On Shelves This Week: July 20 to July 26, 2008

Another week of On Shelves, and the major consoles are apparently missing in action. That doesn’t mean, however, that there won’t be any fun to be had in this week’s slew of game releases. Final Fantasy IV will finally be getting its turn in the DS spotlight, for one, and there are several other sports and adventure titles to keep you busy through the summer lull.

PC gamers take home the biggest slice of the game releases cake this week as everybody else looks to be rather occupied still with the revelations from the just-concluded E3. But that’s not to say that there are no bigwigs headed to other consoles.

There’s Final Fantasy IV for the DS, and you bet it ‘s gonna be HUGE. There’s also a couple of sports title (both for players and managers alike), as well as action-adventure games you wouldn’t want to miss. Check them out.

Final Fantasy IV – With Final Fantasy III making such a huge splash in Japan alone, it is no surprise that Square Enix would run another whole nine yards to bring back the beloved franchise back on the DS. And that’s exactly what we’re gonna get this week with the launch of Final Fantasy IV.

It’s now in full 3D and it features new episodes to get to that storyline at a deeper level, so to speak. Character designs have also been completely redone, so we’re sure that Squeenix will once again be giving us a whole new experience of an all-too familiar game.

• DS – July 22, 2008
• ESRB E10+
• US$ 39.99
• Square Enix

Baseball Mogul 2009 – See for yourself what it’s like to be in the team, but behind the scenes with this 11th edition of the Baseball Mogul franchise. Be smart and cunning as you iron out the kinks to get that all-star roster you want to have. This game boasts of being the most realistic baseball simulation you ban buy, so we guess there’s no other way to find out but to get it yourself, eh?

• PC
• ESRB Everyone
• Sports Mogul

Chess Crusade – You won’t find the traditional chess pieces in this game as Destination Software brings us medieval 3D pieces for this title. As Chess is inherently an intellectual game, it doesn’t mean it has to take on that serious look as well.

Knight pieces really are knights riding horses, complete with lances and spears, and royalties indeed are royalties for all their blue-blood is worth. To keep the fun rolling across those checkered boards, the pieces also do get into a face-off, as we can only imagine before when “eating” up the opponent’s pieces.

• DS, Wii – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Everyone
• DS: US$ 14.99; Wii: US$ 19.99
• Destination Software

Fate: Undiscovered Realms – Said to be the Diablo 2 clone, brings you back to the same excitement as the first Fate installment with an all new adventure. Put your weapons and wits to good use as you face dangerous dungeons, monsters and powerful magic. Be the master of your fate.

• PC – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Everyone+
• US$ 19.99
• Encore

Hunting Unlimited 2009 – As the title implies, it’s hunt all you want for this title. Everything’s game, if you know what we mean. But although you keep your eye on the target, do take the time out to also view North America’s breathtaking environments.

• PC – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Teen
• US$ 19.99
• Valusoft

Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns – Somebody here at QJ said before that Ninjas should never be unemployed. You know, they’re highly skilled and it’s just such a waste for them to be spending their days in bumhood. Well we do have one unemployed ninja in our midst, but that doesn’t mean she can’t provide us with adventure.

Izuna’s sidekick has disappeared in search of her long-lost sister, and at the same time, foreign gods have come to Japanese soil. They’re not that glad to have the incredulous unemployed ninja in their midst, and this she has to contend with on top of the search for her sidekick. Track em down, sister.

• DS – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Teen
• US$ 29.99
• Atlus

Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor – Brendan Fraser’s back with his witty gang of tomb adventurers in their challenge to defeat the revived servants of the Chinese Dragon Emperor. New characters join the team, and the movie’s also coming out next month.

• DS, Wii – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Rating Pending
• DS: US$ 29.99; Wii: US$ 49.99
• Sierra Entertainment

New International Track & Field – If you can’t afford to fly to Beijing for the Olympics, then you might as well just settle for this DS iteration of International Track & Field. If you’re a frustrated 100 meter dasher, or if you want to do pole vaults, even archery and javelin throwing, then you’ll find them all right here. If your character needs some boost in morale, you can use the unique Voice Boost feature incorporated here.

• DS – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Rating Pending
• US$ 29.99
• Konami

SNK Arcade Classics V.1 – This volume’s got the ultimate collection of arcade hits within the history of SNK. There’s 16 NEOGEO games on one disc, so that’s a whole lot of lovin’ for all you SNK fans out there.

• Wii – July 22, 2008
• ESRB Teen
• SVG

Suzuki Super-Bikes II: Riding Challenge  – Otherwise known as Crescent Suzuki Racing: Superbikes and Sidecars for the UK, this riding challenge gives to your hands the most badass motor babies of all. With 16 different racing circuits, it’s up to you to show who’s got game against other players or AIs. 25 superbikes await you, and you can pimp them up any way you want.

• DS – July 25, 2008
• ESRB Everyone
• US$ 19.99
• Valcon Games

Buy: [Final Fantasy IV (DS)]
Buy: [Baseball Mogul 2009 (PC)]
Buy: [Chess Crusade (Wii), (DS)]
Buy: [Fate: Undiscovered Realms (PC)]
Buy: [Hunting Unlimited 2009 (PC)]
Buy: [Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns (DS)]
Buy: [Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Wii), (DS)]
Buy: [New International Track & Field (DS)]
Buy: [Order Up (Wii)]
Buy: [Suzuki Super-Bikes II: Riding Challenge (DS)]