Nintendo of America has released its product line-up for now and early 2006 for its formats, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, DS and the forthcoming Game Boy Micro, with DS title Metroid Prime: Hunters slipping into next year.
The first-person shooter for Nintendo"s handheld, which was originally scheduled for an October 2005 release, now has an unspecified launch date of early 2006. It"s the second high-profile slip on the Nintendo schedule in recent days, with Cube title Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess also dropping back to 2006 last week. However, the other Metroid DS title, Metroid Pinball, has been given an October 24th 2005 release, bundled with the new DS Rumble Pak add-on. This accessory fits into the GBA slot of the DS, providing gameplay triggered vibrations.
More specific US release dates were given to a number of other high profile DS titles, with Mario Kart DS coming on December 14th, Animal Crossing DS on December 5th, the newly named Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time will reach stores a week later than expected, on November 28th, along with Viewtiful Joe Double Trouble in the same month. More generically, are the release months given to SBK: Snowboard Kids DS (November), Age of Empires: The Age of Kings (January) and Bust-A-Move (January).
GameCube"s Mario Party 7 has jumped from November 21st to the 7th, but the Capcom developed Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble only gets a vague November listing, while Super Mario Strikers (now known as Mario Smash Football in Europe) will be released on December 5th; following its European launch November 18th. Game Boy Advance/Game Boy Micro will gain new titles, including Lego Bionicle: Maze of Shadows on September 13th and Rayman Classics in the same month, while Ford Racing 3 and SRS: Street Racing Syndicate will both arrive on October 4th. Other previously unannounced game, Dr. Mario/Puzzle League will launch December 5th.
GBA will also get Donkey Kong Country 3 on November 7th, with Mario Tennis: Power Tour (previously Mario Tennis Advance) getting a December 5th street date.