Release This!: Cerberus Dirges, Special Editions and 360 Euro Fighting

The latest worldwide game release charts particularly showcase a slow week for the Western territories, somewhat indicative of both the changing markets and the post-Christmas lull. As the next generation ramps up, current-gen titles will decrease in number, and as such, games will generally be in shorter supply across the board. This is less true in Japan, where the first next-gen entry has not exactly been embraced with open arms, and the current generation is still the most viable means of cashflow. Major releases this week include DOA4's European debut, Torino Winter Olympics 2006, which debuts across multiple consoles and nations, Devil May Cry 3's special edition, and a slew of RPG and visual novel titles from japan, which has the largest release list this week. This release list, compiled exclusively for Gamasutra, covers every video game product we know to be available at the retail level for the week of January 22, 2006, as follows: Games Released in the United States: PlayStation 2: Torino Winter Olympics 2006, Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition Xbox: Torino Winter Olympics 2006, World War 2: Road to Berlin DS: True Swing Golf Highlights:

Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition (PlayStation 2) Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom With the relative dearth of games released in the US this week, one of the more interesting titles happens to be a bit of a rehash. 2005's Devil May Cry 3 is the game that got the DMC series back on track, and the special edition, which has been released at budget price, takes the successful game and gives it a bit of a tweak. In this version you can play as Vergil, brother/nemesis of DMC's traditional antihero Dante (so what does that make Vergil – anti-antihero?). Also new to this edition: a new boss and an arena-like survival mode. Perhaps just enough to get fans interested in shelling out $20 for a new version, and certainly likely to lure those who never played it to begin with. Games Released in Europe: PlayStation 2: DT Racer, Torino 2006 Winter Olympics, Zathura Xbox: Torino 2006 Winter Olympics, Zathura Xbox 360: Dead or Alive 4 PC Torino 2006 Winter Olympics Highlights:

Dead or Alive 4 (Xbox 360) Developer: Tecmo Publisher: Tecmo This is a good week for European releases, with debuts on four major platforms. The clear winner here, though, is the game Microsoft hopes might save the 360's first RPG-less months in Japan, Dead or Alive 4. The robust 3D fighter from Tecmo didn't quite win Microsoft's war for them, but is still a pretty decent game (as we outlined in a Critical Reception column), and by comparison to many major titles, came out in Europe a lot faster than is common. Microsoft is being rightly careful about its treatment of the European market, one area in which it could potentially beat Sony to the punch. Games Released in Japan: Nintendo DS: Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei, Danshaku (aka Nanostray), DS Adult English Training PlayStation 2: Ar-Toneliko: Sekai no Owari de Shi Tsudzukeru, Canvas 2, Canvas 2 Deluxe Pack, Derby Uma o Tsukurou! 5, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, Finalist, Namco Museum Arcade Hits!, Oretachi Game Center: Quarth, Oretachi Game Center: Nekketsu Kouha Kunio, Otometeki Koi Kakumei Love Revo, Samurai Spirits: Tenkaichi Kenkakuten, Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams, Ueki no Housoku PlayStation Portable: Yarudora Portable: Blood The Last Vampire Highlights: There's quite a bit of interesting material out in Japan this week. Ar-Tonelico is a major 2D RPG release from Gust (Atelier series), but with a big Banpresto budget. Then there's Canvas 2, the long-awaited sequel to the very popular Japanese visual novel, which was remade countless times into a variety of fan-made games in the region. Hamster has also released two of its stand-alone classic arcade game re-releases, with Quarth and one of the Kunio games receiving the treatment this time round. Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is also a big deal, the latest in the popular series. The DS has two important releases, with a Bleach-based (anime/manga) fighting game from acclaimed developer Treasure, and an English addition to Nintendo's Training series. But the most interesting game of this week has to be:

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation 2) Developer: Square Enix Publisher: Square Enix This game exists in the world of Final Fantasy VII, is action-based and stars the mysterious red coated character Vincent. The game is also notable because Japanese pop/rock star Gackt has written a (reportedly quite good) song for the game, and his likeness will appear as a 'pivotal character' in the story. As usual with Square Enix's recent exploiting of its popular FFVII universe, this will likely sell big in Japan.