Release This!: We Love the Isle of Mega Man X

Author: by Quang Hong, Simon Carless, Frank Cifaldi

The latest worldwide game release charts continues the post-holiday release lull and next-generation transitional period with very few big-name titles being released. 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 29, 2006: Games Released in the United States: Game Boy Advance: Curious George Nintendo DS: Greg Hastings' Paintball 06 MAX'D DS, Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop DS PlayStation 2: Curious George PlayStation Portable: Mega Man Maverick Hunter X Xbox: Curious George PC: Dungeon Lords Collector's Edition, Curious George Highlights:

Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP) Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom A remake of the 1997 Super Nintendo game, Mega Man X, that brought marginally more mature stylings to the Mega Man 2D platformer franchise, Mega Man: Maverick Hunter Xis the first of a number of planned portable remakes of the series. This installment moves the game over to the PSP, adds a new coat of 3D paint, and spruces it up with some new villains and features. Buzz on the title seems positive, especially since it's one of the first side-scrolling PSP titles, oddly enough. Games Released in Europe: Game Boy Advance: Alien Hominid, Care Bears: Care Quest, Franklin the Turtle, Noddy: A Day in Toyland, Strawberry Shortcake: Ice Cream Island Riding Camp, The Koala Brothers: Outback Adventures, The Land Before Time: Into The Mysterious Beyond Nintendo DS: Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2, Franklin's Great Adventures, Sega Casino PlayStation 2: Rugby Challenge 2006, Sega Classics Collection, We Love Katamari Xbox: Rugby Challenge 2006 PC: Rome, Rome: Total War - Gold Edition, Rugby Challenge 2006 Highlights:

We Love Katamari (PlayStation 2) Developer: Namco Publisher: Electronic Arts Nearly two years after the original Katamari Damacy premiered in Japan, the series finally rolls its way into Europe, for the first time, with the follow-up sequel. Released in the United States last September, We Love Katamari picks up where the original left off. According to the game's storyline, the original Katamari Damacy was such a success that the King of the Cosmos has been inundated with requests from fans, which are the player's duty to fulfill. Electronic Arts, surprisingly, has picked up the European publishing rights. Sadly, EA has no immediate plans to bring the original game in the series to PAL territories, though with the overall improvements made in this sequel, one can see why. Games Released in Japan: Game Boy Advance: Magical Vacation, Oriental Blue Ao no Tengai, Tactics Ogre Gaiden Nintendo DS: Eyeshield 21: Max Devil Power, Hippatte! Puzzle Bobble PlayStation 2: Exciting Pro Wrestling 7 - Smackdown! vs. Raw 2006, Nobunaga no Yabou Kakushin, Tourist Trophy, Simple 2000 Ultimate Vol. 30: Kourin! Zokushi God PlayStation Portable: Jui: Dr. Touma Jotarou Xbox 360: Kameo: Elements of Power Highlights:

Tourist Trophy (PlayStation 2) Developer: Polyphony Digital Publisher: SCEI From Gran Turismo creators Polyphony Digital comes Tourist Trophy, a motorcycle simulation that takes place on the mean, narrow and winding streets of the famous Isle of Man event that has been a motorcycle racing staple since 1911. Like Gran Turismo, Sony plans to make Tourist Trophy an ongoing series of serious motorycle racing sims. We haven't seen much critical reception of the game yet, but with Polyphony's track record, Tourist Trophy is likely to find its audience.