The constant slow-burn of publicity that Activision has been leaking over the last couple of months for X-Men Origins: Wolverine has been nothing short of really impressive. The trailers, particularly, have been well put together, with early trailers indicating an exciting (if run-of-the-mill) superhero game, while later ones allow the possibility for a game that is darker, more exciting than any X-Men game has a right to be.

Then, it becomes clear that the game is not based on the movie; the movie, rather, was made based on the game, and that's when anyone keeping an eye on this game realizes there could be something here.

Of course, it's more licensed material, and there's always a danger with getting too excited about licensed material, but still...a Wolverine game that doesn't skimp on the clawplay could be a classic.

Elsewhere? There's just not that much to talk about this week, beyond shovelware and niche titles that fall outside of my own, uh, niche. The Wii has things like Fantasy Aquarium World, Burger Island, Party Pigs: Farmyard Games...can't you just see them up on the little spinning rack on the checkout counter at GameStop, a giant $19.99 sticker overshadowing even the title of the game? Yeah, me too. On the other side of that spectrum, there's bound to be plenty offans of Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce (out on the PSP) and Velvet Assassin on the Xbox 360, whose biggest publicity thus far has been the skimpy outfits that the protagonist wears if the player so chooses. Zippidee-doo.

My plan? Spend the week discovering Halo 3 (a game I played for a half-hour, max, when it came out) and waiting for Wolverine to show up. How about you?

PSP:

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce (28 April)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

PS3:

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

Wii:

Fantasy Aquarium World (28 April)

Burger Island (1 May)

Party Pigs: FarmYard Games (1 May)

Tournament Pool (1 May)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

DS:

Elite Forces: Unit 77 (28 April)

Smiley World Island Challenge (28 April)

Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier (28 April)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

Xbox 360:

Banjo-Tooie (29 April, Xbox Live Arcade)

Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram Ver.5.66 (29 April, Xbox Live Arcade)

Velvet Assassin (30 April)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

PS2:

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

PC:

MLB Dugout Heroes (27 April)

Lineage II: Chaotic Throne: Gracia Final (28 April)

Reel Deal Slots: Adventure (29 April)

Stalin vs. Martians (29 April)

Play! The Ultimate Casual Game Collection (30 April)

Velvet Assassin (30 April)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (1 May)

Evochron Legends (2 May)