Logic Wi-Fi Taiou
- Final Fantasy IV
- Heisei Kyouikuiinkai DS: Zengoku Touitsu Moshi Special
- Itsumono Shokuzai de Shuttai Chauseuteki na Sweets to Goshisou
- Kousoku Card Battle: Card Hero
- Lewis to Mirai Dorobou
- Ochainu no Daibouken
- Ojaru-Maru DS: Ojaru to Okeiko Aiueo
- Pinky Street Kira Kira * Music Night
- Simple DS Series Vol. 26: The Quiz 30000-Mon
- Simple DS Series Vol. 29: The Sports Daishuugou - Yakyuu-Tennis-Volleyball-Futsal-Golf
- Simple DS Series Vol. 30: The Table Game
- Spongebob to Nakamatachi: Toybot no Kougeki
- Sunrise Anime Duke - Sunrise no Joushiki: Minna no Hijoushiki
- SuperLite 2500 Crimson Room
- SuperLite 2500 Custom Mahjong
- SuperLite 2500 Gekikara Numpla 2500-Mon
- Survival Kids: Chiisana Shima to Ookina Himitsu!?
- Tennis no Ojousama: Driving Smash! Side Genius
- Waku Waku DS 1 Nensei

PC:
- Football Manager 2008 Japanese Edition
- Monster Hunter Frontier Online: Christmas Gentei Package
- SimCity Societies
Japan continues to enjoy an accelerated release schedule as other regions scale back during the holiday season. This week's most anticipated Japanese releases include the Nintendo-published Kousoku Card Battle: Card Hero and a DS remake of Square Enix's Super Famicom classic RPG Final Fantasy IV. Anime fans and importers will find interest in the awaited Naruto franchise sequel Naruto Shippuuden: Narutimate Accel 2, meanwhile, as the PSP receives the acclaimed rhythm-action title Patapon and two new releases in the Sora no Kiseki series.

Release This: U.S. Gets PS2 Rock Band, NiGHTS; Patapon, FF4 DS Hit Japan

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