RPGs of the Week: Crystal Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas Week and Happy Holidays to all Sword Machine readers!

This is the last real week of game releases here in North America for 2009. If you're holding out til the last minute on your Christmas shopping, be advised: it is now the last minute!

Here are the RPGs hitting shelves worldwide this week (December 21 - 26, 2009):

North America
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers – Square Enix – Nintendo Wii
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite – Capcom – PSP

Japan
Borderlands – Gearbox, Cyberfront – PC
Eiyuu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki FC – Falcom – PC
Eiyuu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki SC – Falcom – PC
Eiyuu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki the Third – Falcom – PC
Lina no Atelier: Strahl no Renkinjutsushi – Gust – Nintendo DS
Magus Tale Eternity: Sekaiju to Koisuru Mahoutsukai – GN Software – PSP
Ys I & II Chronicles – Falcom – PC
Ys Online: The Call of Solum – Falcom, Key To Play – PC
Zelda no Densetsu: Daichi no Kiteki – Nintendo – Nintendo DS
ZWEI II Plus – Falcom – PC

Europe
(none)

Japan gets a half-dozen Falcom games for PC, most of which must just be reprints of some kind, because I was pretty sure all of those games were already out, with the exception of Ys Online. They also score some handheld titles like Spirit Tracks and Atelier Lina for DS, and Magus Tale Eternity for PSP. Also, Borderlands gets its first Japanese release on PC.

North America gets Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for PSP, which will likely have a hard time living up to its Japanese fame over here, and Square Enix's Final Fantasy Sports Resort game, which some of you may have already gotten a copy of.

Despite its reportedly extremely short playtime, I'm personally anxious to give Crystal Bearers a shot.

Anything for you this week?