This week's highlights

Cross Edge (PS3)
Cross Edge is yet another game that not too many people expected to see released in the US. After all, if a two-company crossover like Namco x Capcom didn't make it, what chance was there for one that involved five? Thankfully, NISA was able to pull off the impossible and make this playable for those who don't speak Japanese.

I'm going to be reviewing this soon so I won't go into too much detail on how the game plays. I did check it out at the NISA event a few weeks back and it looked good. However, I'm still a little weary since it is an Idea Factory game after all. I've heard some rumblings that the game is all fanservice. With Capcom, Gust, Idea Factory, Namco Bandai, and Nippon Ichi working together to bring us a game that features many familiar characters from various properties, that's understandable. But, as one of my fellow writers reminded me, the game can be good and deliver on the fan service at the same time. We'll find out soon enough.

Yosumin! (XBLA)
To me, Yosumin! is one of the better puzzlers on the DS right now, but for some odd reason, it never saw the light of day in the US. Luckily, Square Enix has at least seen fit to release the XBLA version over here. Sure, we miss out on playing it on the go with a touch screen, but maybe playing the game on a big screen with the 360's horrific d-pad really isn't that bad...

In Yosumin!, your goal is to create squares and rectangles out of the same type of yosumin (the colorful smiley faces). Once you do that, all yosumin within the formation will disappear and be replaced with new ones. Most of the levels require you to clear out a certain number of each type, and of course, there is a timer that you have to keep an eye on. If it's anything like the DS version, some levels have requirements that go beyond just clearing a certain number of yosumin, so there is some variety there. I'm still hoping for the DS version some day, but in the mean time, this should suffice as long as the 360's d-pad doesn't sour the experience.

Crimson Gem Saga (PSP)
This is the sequel to Astonishia Story, a Korean developed RPG that first came out on the PC in the early 90s and was subsequently released for the PSP back in 2005. That release didn't do very well, which is probably one of the reasons the name was changed. Fortunately, Crimson Gem Saga appears to be a vast improvement over its predecessor in every way, so if the name change means more sales for a better game, I'm all for it.

Crimson Gem Saga is a turn-based RPG which stars Killian, a young man who always seems to come in second place in everything he does. His life changes when he meets a treasure hunting elf named Spinel. We join them as they seek out something called the Wicked Stone. What sets this apart from other RPGs is its ambush system. Basically, if you can sneak up on an enemy fast enough, you will be able to inflict massive damage before the fight even begins. However, if you are not quick enough and the enemy ambushes you instead, it can bring you to the brink of death just as quickly. At the very least, this system makes grinding a lot easier if you know how to exploit it, which is something we can all appreciate.

Zenonia (iPhone/iPod Touch)
This is the second Korean-developed RPG that I'm talking about this week. Is this a new trend? If it means more variety, bring it on!

At last, a console-quality RPG on the iPhone. I was blindsided by this release as I was putting this column together, so I don't know too much about it. I do know that it makes use of an on-screen d-pad, it supposedly lasts around forty hours, and it costs a measly $6. Many of the reviews so far liken the game to A Link to the Past. You can decide for yourself whether or not it's in the same league as that classic by finding it in the App Store or by going to this link to access it in iTunes.

Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past (DS)
Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past is essentially Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles with the three episodes that were missing from Chronicles (they were removed when the game was localized for some reason), a better translation effort, and a few other bonuses. The first didn't fare too well, possibly because of the missing episodes and also because the localization was said to be dry and uninteresting, so hopefully Aksys did a better job this time around. Actually, the scores would have been low even if Aksys did a great job with the localization since visual novels usually review very poorly (unless it's an Ace Attorney game). The most important thing to look at with these types of games is the story; if the reviewers still say that the story sucks this time around, then you know it's a good idea to step away.

Gyakuten Kenji (DS Import)
I have no doubt that this will find its way to America sooner rather than later. The Japanese versions of these games used to come with an English option, but unfortunately, it looks like we're SOL this time around as there is no such option to be found here. Oh well...

Days of Memories 3 (DS Import)
As with the first and second ones, this is a compilation of a few of the cell phone dating sims that star characters from SNK Playmore's various properties. Here is the roster:

from Days of Memories 7: Athena, Leona, Kula, Angel, Whip
from Days of Memories 8: Mai, Yuri, Mina, Xiao Lon, Nakoruru
from Days of Memories 9: Athena, Rose, Mai, Hotaru, Hibiki

The trailer for Days of Memories 3 features some highly suggestive images, which tells me that we will never see the game in the US. Then again, someone is finally bringing Sakura Wars to America, so you never know.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS Import)
This Kingdom Hearts takes place between the first and second PS2 games and appears to center on Roxas. No domestic release date has been announced yet, but it's appearance here is inevitable as there is already an official US site here.

The other US releases

Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships (PC)
Crazy Chicken: Atlantis Quest (DS)
Crazy Chicken: Pharaoh's Treasure (DS)
Crazy Chicken: Star Karts (DS)
Damnation (360, PC, PS3)
Fallout 3 Game Add-On Pack - The Pitt and Operation Anchorage (360, PC)
Hinterland: Orc Lords (PC)
Imagine: Boutique Owner (DS)
Imagine: Makeup Artist (DS)
inFamous (PS3)
Johnny Bravo: Date-O-Rama! (DS)
Personal Trainer: Walking (DS)
Puffins: Island Adventure (DS)
Rolling Stone: Drum King (Wii)
Secret Agent Clank (PS2)
Space Camp (DS, Wii)
Speed Zone (Wii)
The Munchables (Wii)
Up (360, DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii)

The Import Scene
Japanese localizations of domestic games, "Asia" version of games that do not have English options, and "Best" (greatest hits) versions of already released games are ignored.

Bamboo Blade: Sorekara no Chousen (PSP)
Chou Meisaku Suiri Adventure DS: Raymond Chandler Gensaku - Saraba Ai Shiki Onna Yo (DS)
Claymore: Gingan no Majo (DS)
Ecolis: Aoi Umi to Ugoku Shima (DS)
Hello Kitty no Happy Accessory (PSP)
Higurashi no Nakukoru ni Kizuna: Dai-San-Kan - Rasen (DS)
Kazeiro Safu (PS2)
Loveroot Zero: Kiss Kiss * Labyrinth (PS2)
Memories Off 6: T-Wave (PSP)
Myself, Yourself: Sorezore no Finale (PS2)
Ougon no Kizuna (Wii)
Saraba Aisiki Onna Yo (DS)
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (360, PS3)
Skip Beat (PS2)
Sorayume Portable (PSP)
Suzumiya Haruhi no Chokuretsu (DS)
Tactics Layer Ritelina Guard Senki (DS)
The Last Guy (PS3)
Utawarerumono Portable (PSP)
Witch Tale Mirai Majo to Seven Hime (DS)
Yuokoso Hitsuji-Mura Portable (PSP)
Yuusha 30 (PSP)