The number-placement puzzle that has become a worldwide craze, is now gracing PSP screens with the new title Sudoku from Hudson Soft. Also known as Nampure, Sudoku is the Japanese abbreviation of the phrase, "Suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru" which can be losely translated as "the digits must remain single".

Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid, which is divided into 3x3 sub-grids called "regions", and  your aim is to fill the empty cells with single digit numbers between 1 to 9. Players must bear in mind that this number must only appear once in a row, column and a region. Sudoku uses numbers and logic, but not mathematics which is why it has been such a popular game. Some studies even show that playing Sudoku can improve memory and mind clarity. There is still no information if there will be a US release, but we will keep our eyes peeled for you. In the meantime, here are the screenshots that we have promised.

 

 

When a Hudson Entertainment feature article is subtitled, "An unbiased comparison of two awesome games!" you know something is bound to be wrong. That's the case when someone tries to compare Bomberman for the PSP and Bomberman Act: Zero for the Xbox 360.

Now, the feature article tries to compare the merits of the PSP and Xbox 360 versions. According to the feature, the PSP game is blessed with the gameplay features such as taking place over 10 different worlds, and having classic bomberman levels as unlockable features. The Act Zero version, however, seems to be getting the dud criteria for winning points against the PSP version, such as "The bombermen boast over-sized left hands and spherical ass cheeks," and bouncing... things.

Of course, Bomberman Act: Zero does have greater multiplayer functionality, with up to 8 players trying to blow each other up at the same time, but even the author makes a self-referential remark as to how bad the game appears to reviewers. "From outside the industry, losers attack the revised Bomberman" sounds like a very slanted way of talking about the game for an unbiased comparison.

In any case, the comparison ends with a draw, saying that you can't go wrong with a Bomberman game. If you take the whole article (and the many reviews online) as an indication, however, you apparently can.

Still, there's two good things that come out from the article. First, it doesn't look like the actual view of Hudson, so they may just be thinking of going back to what made Bomberman such a big hit in the first place. Second, it makes for a funny photo comic.

What do you think: New Bomberman or Old Bomberman? Why'd you pick one over the other? Let us know!

If you've got some extra cash lying around and you just can't wait for the next homebrew game you're following to come out, the games below could provide you with much needed entertainment. They're all coming out this week, so you could check your local retailers if they've got them. Here are the PSP game releases:

• Bomberman - The classic goes handheld. It's bound to be oodles of fun. Unless of course, Konami's brand of portable nostalgia isn't your cup of tea.
  
• Bounty Hounds - Colonize other planets, kill up to 40 types of aliens, 500 weapons and armor types, this might be bucket-loads of third person action fun. We've got screens here if you want to see more of Namco Bandai's fun fun game.
  
• LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - And the LucasArts franchise continues...
  
• NHL '07 - The expected yearly update from Electronic Arts. If you're not into this genre, bad news because it's mostly more of the same, but if you are, then good news, more of the same, but this time it is portable.
  
• Rengoku II: The Stairway to HEAVEN - A.D.A.M. is back, and this time the android and makers Hudson Soft and Konami have got downloadable content for you to enjoy. Content aside, the game also features better stage design, an updated battle system, and up to 4 player wireless play. Android war action.
  

If you're not that much into handheld games but you like to watch a movie every now and then, say, while your teacher or boss is giving a very boring lecture, here are the PSP UMD ISO releases set for this week: The Best of Super Speeders; Gracie Legends in Action, Vol. 1; and Teddybear Crisis.

I'm a Mixed-Martial-Arts fan myself, so I think I'll be churning out some bucks for Gracie Legends. That's it for now. We'll keep you updated on the games listed above whenever we get word or discover something nifty.

Bomberman, by Konami and Hudson, for the PSP sticks to the roots of the Bomberman series. The game will have classic top-down gameplay that the series is known for unlike the 360's Bomberman: Act Zero and will have four different game modes. The game looks to be like Bomberman 64 with its characters and environments brought to life in 3D with an original story and should be out by the end of the year.

The game features include Normal Mode: the latest Bomberman complete with a new story and 100 levels, Classic Mode: based on original classic Bomberman featuring over 50 different levels, Multiplayer Battle Mode: up to 4 players can fight for survival in a variety of highly customizable games across 20 different stages via wireless ad hoc mode and Game Sharing Mode. Up to four players can battle from just one UMD game disc. Go ahead and check out some of the screenshots from the game by clicking on the thumbnails below.

    
    
  

Rengoku 2, by Konami and Hudson, is the sequel to the android action game Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory on PSP. the game expands upon the series' trademark fast-paced action and incredible replay value with more than 300 unique weapons, diverse level design and additional multiplayer functionality in a dark and futuristic setting. Rengoku 2 tells a story parallel to the events of Tower of Purgatory, as players assume the role of A.D.A.M., a battle android trapped in a mysterious tower filled with fearsome enemies. This tower has eight floors, with the first seven levels corresponding to one of the original Seven Deadly Sins, and A.D.A.M. must purge it of the mechanical scourge hosted inside.

Go ahead and check out some of the screenshots below by clicking on the thumbnails and let us know what you think of this upcoming game.