Shippin' Out January 14-18: Nitrobike, Rail Simulator

Eye of the storm continues to pass over retail, as headliners join FlatOut, Samurai Warriors: Katana, and downloadables Burnout 3, Boogie Bunnies, Pac-Attack.

After a heavily loaded end of the year lineup and an impending and unseasonal ramp up of big-budget titles, most gamers probably won't be overly upset about the lull in titles at retail this week. However, a few drops continue to fall as the eye of the storm passes. While no title stands out above the rest this week, retro gamers may be pleased by the addition of Ubisoft's Nitrobike to the Nintendo Wii's library. Designed by the same team behind Excitebike for the Nintendo 64, Nitrobike lets racers strap a jet-engine to their bikes and hit the boost across off-road courses. Nitrobike offers both single and multiplayer action, as well as online functionality and is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older.

Automation is an identifiable theme for the week. Jack of All Games' Corvette Evolution squeals to a stop on Nintendo's DS. For those looking for a more measured pace, EA's Rail Simulator leaves the station for the PC, with eight different trains chugging across more than 1,900km of track. Sim software takes to the skies as well with Abacus Software's Carrier Strike Force, an add-on that boasts new jets and three aircraft carriers to Flight Deck 5.

Even the downloadable front has a stake in fast-moving vehicles, with Criterion Games' Burnout 3: Takedown being added to Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade as part of Xbox Originals. With Burnout Paradise slated to arrive for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next week, Burnout 3 can be purchased beginning this Monday for 1,200 Microsoft points ($15).

It won't all be fast and furious this week, however, thanks to the latest installment in Koei's line of Japanese-history-influenced brawlers. Samurai Warrior's: Katana is the developer's first effort on the Wii, and it is joined on Nintendo's popular console by Taito's minigame compilation Furu Furu Park, which boasts more than 30 individual games. On Wednesday, gamers will also be able to face off against legions of bunnies on Xbox Live Arcade with Boogie Bunnies, a match-three puzzler that will cost 800 Microsoft points ($10).

Nintendo only has two titles to add to the Wii's Virtual Console this week. Pac-Attack, a puzzle game influenced more by Tetris than the labyrinthine maze most closely associated with Namco's iconic pellet-muncher, hails originally from the Super Nintendo and will run for 800 Wii points ($8). Riot Zone, originally appearing on the TurboGrafx-CD, is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up and will also cost 800 Wii points ($8).

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

JANUARY 14, 2008
Burnout 3: Takedown (XBLA)
Pac-Attack (Wii VC)
Riot Zone (Wii VC)

JANUARY 15, 2008
Carrier Strike Force (PC)
Corvette Evolution GT (DS)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hard Evidence (Wii)
Furu Furu Park (Wii)
Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge (Wii)
Miami Nights: Singles in the City (DS)
Nitrobike (Wii)
Samurai Warriors: Katana (Wii)

JANUARY 16, 2008
Boogie Bunnies (XBLA)
Rail Simulator (PC)

JANUARY 17, 2008
No releases announced.

JANUARY 18, 2008
No releases announced.

24 Comments

  • meganscheetah

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 3:58 am PT

    Samurai warriors sounds good. Sux they wont make it for pS2.

  • CrazyRabbi

    Posted Jan 16, 2008 8:14 am PT

    Just 1 more game for Xbox Originals? The only thing worse is the XBLA releases we've been getting lately. No real arcade classics at all, just newly made crap that nobody asked for.

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 5:35 am PT

    Good thing I have a lot of games to play thanks to the holiday bombardment of quality titles. The releases this week just suck. Except for Burnout 3.

  • londonrider

    Posted Jan 15, 2008 12:59 am PT

    paradise pre-ordered (=all mustangs go to Heaven)

  • R_Land_Ram_24

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 8:16 pm PT

    its not going to be dull in feb 4th-10th because super smash bros brawl and devil may cry 4 comes out in the same week. its going to be fn SWEET

  • alberto2045

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 8:10 pm PT

    omg the month is about to end and theres no games for January?!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    Nothing this weekend

  • smitoraj2008

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 7:20 pm PT

    I'll buy burnout 3. However, I'm anxiously waiting for Burnout: Paradise.

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 7:02 pm PT

    It's actually pretty smart of MS to put out Burnout 3 right before Paradise comes out. Sorta like how Nintendo put out Metriod games on the VC before Metriod Prime 3 came out. And how Sony put out the original Warhawk on PSN in conjunction with the recent Warhawk content pack.

  • starfoxmcleoud

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 4:18 pm PT

    Sweet! First they bring people back into the Crimson Skies HRtR lobbies, now burners are taking to the streets again in Burnout 3? Hopefully they'll put life back into Mechassault 1&2, and drop people into the Unreal Championship 2 arenas once more.

  • APOLLOCJD

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    got burnout takedown today. since I never had a xbox, this game is amazing!

  • gin_rummy89

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 3:16 pm PT

    looks like a dull week...

  • SonyIsh6Fotta

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 3:07 pm PT

    I wish Burnout was coming to the PSN

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:46 pm PT

    Rail Simulator looks interesting, good to see Pac-Attack on the VC hopefully PAL regions get it later this week.

  • nini200

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:43 pm PT

    I'm actually looking forward to Nanostray 2 and Nitrobike. I loved the oldschool aspect of the first Nanostray and if the second one is anything like the first, it'll be another great old school R-Type kind of game. I'm mainly looking forward to Nitrobike so I can leave you all in the dust whilst showing off. Another game coming out this month that has intrigued me is Endless Ocean. Not sure what to make of that game yet. I'm a huge fan of the Dynasty/Samurai Warriors games but I'm not sure a first person aspect would do this game justice, unless coupled with online Massively Multiplayer Dynasty Battles. Not sure when No More Heroes is coming out but I want that game too.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:34 pm PT

    did GS suddenly adopt the philosophy of mainstream media that the only good news is horrible news? 'cause there's nothing but **** coming out this week, but they reported on it anyways

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    Looks like a pretty dull week..

  • brain20035

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    @Autolycus
    Totally!

  • Autolycus

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:22 pm PT

    : YAWN :

  • werc96

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:21 pm PT

    Wow...
    I cant wait for the first actual new relase week to look forward to...
    Whenever it is that gets here...
    For now...mediocre/budget titles galore

  • nyoroism

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:14 pm PT

    Nintendo Power gave Nitrobike a 3.5/10. NINTENDO POWER! I just hope they show some mercy here.

    Also, can't wait for Burnout next week.

  • _NeoN

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 2:13 pm PT

    Samurai Warriors: Katana and Nitrobike have me intrigued and than there's Carrier Strike Force for the PC.

  • razu_gamer

    Posted Jan 14, 2008 1:56 pm PT

    ubi make nitrobike good.

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