Shippin' Out May 22-26: Heroes of M&M V, Table Tennis

Quartet of PSP games command midfielders, Field Commanders, homicidal monster hunters, suicidal critters; Jaws finally breaks surface.

By Tim Surette, GameSpot

Posted May 23, 2006 12:43 pm PT

With the NHL and NBA playoffs whittling down championship contenders and breaking the hearts of fans all over the country (maybe next year, Clippers), now is a perfect time to take all the funds that would have gone to BBQ materials or that Stanley Cup-shaped cake and buy some new games. This week's slate of releases, while more expansive than last week's slim pickings, touches base on several platforms save for the DS.

The most interesting name on the list of releases comes from Rockstar Games, home of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the Manhunt franchise, and the upcoming Bully game. However, unlike the games mentioned above, violence and controversy aren't the name of the game--unless one's idea of violence is hitting a small plastic ball hard. The publisher's first Xbox 360 game, Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis, was released today. Uzis and Tec-9s have been replaced with Ping Pong paddles in this simulation of the popular international sport.

One of gaming's longest-running franchises makes its return to store shelves in Heroes of Might and Magic V, the first M&M game published by Ubisoft. The fantasy-based real-time strategy features an all-new single-player campaign, as well as five multiplayer modes. Earlier this year, M&M fans rallied to postpone the game's release, saying the beta test didn't do the series justice. As of today, gamers can find out for themselves if the extra time in development appeased the M&M gods.

The PSP gets a quartet of new games this week, spanning a wide range of genres. Footie fans can inject themselves with some World Cup fever on the road with Electronic Arts' 2006 FIFA World Cup. Those who would rather play Patton than Beckham can lead their own armies in the strategy game Field Commander. If violence directed at humans doesn't sound appealing, gamers can take some swings at some evil creatures with Capcom's role-player Monster Hunter Freedom, based on the Monster Hunter G game for the PlayStation 2. Finally, one of gaming's landmarks returns in Lemmings, from Worms developer Team 17.

Several games did some release-date shuffles this week as well. Zoo Tycoon 2's expansion pack, African Adventure, is now running wild in stores, as is the Game Boy Advance game Backyard Baseball 2007. Jaws Unleashed, originally set to come out last August, is finally terrorizing store shelves. However, as some games shuffled into this week, it appears some have shuffled out. Ubisoft's PC ports of Capcom's Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition have apparently been delayed.

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

MAY 22, 2006
Backyard Baseball 2007 (GBA)
2006 FIFA World Cup (PSP)
Table Tennis (X360)
Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure (PC)

MAY 23, 2006
Rogue Trooper (PC, PS2, Xbox)
Jaws Unleashed (Xbox, PS2)
Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC)
Monster Hunter Freedom (PSP)
Steambot Chronicles (PS2)
Field Commander (PSP)
Lemmings (PSP)

MAY 24, 2006
Teen Titans (PS2, GC)

43 Comments

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samekila

I have had jaws on preorder for 7 months now on xbox hope its good I loved the movies back in the day

Posted May 24, 2006 4:49 pm PT
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_sean_05

steambot chronicles FTW!

Posted May 24, 2006 7:33 am PT
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chrisdojo

table tennis is still kinda LOL imo.

Posted May 24, 2006 4:57 am PT
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lageasy311

how does this make psp look weak? I guess yea, compared to brain games psp does suck.....I mean who wouldn't want brain games, i need to buy me a copy so i can do middle school puzzles all over again cuz that's fun!!

Posted May 23, 2006 11:45 pm PT
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LordGamer0001

yay table tennis

Posted May 23, 2006 9:00 pm PT
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Posted May 23, 2006 8:59 pm PT
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NeoJedi

Nothing interesting this week... that Table Tennis game looks weak.

Posted May 23, 2006 8:57 pm PT
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nintendorocks

Heros of Might and Magic V is gonna be great

Posted May 23, 2006 8:08 pm PT
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nacho4511

This just makes the DS look like the king and the psp like the princess.

Posted May 23, 2006 7:52 pm PT
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blackhawk887

i personally have no interest in psp/ds...
table tennis seems like a renter...

nothing interesting this week
rogue trooper is a worthy mention though

blood money will do AWESOME when it releases

Posted May 23, 2006 7:05 pm PT
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FlashGordon

Some of us are still celebrating the NHL

LETS GO OILERS, LETS GO!!

Posted May 23, 2006 5:41 pm PT
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Bombbay12345

I can't wait to see Rouge Trooper, I've been looking forward to playing it.

Posted May 23, 2006 4:23 pm PT
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Rockclmbr6

Table Tennis looks awesome. I'll be picking it up tomorrow, especially with the 9/10 reviews coming out.

Posted May 23, 2006 4:02 pm PT
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youwillbesorry

it kinda sucks that resident evil 4 for the pc got delayed... Oh well

Posted May 23, 2006 3:44 pm PT
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waynehead895

I'll wait for next month... July will be a good month for 360 too!

Posted May 23, 2006 3:23 pm PT
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runstalker

Despite 7.0-range reviews, I hear good things about the PSP Monster Hunter from friends. It's supposed to be really addicting, in a Diablo'ish sense. Tons of random weapons and armor and items to find, unlimited dungeons, really easy to pick up, etc. And 4p co-op (local). Otherwise only Heroes V stands out.

Posted May 23, 2006 3:07 pm PT
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EvanO_O

Great games for the PSP. Can't wait for Hitman and Grand Theft Auto.

Posted May 23, 2006 3:06 pm PT
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DanteKiller

Yes! Lemmings, Field Commander, Monster Hunter Freedom, and Jaws Unleashed are finally out!

Posted May 23, 2006 2:21 pm PT
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comthitnuong

doesnt look good...maybe field commander

Posted May 23, 2006 2:18 pm PT
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thrashr20

Well... Not great games but it'll do.

Posted May 23, 2006 2:17 pm PT
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doomsoth

Not one thing worth purchasing.

Posted May 23, 2006 2:03 pm PT
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SimeonSLeVeLUp

Can't wait to play Rogue Trooper, has been called the first sleeper hit of the year.

Posted May 23, 2006 2:01 pm PT
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Toys_R_us_cop

Table Tennis Kicks ass

Posted May 23, 2006 2:00 pm PT
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Fallout_red

I'm looking forward to Jaws. Rogue Trooper was not that great.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:57 pm PT
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trancejeremy

Anyway, while I personally don't get the appeal of it, Monster Hunter is an incredibly popular game, and the PSP version appears to be the best yet. It was the biggest selling PSP title in Japan and I would not be surprised if it does nearly as well in the US.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:55 pm PT
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UntoldDreams

Field Commander looks awesome! I love strategy games! I tried, honestly I tried to go back and play Advance Wars on gameboy but after using the PSP I just can't... The visuals hurt my eyes now on GBA games...

It's PSP or nothing for me now in the handheld space...
:-)

Did they get an intern to write this or something? Someone who doesn't know anything about games. First off, in "Monster Hunter", you hunt well, monsters. So you are hardly "homicidal". And they aren't monsters in the "evil" sense, they are monsters in the fantastic sense - it's basically a hunting sim.

Secondly, Heroes of Might & Magic is not a real time strategy game, it's turn based. Yes, turn based games on the PC still exist, though they are quite rare.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:52 pm PT
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FoxHoundADAM

I'm probably picking up Field Commander. Looks like the game I've been waiting for.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:38 pm PT
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blackIceJoe

To faridmon I see a lot more PSP's selling some time soon.There are many good game's coming out soon for the PSP.

Plus I have a DS and I use my PSP more.I have a lot more fun games on my PSP plus Music and even Video's.Not saying I do not like the DS just prefer my PSP.

Plus why buy a DS Lite when you have a DS already I own one and do not plan on spending more money on another system when the one I own works fine.

Plus I would prefer to use the money on a new game for the DS over a DS lite.That is one thing I do not get I keep hearing about people that own a DS and plan on selling it to EB games or Gamestop.You will not get that much money for it.I think it is good to see a new system out for the DS just do not get why people have to buy both.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:31 pm PT
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LinkinPrime

LOL, I quickly glanced at the article, saw M&M I figured it was a game based on the candies.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:30 pm PT
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Xanog1

Monster Hunter and Heroes of Might and Magic 5 look the best.
Can't wait to pick up MH:F!

Posted May 23, 2006 1:29 pm PT
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acamike

No DS or x360 games?... Maby next week..

Posted May 23, 2006 1:27 pm PT
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OmegaOrtega

faridmon

Please, get pass grade school english before trying to insult others.

VGMusicFreak

finally steambot chronicles comes out. I have been waiting for that game since the demo.

Also if you were looking into HOMM5, the game is REALLY hard and too hard imo just in case you were looking into it and dont like a challenge.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:26 pm PT
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Reetesh

Lemmings for PSP will be awesome its HANDHELD material.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:23 pm PT
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paradyme777

Cool, next week will be better...Hitman...all I got to say.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:17 pm PT
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Awesome stuff I have been looking into Rogue Trooper and that games looks like it will be a fun game.

Monster Hunter Freedom is a game I will get for my PSP and Field Commander came out last tuesday and is an awesome game.

I think the PSP's games keep getting better and better.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:16 pm PT
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sk8w_pace

Faridmon needs to learn English.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:13 pm PT
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_LEGIONS_

Chomp Chomp! JAWS is in town

Posted May 23, 2006 1:11 pm PT
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faridmon

those will not sell the more PSP, Dexter and syphon filter game should but i don't see more PSP sold, sony fan, just wait till DSLite comes, the PSP wiil collect dusts again
go nintendo.

Posted May 23, 2006 1:00 pm PT
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linegrinds

table tennis!!!

Posted May 23, 2006 12:56 pm PT
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Donkeljohn