Weekly video game releases: 'ModNation Racers', 'Super Mario Galaxy 2', 'Blur'

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Among upcoming video game releases: ModNation Racers transplants LittleBigPlanet's successful character and level-creation idea to the kart racing genre, and Blur is the third of May's big arcade-style racing games, following the previous week's Split Second. On Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2 heralds a summer of colorful fun in North America, while No More Heroes 2 arrives in Europe.

ModNation Racers (PS3, PSP)
Release date: North America, May 25. Europe, released May 21.
Mario Kart Wii for the PlayStation 3? It very well could be. With a Track Studio allowing players to conjure up courses before hurtling round them with friends and rivals, ModNation's been positively recieved, picking up 9/10s from IGN and The Sixth Axis, and 8/10s from IGN UK, Edge and VideoGamer.
Price: $59.99 / €69.99 (PS3), $29.99 / €29.99 (PSP)

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Release date: North America, May 23. Europe, June 11.
It should really be called ' Super Mario Galaxy to the power of 2', as it's more of the same joyful explosion of platforming ingenuity with some extra features: Yoshi the dinosaur joins the fun and there are also Cloud Flower and Rock Mushroom power-ups to be had. 2007's Super Mario Galaxy was so accomplished that Super Mario Galaxy 2 is an instant buy by default.
Price: $49.99 / €49.99

Blur (360, PS3, Win PC)
Release date: North America, May 25. Europe, May 28.
UK-based Bizarre Creations combines the power-ups of Wipeout with the stylish driving of their own Project Gotham Racing series, boasting a bevy of licensed vehicles for this arcade-style racer. A preview taste of the multiplayer mode is available for Xbox 360 owners with online access.
Price: €69.99 / $59.99 (360, PS3), €59.99 / $39.99 (PC)

No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle (Wii)
Release date: Europe, May 28. North America, already released Jan 26.
The lightsaber-brandishing loudmouth, Travis Touchdown, returns for another equally satirical and lewd lampooning of violent videogames. Find within more weapons, moves, characters, and enemies built on the same frantic, off-the-wall humor as in the first game. The North American release got 4/5 from Giant Bomb, A- from 1UP, 8.5 from GameSpot.
Price: $29.99 / €39.99

Alpha Protocol (Windows PC, 360, PS3)
Release: North America, June 1. Europe, May 28. Australia, May 27.
An action-packed globe-trotting modern spy story set in the action-packed mold of the Bourne and Bond films or the 24 TV series, combined with the conversational choices and character development of role-playing games. Its significance comes from the developers' rich heritage and their marquee project, Fallout: New Vegas, due later in 2010. Many UK retailers appear determined to sell the PC version at under £20 (€23) so those within the EU may like to consider sourcing their copy from the island nation's export-friendly web shops.
Price: €54.99 / $49.99 (PC), €69.99 / $59.99 (360, PS3)

Backbreaker Football (PS3 360)
Release: North America, June 1. Europe, June 25.
The tech behind Backbreaker is the same that helped power animation in Grand Theft Auto IV, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Red Dead Revolver. Instead of integrating it into other companies' games, here NaturalMotion make its own debut with an American football game, aiming for a crunching realism when it comes to thumping tackles.
Price: $49.99 / €39.99