Release This: DS Chrono Trigger Heads Stateside; Japan Gets Layton Sequel

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. A Nintendo DS remake of Chrono Trigger heads this week's multiplatform lineup in North America, joining console offerings like Winter Sports 2 and NPPL Championship Paintball 2009. Gamers in the UK are set to receive Sonic Unleashed and Resistance 2, as Japan prepares for the Professor Layton sequel Layton Kyouju to Saigo no Jikan Ryokou. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending November 29th, 2008. Games Released in the United States:

The traditional pre-holiday release rush appears to be ending in North America, as this week offers up considerably fewer multiplatform debuts than previous weeks. Console offerings are sparse, with the Xbox 360 featuring only one new title in NPPL Championship Paintball 2009, while the Nintendo Wii receives a lineup that largely consists of cross-console ports and budget releases. A remake of Square Enix's classic Super NES RPG Chrono Trigger headlines this week's portable offerings. Nintendo DS owners will also see Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force, along with the puzzlers Cradle of Rome and Neopets Puzzle Adventure. Games Released in Europe:

Many of this week's planned European releases are set to hit store shelves in the UK before they arrive in other regions. Gamers in Europe will see a region-exclusive entry in Disney's Sing It! karaoke series this week on the PlayStation 2 and PS3, along with a trio of Planet Rescue releases on the Nintendo DS. Other UK-exclusive portable debuts include Petz: My Puppy Family, Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity and Peppa Pig for the Nintendo DS, while PSP owners receive the Sony-published Buzz! Brain Bender and Konami's Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Tag Force 3. Games Released in Japan:

Nintendo's long-awaited Professor Layton franchise sequel Layton Kyouju to Saigo no Jikan Ryokou debuts this week in Japan, arriving as the week's single most-preordered title across all platforms at online retailer Amazon.co.jp. The title debuts as the third entry in the Layton series -- last year's sequel, Layton Kyouju to Akuma no Hako, has yet to be announced for release in any region outside of Japan. The PlayStation Portable is set to see a sequel to last year's rhythm-action hit Patapon, meanwhile, as Wii owners receive anticipated releases like Naruto Shippuuden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX 3 and Rune Factory Frontier.