411mania gives a rundown on this week's game releases. Highlights include Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica, Star Ocean: Second Evolution, Commander in Chief, Big Bang Mini, The Excitement of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Ultimate Shooting Collection.

Ar tonelico II
"Overall, the better-than-average story, unique battle system, and all the little things that you can do in the game help to make this a worthy purchase for those of you who like JRPGs and do not mind buying PS2 games this late in the system's life."

Star Ocean: Second Evolution
"As far as changes go, you can expect new playable characters, updated artwork, cut scenes, and voice work, as well as new dialog."

Commander in Chief
"While I am apprehensive about juggling so many issues at once, I was sold on the idea that I can 'determine the course of world events by invading a neutral country, toppling an unfriendly regime, or plotting assassinations' and then face the 'economic, political, and military consequences.'"

Big Bang Mini
"Obviously, maneuvering around enemy fire, debris, or anything else that's moving about is done with the stylus. To keep the controls completely on the touch screen, the game requires you to flick the stylus toward the top screen to launch attacks. Making it through the game requires you to figure out when to attack and when to move your ship to safety."

Suzumiya Haruhi no Gekidou
"The main game plays simply enough - all you have to do is watch the bar at the bottom of the screen and wave the Wii remote as instructed."

Ultimate Shooting Collection
"Despite its shovelware-looking cover and shovelware-sounding name, the three games that are included might actually be worth more than the shovelware-price, at least if you are a shmup fan."
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Wow; the PSP had games this month. After months and months of barren release lists, it's good to see Sony's baby getting a booster shot of fun. Will it continue into November? Well, it is the holiday season and there are a smattering of games headed your way. Check back in a month's time to find out if WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, Tom Clancy's EndWar, DJ Max Fever, Need for Speed Undercover, and all the rest are worth your time.
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Majed Athab writes :We could definitely get used this. Four games release this week for North America. The big winner is definitely Star Ocean: First Departure. Here's the full list:

NA Games:

Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant
Midnight Club: LA Remix
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Star Ocean: First Departure
EU Games:

Midnight Club: LA Remix
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Star Ocean: First Departure
Asian Games
Bleach: Soul Carnival
Crimsongem Saga
DJ Max Portable Emotional Sense - Clazziquai Edition [Special Package]
Garnet Chronicle
Gundam Battle Chronicle (PSP the Best)
Minna de Dokusho: Keatai Shousetsu Desu
Moeru Mahjong: Moejong! [Premium Box]
SD Gundam G Generation Portable (PSP the Best)
SSX on Tour (EA Best Hits)
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SquareEnix have today announced that STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution will be released across Europe and all PAL territories in Spring 2009, exclusively on the PlayStation Portable system.

Following the exploits of humankind's journey across the stars, the STAR OCEAN saga continues with the completely remastered STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution. Featuring a revised game engine, an improved...
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European PlayStation Portable gamers will be excited to know that Star Ocean: The First Departure is set to be released on 24th October 2008. American PSP owners will have the option of buying the game 3 days earlier (NA Release - 21st October 2008). (Follow link to view 10 screenshots)
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Square-Enix UK appear to be on a boxart roll and have released the UK Boxart for Star Ocean: First Departure, the latest title from the remake machine - this time revisting the first Star Ocean, now optimized for the PSP.
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The boxart for the remakes of the first two Star Ocean titles for PSP have been revealed! Cleverly, the two pieces of boxart join together to make one lovely image.

Square-Enix clearly intends for you to buy not one, but both of these games.
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Follow the exploits of humankind's journey across the stars. The Star Ocean saga begins with the completely remastered Star Ocean: First Departure, available across Europe in October 2008. Featuring a revised game engine, an improved battle system and fully-voiced, all-new animated scenes displayed in 16:9 widescreen. With a newly added layer of character interaction, players can enjoy their journey into the rich Star Ocean universe like never before...
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If you started playing Square Enix's massive RPG when it was first
released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, you might just have worked your way to the end of it about now. Which is good news, since the cult franchise is coming to the PSP in two separate games.

Star Ocean: First Departure marks the series' first release on the handheld and charts a deep-rooted storyline about a band of rag-tag rebels who attempt to prevent a galactic war.
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Siliconera has been waiting to hear something official about Star Ocean: First Departure and Star Ocean: Second Evolution in North America. Square Enix registered trademarks for both subtitles in North America, but that's about it. Out of the blue Gamefly is listing both games with a placeholder September 30th release date.
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So you think that 2008 is all about consoles? Well check out these upcoming releases exclusive for the Playstation Portable and you'll see why the PSP is here to stay.
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First day sales in Japan for December 27. Call of Duty 4 sells an equal amount of copies on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, with a three times bigger installed base for Playstation 3. Star Ocean on PSP sells 80k on first day, while Super Robot Wars is the top seller with 150k. Amount in ( ) is total first shipment.

Super Robot Wars OG Side Story (PS2) : about 150k

Star Ocean 1 First Departure (PSP) : about 80k(about 200k)

Suzumiya Haruhi no Yakusoku (PSP) : about 62k

Call of Duty 4 (360) : about 14k (about 20k)

Call of Duty 4 (PS3) : about 14k (about 20k)

Nodame Cantabile (Wii) : about 1k
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PSPHyper reports: "Star Ocean: The First Departure and its special edition PSP were out earlier today in Japan, Square Enix celebrates the release by having a special message board (for the developers), a special page in Square Enix Members (require login), a wallpaper and a couple of cool Star Ocean PSP themes. Download the themes, only the "first layer" icons were customized though, the rest is the same as Sony's default".
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Star Ocean: First Departure has been released for the Sony PSP in Japan and has been sent to retailers across the country. Square Enix still haven't released any information whatsoever regarding a North American/European release.
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Interested in some new Star Ocean information? Famitsu has heard your internal cries via its giant Japanese thought catcher and, in response, has released a double page spread of images and text about the game. While most of the info will be familiar to you if you're a fan of the series, there are also a few snippets regarding new additions to the game.
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Coming off the success of the Crisis Core themed PSP in Japan, Square-Enix has unveiled a Star Ocean themed PSP, which is slated to hit Japan this December.

Star Ocean: First Departure is a new and improved version of the SNES title, which is to feature all new cut-scenes and CG animation, new characters, and fully voiced dialog to tell the story of the original game, with a modern day feel.

Additionally, Square will be releasing Star Ocean: The Second Evolution, the second game in the series that will feature the same upgrades and attributes of First Departure.
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Square Enix has opened a portal site for what should be one of its biggest Tokyo Game Show franchises this year, Star Ocean. The portal highlights all games in the series, but the focus is, of course, on the three new games, Star Ocean First Departure (PSP), Star Ocean Second Evolution (PSP) and Star Ocean 4 (platform TBA).
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Square Enix has revealed the voice cast for the recently announced Star Ocean games for the Sony PSP. The first two installments of the series, Star Ocean: First Departure and Star Ocean: Second Evolution will be remade with new characters and voice actors.
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The previous rumors are true - Star Ocean 4 is on the way, officially confirmed at the Square Enix Party press conference which took place in Japan moments ago. Square Enix wasn't giving away too much, though; no gameplay details were revealed and the platform and release date remains unspecified. Development is being handled by Tri-Ace, which also took care of the previous PS2 game, Till the End of ... » Read More

TOKYO, Japan--Square Enix is going to be busy over the coming months--it has six new titles coming, including Chocobo's Dungeon: Toki Wasure No Meikyuu for the Wii, along with The Last Remnant for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, and two Star Oceans for the PlayStation Portable. The company announced the new games at a press conference at its corporate headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku district today. The event, attended by over 100 members of the worldwide press, was timed to precede the Square Enix Festival to be held at the Makuhari Messe this weekend. There, the Japanese publisher will be inviting the public to check out its current titles and get sneak peeks at upcoming games.
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