The next eight days in handheld games

As the quadrennial rollercoaster known as the World Cup looms, and even game publishers – who let's be honest are pretty thick-skinned at the best of times – have to take notice, so the number of games hitting the high street dries up.

Still, it's taken Square Enix 15 years to release a standalone version of Final Fantasy IV (previously only available in Europe as part of Final Fantasy Anthology) so it's not going to back down in the face of a football.

More surprising, however, is Sony's decision to push back its PSP game World Tour Soccer 2006 to the 23rd June. Perhaps the close proximity of 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany's release, as well as April's duo Championship Manager 2006 and Football Manager Handheld, makes it sensible to wait until half the starting teams have been knocked out, and hence disappointed fans get itching fingers?

Still, there are two crackers lined up for release next week.

Nintendo' innovative Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? game may see Mr Kawashima downgraded from Professor to a mere Dr in making it to these shores, but it will still be fascinating to see if UK OAPs take to the game like Japan's oldies.

Also racking up the years - a decade old in November, but still in peak physical condition - lovely Lara brings her latest adventure to PSP on the same day too.