Arkanoid DS

411mania talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Little King's Story, Katamari Damacy Tribute, Shatter, and Wii Sports Resort.

Poorly-reviewed update Arkanoid DS contains a hidden, far better Arkanoid game not mentioned in any reviews. UK gaming website WoS exclusively reveals and unlocks it.

Keep busy with Ninja Gaiden II and Metal Gear Solid 4, because there's nothing new for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 this week. Wii gamers will finally be getting Rock Band at the end of the week. Clank goes solo with the arrival of Secret Agent Clank for the Sony PSP. Square Enix brings revived Taito classics Arkanoid on the DS and Space Invaders Extreme for the PSP and DS. There's never a slow week for the DS...

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII--the much awaited PSP game that was released in the US in March this year--has finally been confirmed for release in Australia. Ubisoft has announced it will distribute the role-playing game down under for developer Square Enix, although no fixed date has been set for release. In addition to Crisis Core, Ubisoft has also won the Australian distribution duties for some other key Square Enix titles. Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors for the Nintendo Wii is slated for an autumn 2008 release, while Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift for the DS is due in winter this year. Arkanoid DS and Space Invaders Extreme for the DS and the PSP have also been dated for winter 2008.

Today Taito confirmed that its recent remakes Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid DS will be released in North America on June 17. Both games are already available in Japan and make use of the new paddle controller that fits into the Game Boy Advance slot on the DS. Unfortunately, Taito currently does not have plans to bring the paddle controller overseas. Space Invaders Extreme, also available on the PSP, is a sped-up, hyper take on the classic arcade game. The graphics have been modernized, and an electronica soundtrack now accompanies the invasion (the original had no music, only the forward march of the aliens).

Square Enix today announced that ARKANOID DS and SPACE INVADERS EXTREME for the Nintendo DS and the PSP will be available in Europe sometime this summer. The games have found tremendous fan support in Japan and are scheduled to make waves in the European market. As of yet there has been no announcement for a North American release, but with the language support all ironed out in Europe it shouldn't take long. Both games have been reworked and gussied up for the handheld systems.

While the gaming industry is generally focused on the next big thing, there will always be a market for older games and nostalgia-laden trips down memory lane if the Wii Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade offerings like Discs of Tron and Tempest are any indication. The online store of retailer GameStop might be offering a heads up on the next big retro gaming releases, as the Web site is hosting product pages for Arkanoid on the DS and Space Invaders Extreme on the PlayStation Portable and DS.

Sept 21, 2007 The rivival of retro classics is still running strong with Taito offering a closer look at Arkanoid DS at the Tokyo Game Show. We could try explaining what playing this arcade classic is like, but why not try it for yourself? Click here to try a fully armed and operational flash demonstration of the game on Taito's website. Just left-click on the bottom of the DS screen when you get there. You'll have several options for controlling your paddle in Arkanoid DS. You can use either