PSP set to unleash dragons' fury as countdown to Christmas begins
The next eight days in handheld games
With respect to the other games turning up on the shelves of your local video game emporium, the big release news this week is actually about next week.
You see, that's when Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is due to show up.
Why the focus on dragon-slaying RPG? Well, because before it came out in Japan it set a new record for the highest number of pre-orders for a PSP game. And then, when it did emerge, it sold half a million copies. In one day.
We've been tracking the game's slow migration over to our continent, along with details of the western version and any video footage that has escaped prior to its arrival here, with great interest.
That's partly because we're genuinely looking forward to a second chance to get absorbed in the Monster Hunter universe (we very much enjoyed the first Monster Hunter Freedom) and mostly because we suspect we're only one of many, many others.
As such, next week's release should equate to the start of the PSP's attempt at capturing the Christmas handheld market.
And, naturally, we can't wait to see the DS retaliate.
Europe: Out August 31stBrian Lara 2007: Pressure Play (PSP)
Dragonball Z: Goku Densetsu (DS)
Dynasty Warriors DS: Fighters Battle (DS) (Click to read our review.)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (DS)
Worms: Open Warfare 2 (DS)
Worms: Open Warfare 2 (PSP) Europe: Out September 7th
Alien Syndrome (PSP) (Click to read our review.)
Full Metal Alchemist (DS)
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (PSP)
Nervous Brickdown (DS)
Tales of the World Radiant Mythology (PSP)
Valhalla Knights (PSP) US: Out September 4th
Garfield: Nightmares (DS)
Worms: Open Warfare 2 (DS)
Worms: Open Warfare 2 (PSP) Click on any of the above European games to buy, and click 'Track It!' to be alerted via email when we post this essential weekly guide.
