Release This: UK Gets PES 2008, Ratchet, Dracula X Make U.S. Debut

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 will see the highly anticipated Perfect Evolution Soccer 2008 debut across all platforms in Europe. The United States will enjoy awaited releases like Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles, meanwhile, as Japan prepares for Ar tonelico II and Final Fantasy Tactics A2. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending October 27th, 2007. Games Released in the United States:

This week marks a sudden ramping up of new releases in anticipation of the holiday season, with nearly 60 titles debuting across all platforms in North America in the coming days. Among these, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction ranks as this week's most-preordered console title at Amazon, while Flight Simulator X: Acceleration and Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008 pull in big presales on the PC. Nearly every platform is set to see its share of major releases this week. Castlevania fans are currently awaiting the release of the Dracula X subseries compilation Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles for the PSP, while on the Nintendo DS, two of Capcom's most popular franchises receive sequels in Mega Man ZX Advent and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations. Elsewhere, Sony's card-based The Eye of Judgment promises innovative gameplay via a bundled camera peripheral, as potential hits like The Sims 2: Castaway and Clive Barker's Jericho set their sights on multiple platforms. Games Released in Europe:

Though it was beaten to release by EA's FIFA Soccer 08 by nearly a month, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 is nevertheless picking up significant preorder steam in the days prior to its release in Europe. Amazon.co.uk reports that the title shows promising preorder sales across all platforms, with the PlayStation 3, PS2, and Xbox 360 versions currently ranking as the most popular. The week will also bring a number of titles to Europe several days in advance of their release in other regions. The Witcher and the Xbox 360 port of Virtua Fighter 5 in particular are gathering high amounts of prerelease interest, while the UK-exclusive SingStar R&B is likely to emerge as one of this week's biggest-selling PS2 debuts. Games Released in Japan:

Japan's offerings for this week offer a much more robust selection than previous weeks, with the Nintendo DS accounting for half of this week's new releases alone. Ar tonelico II: Sekai ni Hibiku Shoujo Tachi no Souzoushi currently garners the most preorders of any of this week's releases at Amazon.co.jp, though the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance sequel Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Fuuketsu no Grimoire promises a strong retail showing as well. Importers are likely to find interest in Sega's anticipated arcade shooter Ghost Squad, which will make its Japanese Wii debut nearly a full month prior to its scheduled U.S. release date. The budget-priced remake Sega Ages 2500: Vol. 31 Dennou Senki Virtual On should also prove to be a popular import, given the series' small but dedicated fanbase overseas.