Shippin' Out April 18-24: Monster Hunter Tri

April trundles on with a relatively light release schedule, as this week sees Capcom's Wii-exclusive Monster Hunter Tri make a splash at retailers and precious little else.

Monster Hunter Tri brings the series' familiar gameplay formula to a new platform, as players are tasked with hunting a variety of monsters across various environs, with Capcom introducing underwater levels for this latest installment. The game supports both Wii Remote and Nunchuk controls, as well as the traditional Classic Controller gamepad and the Classic Controller Pro, which also launches this week. The game will be available on its own for $50 or in a bundle with a black Classic Controller Pro for $60. Those wanting the controller but not the game will be able to buy it a la carte in white and black versions for $20.

If Monster Hunter Tri isn't one's cup of tea, then the week's new release schedule for retail games looks pretty light. The PSP edition of Blood Bowl is expected to make its belated debut in stores, and THQ's DS collection of rhythm-based minigames Beat City also grooves its way onto shelves.

Fortunately, a handful of notable downloadable titles are scheduled to arrive to feed gamers' new release appetites. 2K Play's pie-thieving puzzler The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom will make its downloadable debut on the PC, while Sega's arcade remake After Burner Climax takes off on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network this week.

For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later in the week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

April 19, 2010
Blood Bowl--PSP--Focus Home Interactive

April 20, 2010
Beat City--DS--THQ
Monster Hunter Tri--Wii--Capcom
Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom--PC--2K
All Star Karate--Wii--THQ
Wii Classic Controller Pro (black or white)--Wii--Nintendo

April 21, 2010
After Burner Climax--360--Sega

April 22, 2010
After Burner Climax--PS3--Sega
Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper--360--Dreamcatcher