Release This: Mario, Assassin's Head Major Release Week

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. This week brings a flood of new releases to the United States and Europe, including anticipated heavy-hitters like Super Mario Galaxy, Assassin's Creed, and SimCity Societies. Dozens more titles are scheduled to hit store shelves as well, ensuring a busy shopping season in the weeks ahead in both regions. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending November 17th, 2007. Games Released in the United States:

This week represents what could be the most significant release period the United States has seen so far this year. Super Mario Galaxy and Assassin's Creed stand out as the week's most anticipated console titles, and both promise to provide strong cross-platform sales throughout the holiday season. Many more big names and respected franchises are represented in this week's lineup of more than 80 new U.S. releases. On the Nintendo Wii, Geometry Wars: Galaxies and Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles are gathering large amounts of prerelease anticipation and preorder sales, while on other platforms, releases like Crysis, BlackSite: Area 51, and Kane & Lynch: Dead Men offer a diverse selection for shooter fans. PlayStation 3 owners will soon enjoy Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, meanwhile, as the Nintendo DS hosts awaited sequels in titles like Contra 4 and Cooking Mama 2. Games Released in Europe:

The bulk of this week's most significant North American releases will also find release in the UK, marking a refreshing change in the expected delays that usually affect the PAL market. Gamers in Europe will enjoy Super Mario Galaxy, Assassin's Creed, and SimCity Societies soon after their release overseas, and region-exclusive releases like Big Catch Bass Fishing, Let's Yoga, and International Cricket Captain III make for an even more interesting UK lineup overall. Games Released in Japan:

Japan continues to lag behind other regions in its quantity of weekly releases, and awaited titles like Crysis and Assassin's Creed are not scheduled to make their Japanese debut until later this month. In the meantime, gamers in Japan can look forward to Biohazard Umbrella Chronicles, the TV series-based Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou, and two new entries in Hudson's Dungeon Explorer series, neither of which has received a Western release date.