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Shippin' Out April 14-18: GT5 Prologue, Wii Okami

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Apr 14, 2008 1:51 pm PT

Sony revs up a taste of new sim, Capcom's PS2 adventure finds new home, and PC gamers welcome Europa Universalis: Rome, Turok.

Normally a sample of an upcoming game is released as a free demo, or perhaps dangled as a promotional incentive for people who preorder the title. This week's release schedule sees an exception, as Sony will start selling Gran Turismo 5 Prologue for the PlayStation 3 at retailers and through its own downloadable game service for $39.99.

However, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is much more than a simple demo. The game includes more than 70 vehicles and six different tracks (with some alternate layouts thrown in for good measure). On top of that, it marks the first time the series has gone online, with multiplayer races for up to 16 players.

While this Gran Turismo side project is the first to be sold in the US, Japanese gamers have been offered similar titles before. In addition to Gran Turismo 4 Prologue, Sony released a handful of stripped-down Gran Turismo Concept games, featuring as yet undeveloped cars featured in international auto shows.

Beyond that, it's a light week for console releases. Only the Wii has other retail releases scheduled, as Nintendo's system is set to receive ports of the PlayStation 2 hit Okami and the PC offering Dream Pinball 3D, as well as Summer Sports: Paradise Island.

PC gamers have a little more to look forward to, starting with Europa Universalis: Rome, the latest installment in the long-running strategy franchise. This week also sees the PC receiving a port of the Xbox 360 and PS3 shooter Turok, as well as a new Sherlock Holmes title and another Sims 2 accessory pack.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue might be the highest-profile downloadable launch of the week, but as usual, the Wii and Xbox 360 are both adding to their online catalogs. The frantic Sega Genesis arcade shooter Mega Turrican can be added to the Virtual Console for 800 Wii points ($8), while Sega Master System shooter Fantasy Zone is available for 500 Wii points ($5).

Over on the Xbox Live Arcade, Pinball FX developer Zen Studios is set to launch its stand-alone Rocky and Bullwinkle minigame collection this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft points ($10). Atari also has another remake headed to the downloadable game service, as its original arcade tank game Battlezone will be released for 400 Microsoft points ($5). As with other Atari revamps, Battlezone will include original and enhanced versions of the game.

This week's new releases are listed below (list compiled from publisher and retailer information--actual dates may vary).

APRIL 14, 2008
Major League Baseball 2K8 Fantasy AllStars (DS)
Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis (PC)
Dream Pinball 3D (Wii)
Mega Turrican (Wii Virtual Console)
Fantasy Zone (Wii Virtual Console)

APRIL 15, 2008
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (retail) (PS3)
High School Musical 2: Work This Out! (DS)
Okami (Wii)
Europa Universalis: Rome (PC)
Cory in the House (DS)
Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys! (DS)
Final Fantasy XI: Vana'diel Collection 2008 (PC)
The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff (PC)
Rondo of Swords (DS)
Turok (PC)
Summer Sports: Paradise Island (Wii)

APRIL 16, 2008
Rocky and Bullwinkle (Xbox Live Arcade)
Battlezone (Xbox Live Arcade)

APRIL 17, 2008
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (downloadable) (PS3)

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58 Comments

  • viet1125

    Posted Apr 28, 2008 9:29 am PT

    Okami PS2 and then Wii. Why not PC??!!

  • Tenjikuronin

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 10:18 pm PT

    Okami sounds cool. I'll have to check it out.

  • n3ck

    Posted Apr 19, 2008 5:04 pm PT

    Save ur money GT ISN'T WORTH PLAYING FOR FREE.

  • monkeyd_93

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 4:03 am PT

    i wish i had a ps3, but i dont have a hdtv to fully experience the detail plus its $700 for the 40GB value pack with gt5, better a get a job lol

  • link631

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 3:34 pm PT

    got okami today playing right now its better than PS2

  • tootergray34

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 11:42 am PT

    WHAT?! No Xenogears remake? maybe next week...yes next week for sure

  • zekere

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:16 am PT

    I own GT5 prologue since two weeks (live in Europe) and it is the best looking racing sim ever . With the damage download upgrade released later this year and more tracks in the vicinity, you can't go wrong . Yeah, it's not the full game, but there's still much GT to enjoy, and 16 players !! That's an absolute joy !! As an xbox 360 fan I must admit that the lineup of games is veeeerrry poor this year so far !!

  • Dualmask

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:04 am PT

    So many games, so little money...I had to get Gamefly just to keep up, but some games, you just gotta own.

    While GT5 Prologue may only be a partial game, knowing Gran Turismo, it's probably enough of a game to keep me busy for a while. Still, dunno if I'm going to get it.

    I definitely want Okami though. Gotta support high quality 3rd party releases on Wii, plus I never played the original because my PS2 died. I'm looking forward to seeing it in action.

  • GodOfSyn

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:02 am PT

    Dude there are plenty of hits for the PS3 and more coming today, you can't be dissing it and calling it a pile of crap, it rocks man, it's a home theatre guru's wet dream, I know it's mine. They have an update today that allows it to now do DTS-HD. I didn't even buy that crappy hd-dvd player for the 360 because the A30 was so much better.

  • FallenAngelXBL

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 8:42 am PT

    Anyone who played Okami on the PS2, if they had even half a brain would have though immediately "this game would be fantastic on the wii". The PS2 version was excellent, and one of the best looking games iv seen ever(stylized graphics kick the **** out of generic graphics). Okami, another GoTY i think...

  • TheVinster

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 8:38 am PT

    It's so amusing how people give bias negative comments. Who cares if they say they want a Wii game, instead of your silly GT, it's not like he's calling it out. Like I just did.

    Anyway, nothing good for this week. GT is only part of a game, Okami is port of, apparently, a great game, and Turok is just plain bad.

  • dav1000

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 8:04 am PT

    gt5 prologue is already out in england? my mate downloaded it off of the sony store... or is this just for the US.

  • twistedhades

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 7:42 am PT

    More details have emerged on the new PS3 80 GB Metal Gear Solid 4 Pack, which is apparently the replacement for the 80GB Motorstorm Pack in North America. The 80GB Motorstorm Pack has essentially disappeared from most retailers shelves as Sony shifts production to this new 80GB pack.

    This morning, Amazon listed the following new details: Product Description Introducing the PlayStation 3 Metal Gear Solid 4 Bundle. This limited edition bundle includes the highly-anticipated Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots game, new DualShock 3 wireless controller, voucher for free downloadable Pain game, free PlayStation Network membership, internet ready Wi-Fi, and 80GB of hard disk storage for all your games, music, videos, and photos. Every PS3 comes with a built-in Blu-ray player to give you the best high-definition viewing experience and pristine picture quality. Plus, the PS3 can play your entire catalog of CDs and DVDs. The product will come with the following items: o Metal Gear Solid 4 game o Dualshock 3 Controller o Voucher for free downloadable Pain game o Blu-ray player o 80GB HDD A European GTA IV PS3 40GB Bundle was recently revealed, but is a one in the works for North America as well?

  • dmish82

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:41 am PT

    2 More Days til Prologue!!!

  • aBathingApe_

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:05 am PT

    Prologue will sell well, as will Okami. Other than that there is really nothing here that is dazzling. I won't be buying any new games this week. Still waiting for GTA4. =\

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 4:32 am PT

    played okami already but will play it again on wii. sounds stupid but i loved the game, plus the good reviews due to better graphics and improved controls with the wii remote makes the already awesome game even better. i'm sure i won't regret this just like when i re-bought re4 for wii. let's support QUALITY games.

  • sean_ph

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 2:36 am PT

    its GT5 Prologue, not GT5.

  • Viral-venom13

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 10:55 pm PT

    Grand Turismo 5 and Okami r the top running dogs here!

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