New PAL Releases Roundup

Spring has officially sprung (we assume there was a press release, but may have missed it while outside dancing), so appropriately enough it's an outdoorsy week for new game releases.

After Burner Climax has the right idea - soaring to the recently empty skies on currents of critical approval - and it's not alone. Monster Hunter Tri may be the bastard offspring of Pokémon and Phantasy Star Online, but it's not afraid to strip down and plunge into the ocean to promote its open-air credentials.

It's not all warm sunshine though - Die Hard With a Dog (or Dead to Rights: Retribution if you like) tries to spoil the party with its cold Chicago exteriors and thickly coated testicle-mauling mutt, which you'll be able to read about in its review early on Friday, although Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing on PC and Xbox Live is presumably nothing to mourn since it's set in Georgia.

Anyway, with the sun setting on this particular (dreadful) metaphor, there's just enough time and space left to note that the interesting but not brilliant Nier is out tomorrow as well - a game where Square Enix threw everything at the wall to see what stuck, without realising the wall was made of glue.

This week in shops:

• Dead to Rights: Retribution (PS3, Xbox 360)
• Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)
• Nier (PS3, Xbox 360)
• The Whispered World (PC)

This week online:

• After Burner Climax (PSN, Xbox Live Arcade)
• Earthworm Jim (DSiWare)
• Flipper (DSiWare)
• Game & Watch: Ball (DSiWare)
• Game & Watch: Flagman (DSiWare)
• Game & Watch: Donkey Kong Jr. (DSiWare)
• Hamsterball (PSN)
• Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (Wii Virtual Console)
• Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West (PSN)
• Left 4 Dead 2: The Passing (PC, Xbox 360)
• Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess (PSP/PS3 minis)
• myPostcards (DSiWare)
• Puzzle Chronicles (Xbox Live Arcade)
• The Will of Dr. Frankenstein (WiiWare)