Release This: Devil May Cry 4, Assassin's Creed DS Arrive Stateside

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. After a successful debut last week in Japan, Devil May Cry 4 makes its way to the United States and Europe this week on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Other U.S. standouts include Culdcept Saga, Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore, and a Nintendo DS-exclusive spinoff of Assassin's Creed. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending February 9th, 2008. Games Released in the United States:

Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners can expect to find Capcom's awaited sequel Devil May Cry 4 on store shelves in North America and the UK this week. Devil May Cry 4 heads a lineup of several multiplatform releases debuting this week, including the Karaoke Revolution series expansion American Idol Encore and the upcoming film-based The Spiderwick Chronicles. A variety of notable platform exclusives are set for release this week as well. Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles promises a unique Nintendo DS expansion of the franchise's recent console debut. On the Xbox 360, Culdcept Saga serves as sequel to the fantasy-themed board game Culdcept, a well-regarded cult hit that first saw U.S. release on the PlayStation 2 in 2003. Elsewhere, the PSP is set to receive the Lemmings-like puzzler Downstream Panic, while the PS2 gets a Koei-published strategy sequel in Nobunaga's Ambition: Rise to Power. Next week should offer another strong U.S. lineup, with highlights including the Mistwalker-developed RPG Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360 and a localization of the acclaimed Nintendo DS adventure title Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Games Released in Europe:

While many of this week's biggest UK debuts have previously been seen in other regions, gamers in Europe can also expect to find a variety of interesting exclusives in the coming days. Some of this week's more intriguing Europe-first localizations include the Nintendo-published edutainment title Professor Kageyama's Maths Training and Pic Pic, a puzzle title released in Japan early last year as Pic Pic: Toku to E ni Naru 3-tsu no Puzzle. The week will also see early UK releases for the Bizarre Creations-developed arcade-style shooter The Club and the Nintendo Wii adventure title Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None, neither of which will hit U.S. consoles until later this month. Games Released in Japan:

Japan scales back its multiplatform offerings in the wake of the previous week, which saw major releases like Devil May Cry 4 and Dairantou Smash Brothers X. The bulk of this week's Japanese lineup consists of license-based releases and sequels, with few standouts. On the Wii, Oneechanbara Revolution represents the latest leap D3's budget-priced Simple Series lineup has made to the current generation of consoles, preceded by last year's Earth Defense Force 2017 on the Xbox 360. Elsewhere, Princess Maker 5 is an anticipated PS2 port of the PC-born simulation title, while L: The Prologue to Death Note and Kidou Senshi Gundam: Giren no Yabou - Axis no Kyoui will likely appeal to fans of the Death Note and Gundam anime and manga franchises.