THIS WEEK’S RELEASES: OCTOBER 22ND – OCTOBER 28TH

There are a ton of quality titles coming to retail this time around, which makes it pretty hard to pick just one to call my “pick of the week”, but I’m going to do it anyway – because that’s just how I roll.

Taking everything into account, I’m going to put my money behind Sony’s The Eye of Judgment as pick of the week. Anytime a company is willing to try something a little different, it should be recognized – and Sony’s hybrid video/collectible card game is certainly falls into that category. While I find the game immensely interesting due to the massive variety of potential strategies that will no doubt appear over the next few weeks, I do worry that the title is going to see lackluster sales.

Between the perceived complexity of the title and the cost of the cards required to play the game competitively, I think a lot of people may be turned off before they ever even give the game a chance. I’ve also found that many game shops are unsure of whether or not they’ll be carrying the booster packs and theme decks at launch (or afterwards), meaning that the game could conceivably be hamstrung by card supply constraints.

I guess what I’m saying here is this – if you plan on buying this game, be sure to get the cards now while they’re still available – because if the game tanks, you may not see them on the shelves for long.

Here are the week’s retail highlights;

• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (360)
  • Namco Bandai’s “flight sim” comes to the Xbox 360. Expect more of the usual high-flying, I have 10,000 missiles action you’ve come to expect from the series. A bundle that includes a flight stick and throttle is available alongside the standard edition.
• Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (PC)
  • With Ensemble Studios working on Halo Wars, the reigns to the Age of Empires series have been handed over to Rise of Nations developer Big Huge Games. If you like the AoE series, this expansion pack shouldn’t disappoint.
• Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)
  • This one is probably the best reason to buy a PSP you’re going to see until the release of God of War: Chains of Olympus. Konami brings a remake of Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, (arguably) the greatest title of the Castlevania series, with upgraded graphics to North America for the first time. Making this one even more of a must buy for PSP owners is the inclusion of a direct port of the original PlayStation version of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. (Personally, my money is on Symphony being the best of the series, but then again, I never actually got to play Rondo.)
• King of Fighters XI (PS2)
  • SNK’s venerable fighting series returns for yet another round of combat. Pure 2D fighting goodness will hopefully ensue.
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials & Tribulations (DS)
  • More courtroom drama from Phoenix Wright and friends.
• The Eye of Judgment (PS3)
  • If our feature article on this one (along with the introduction to this week’s release list) hasn’t told you enough about this game, I don’t know what else will.
• Tomb Raider Anniversary (360)
  • The remake of Lara Croft’s first adventure makes the jump to the Xbox 360 this week. Please note: The downloadable content pack that will add Anniversary to the 360 version of Tomb Raider: Legend won’t be appearing until November. If you want the game right now, you’re gonna have to get it at retail.

Be sure to check out the below list for all the titles you can expect to find at retail this week.

• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation – 360 – 10/24/2007
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (with Flightstick) – 360 – 10/24/2007
• Agatha Christe: Evil Under the Sun – PC – 10/23/2007
• Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties – PC – 10/24/2007
• Age of Empires III: Gold – PC – 10/24/2007
• Barbie Island Princess – PC – 10/24/2007
• Cake Mania 2 – PC – 10/24/2007
• Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles – PSP – 10/24/2007
• Chessmaster – DS – 10/24/2007
• Clive Barker’s Jericho – 360 – 10/24/2007
• Clive Barker’s Jericho – PC – 10/24/2007
• Clive Barker’s Jericho – PS3 – 10/24/2007
• Clive Barker’s Jericho – Limited Edition (Gamestop Exclusive) – 360 – 10/24/2007
• Conan – 360 – 10/24/2007
• Conan – PS3 – 10/24/2007
• Culpa Innata – PC – 10/24/2007
• Dancing with the Stars – PS2 – 10/24/2007
• Dancing with the Stars – WII – 10/24/2007
• Dementium: The Ward – DS – 10/27/2007
• Dream Day Honeymoon – PC – 10/24/2007
• Ed, Edd & Eddy: Scam of the Century – DS – 10/24/2007
• Escape from Paradise City – PC – 10/23/2007
• Flight Simulator X: Acceleration – PC – 10/24/2007
• Front Mission – DS – 10/24/2007
• Hannah Montana: Music Jam – DS – 10/27/2007
• High School Musical – PS2 – 10/24/2007
• Imagine: Animal Doctor – DS – 10/24/2007
• Imagine: Babyz – DS – 10/24/2007
• Imagine: Fashion Designer – DS – 10/24/2007
• Imagine: Master Chef – DS – 10/24/2007
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights – PS3 – 10/23/2007
• King of Fighters XI – PS2 – 10/24/2007
• Mega Man ZX Advent – DS – 10/24/2007
• Moto GP 07 – PS2 – 10/24/2007
• Namco Museum Remix – WII – 10/24/2007
• Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution – WII – 10/24/2007
• Naruto: Path of the Ninja – DS – 10/24/2007
• Naruto: Rise of the Ninja – 360 – 10/24/2007
• NBC Heads Up Poker – PC – 10/24/2007
• Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots – DS – 10/24/2007
• Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots – PS2 – 10/24/2007
• Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots – WII – 10/24/2007
• Painkiller: Overdose – PC – 10/27/2007
• Panzer Killer – PC – 10/24/2007
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials & Tribulations – DS – 10/24/2007
• Pocket Pets – DS – 10/24/2007
• Power Rangers Super Legends – DS – 10/27/2007
• Ratatouille – PS3 – 10/24/2007
• Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction – PS3 – 10/24/2007
• Rise of Atlantis – PC – 10/24/2007
• Solitaire Overload – DS – 10/27/2007
• Spanish for Everyone – DS – 10/24/2007
• Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis – DS – 10/24/2007
• Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis – PS2 – 10/24/2007
• Super Collapse 3 – DS – 10/24/2007
• The Eye of Judgment – PS3 – 10/24/2007
• Titan Quest – Gold Edition – PC – 10/24/2007
• Tomb Raider Anniversary – 360 – 10/24/2007
• Warriors of the Lost Empire – PSP – 10/24/2007
• World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets – PC – 10/24/2007
• Yumsters – PC – 10/24/2007
• Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure – WII – 10/24/2007
• Zoo Hospital – DS – 10/24/2007

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.