On Shelves This Week: March 3 to March 9, 2008

We’re in for a brutal week to kick this month off, marked by Kratos’ latest killing trip through God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP and Jimmy Hopkins’ enrollment for scholarship in Bullworth Academy. War is nigh with Warhammer 40K‘s latest expansion and Army of Two, though there’s still a couple of baseball titles inbound if you want a break from all the violence. All these are waiting at the full article, so hit that jump!

If last week enveloped you with cuteness, you’ll have to get out of that comfort zone and grow up as we’ll see a slew of harsh releases this time. Kratos is finally making his comeback to draw blood in God of War: Chains of Olympus, while Jimmy Hopkins will school you in the art of thuganomics in Bully: Scholarship Edition.

Of course, there will be enough shooting in Warhammer 40K‘s massive final expansion, and the action will be doubled by Army of Two. Those who aren’t into pulling the trigger can still get worked up by swinging their arms in Major League Baseball 2K8 and MLB 08: The Show. For everyone else, check out the list below.

Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery. For all your global domination needs, here’s a bite-sized title which allows you to explore and colonize the lands of the New World set in 18th century. This DS port from the PC promises smart use of the Stylus and a fresh combat system.

• Nintendo DS – March 4, 2008
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• SunFlowers and Ubisoft

Arctic Stud Poker Run. Ever get tired of kart racing? Developer Game Refuge apparently thought so, then made a racer with a twist – not only do you get the usual dose of heat-seeking missiles and dynamite snowmen, you’ll also be picking up playing cards for that winning hand.

• PC – March 3, 2008
• US$ 19.99
• Game Refuge and Got Game Entertainment

Army of Two. EA attempts to bring back the the days of two player co-op games, and it’s looking good. You’ll never want to fight alone in Army of Two, as your buddy can help by pulling Aggro (no, this is not an MMORPG) and keeping your health up.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 – March 4, 2008
• US$ 59.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Electronic Arts and EA Montreal

Bully: Scholarship Edition. After a long vacation, Jimmy Hopkins is coming back to school to set things straight and teach bullies not to mess with everyone the hard way. Bully: Scholarship Edition‘s iteration on the Wii introduces improved combat, while the 360 version is powered by an entirely new engine.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii – March 4, 2008
• US$ 49.99 (Xbox 360)
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Rockstar Games and Rockstar Vancouver

Eco Creatures: Save the Forest. Unlike your typical real-time strategy game, Eco Creatures: Save the Forest is layered with elements of nurturing adorable creatures before getting them into battle for the noble cause of defending the Mana Forest.

• Nintendo DS – March 4, 2008
• US$ 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Majesco Games and Lightweight

Field Ops. Whether you’re more of the strategic commander type or the gun-totting grunt, Field Ops has something fun to do. Real-time strategy meets first-person shooter to portray intense combat from all angles across over four different locations including Cuba and Afghanistan.

• PC – March 3, 2008
• US$ 39.99
• Atari and Freeze Interactive

Galactic Command – Echo Squad. Prepare for some heavy and lengthy firefights in space, because the release of Galactic Command – Echo Squad is just the first step as a pilot on the Excalibur carrier. Episodic content ensure that you’ll be getting a lot of out-of-this-world encounters from this space combat sim.

• PC – March 3, 2008
• GameTap and 3000AD

God of War: Chains of Olympus. He’s angry and he’s back to kill all sorts of creatures, this time on the PSP. Soon, we’ll be able to join Kratos in his painful travels as a pawn of the Gods of Olympus. It’s believed to be a brief adventure, but you’ll be battling against impressive mythical beasts that make Chains of Olympus worthwhile.

• Sony PlayStation Portable – March 4, 2008
• US$ 39.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Sony Computer Entertainment America and Ready at Dawn

Imagine Figure Skater. From Ubisoft’s line of Imagine games for girls comes an entry for aspiring figure skaters who want to live the life of a pro. Aside from displaying your graceful skating skills, Imagine Figure Skater touches the skater’s life off the rink.

• Nintendo DS – March 4, 2008
• US$ 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Ubisoft

Imperium Romanum. Visit ancient Rome all over again as a governor whose job is to lead a Roman settlement to success. Keep up with the times by playing in History Mode, which offers missions following real events that took place in actual locations.

• PC – March 4, 2008
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• SouthPeak Interactive and Haemimont Games

Legends of Norrath: Inquisitor. Faithful fans of the online card game will get some love with hundreds of new cards and 20 new loot heading their way. The expanded library opens up new strategies, while four-player raids provide new co-op opportunities.

• PC – March 7, 2008
• US$ 9.99 (58-card starter deck), US$ 2.99 (15-card booster packs)
• Sony Online Entertainment and SOE Denver

Let’s Ride: Friends Forever. Horse lovers have another title to look forward to, as THQ is letting loose its latest in the Let’s Ride stable. Raise a horse from a foal to a full-grown friend who you can join you in relaxing rides.

• Nintendo DS – March 3, 2008
• US$ 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• THQ

MLB ’08: The Show. SCEA’s own league is flying home to PlayStation platforms with new features and a plethora of improvements. The Show‘s career mode shines on the field as the most immersive experience in which you can take your own character through all the facets of baseball.

• Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable – March 4, 2008
• US$ 59.99 (PS3), US$ 29.99 (PSP)
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• SCEA

Major League Baseball 2K8. 2K Sports’ offering this season takes the competition up a notch with more convincing hits due to the Swing Stick 2.0, coupled with enhanced precise throws using real-world physics. For hardcore fans, there are also trading cards.

• Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Wii – March 3, 2008
• US$ 59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3), US$ 49.99 (Wii), US$ 29.99 (PSP)
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• 2K Sports

Mysterious Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer. The classic SNES RPG’s legacy lives on, as Shiren’s travels lead him to the Nintendo DS. Improved visuals and new places to explore sound fun, but the best part is that you now have a chance to avoid death by calling a friend through Wi-Fi to pick you up from the ground.

• Nintendo DS – March 4, 2008
• US$ 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Sega and ChunSoft

Ninja Reflex. Because walking the path of a ninja is difficult, Ninja Reflex can help by developing your reflexes through activities such as catching fireflies with chopsticks and striking down demons with your katana. When the day is done, you can also get meditation lessons from sensei.

• Nintendo Wii, DS – March 4, 2008
• US$ 29.99 (DS)
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Electronic Arts and Sanzaru Games/Nunchuck Games

Petz Bunnyz. Choose one from five bunny breeds, customize your bunny’s environment, then feed your furry friend – everything you’d want from a bunny care sim is here. Just like Nintendogs, it’s also possible to teach your bunny to recognize greetings and phrases. Be nice enough, then you get to unlock new items!

• Nintendo DS – March 4, 2008
• US$ 29.99
• ESRB E (Everyone)
• Ubisoft

Stranger. The fine line between light and dark is thinning, and it’s up to you to and your brute force or magic to find out why. Single player mode is no stranger to teaming up with allies, though multiplayer of up to eight players is where your RTS skills will be tested.

• PC – March 3, 2008
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Fireglow

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm. As if it wasn’t epic enough, Warhammer 40K is reaching new heights by adding two new completely playable factions to the roster – bringing the total to nine, the number other RTS games haven’t reached. Plays will have to rethink their strategies, as the Dark Eldar and Sisters of Battle will join the line-up to introduce new elements such as the harvest of souls and the Faith system.

• PC – March 4, 2008
• US$ 39.99
• ESRB M (Mature)
• THQ and Relic

Buy: [Army of Two (Xbox 360), (PS3)]
Buy: [Bully: Scholarship Edition (Wii)]
Buy: [Eco Creatures: Save the Forest (DS)]
Buy: [God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)]
Buy: [Imagine Figure Skater (DS)]
Buy: [Imperium Romanum (PC)]
Buy: [Let’s Ride: Friends Forever (DS)]
Buy: [MLB 08: The Show (PS3), (PSP)]
Buy: [Major League Baseball 2K8 (Xbox 360), (PS3), (PSP), (Wii)]
Buy: [Ninja Reflex (Wii), (DS)]
Buy: [Petz Bunnyz (DS)]
Buy: [Stranger (PC)]
Buy: [Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm (PC)]