Release This: Final Fantasy XIII-2, SoulCalibur V hit retail stateside

Gamasutra's regular round-up of worldwide video game releases, "Release This!", takes a look at every game title we know to be shipping to stores this week, in a custom compiled list. This week brings Final Fantasy XIII-2 and SoulCalibur V to store shelves in North America, while Japan gets Dragon Age II and Ragnarok Odyssey. The following list covers all of the game software we know to be available -- across all platforms and regions -- for the week ending February 4th, 2012. Games Released in the United States: Square Enix's anticipated RPG sequel Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to premiere in North America this week for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. One of the few Final Fantasy titles to serve as a direct follow-up to an earlier entry in the series, Final Fantasy XIII-2 reportedly addresses much of the criticism fans leveled at its predecessor, and boasts an improved battle system and multiple endings. Namco Bandai's 3D one-on-one fighter SoulCalibur V will also hit retail this week, arriving alongside Rebellion's horror-themed action title NeverDead, and Wizarbox's multiplatform adventure game Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle. Downloadable highlights include Konami's Kinect-powered DanceMasters spin-off Rhythm Party for Xbox Live Arcade and the Nintendo-developed 3DSWare sword-fighting title Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword. Nintendo Wii: - Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle Xbox 360: - Final Fantasy XIII-2 - NeverDead - Rhythm Party (Xbox Live Arcade) - SoulCalibur V PlayStation 3: - Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle - Final Fantasy XIII-2 - NeverDead - Puddle (PlayStation Network) - SoulCalibur V Nintendo 3DS: - Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword (3DSWare) Nintendo DS: - Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle - GO Series: Undead Storm (DSiWare) PC: - Captain Morgane and the Golden Turtle Games Released in Europe: Final Fantasy XIII-2 and SoulCalibur V also ship in the UK this week, while 3DS owners can expect to see the license-based kart racer Ben 10 Galactic Racing and Namco Bandai's minigame compilation Pac-Man Party 3D. Xbox 360: - Final Fantasy XIII-2 - SoulCalibur V PlayStation 3: - Final Fantasy XIII-2 - SoulCalibur V Nintendo 3DS: - Ben 10 Galactic Racing - Pac-Man Party 3D Nintendo DS: - Jewel Match 2 PC: - APB Reloaded: Special Edition Games Released in Japan: BioWare's Dragon Age II arrives in Japan this week, joining SoulCalibur V, NeverDead, and a DLC-bundled rerelease for Polyphony Digital and Sony's PS3 driving sim Gran Turismo 5. The PlayStation Vita is set to host a Game Arts-developed RPG spinoff in GungHo's Ragnarok series, meanwhile, as the PSP gets a port of Cyber Front's visual novel Gift: Prism. Xbox 360: - Monster Hunter Frontier Online (Forward.3 Premium Package) - Dragon Age II - NeverDead - SoulCalibur V PlayStation 3: - Dragon Age II - Gran Turismo 5 Spec 2012 - NeverDead - SoulCalibur V Nintendo 3DS: - Fishing 3D PlayStation Vita: - Ragnarok Odyssey PlayStation Portable: - Gift: Prism - PhotoKano PC: - Monster Hunter Frontier Online (Forward.3 Premium Package)