Xbox 360 Platinum Hits 'Round 2' whiffs on bargain knockout

A second wave of Xbox 360 Platinum Hits is scheduled to join last fall's elected throughout North America, Latin America, Japan, and the Asia Pacific region on March 16 -- select 'platinum' titles have already hit Europe. The lineups vary by region, but in the US, 8 games have been chosen, representing a respectable variety, albeit a predictably shooter-heavy roster. Oblivion is conspicuously absent from the list; and it should be noted that Battlefield 2, Burnout, Fight Night, GRAW, and Table Tennis are already available for $30 -- Call of Duty 2 and Top Spin 2 for $40. This leaves Dead or Alive 4 as the lone bargain of the bunch.

The Americas' lineup ($29.99 US):

• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
• Burnout Revenge
• Call of Duty 2
• Dead or Alive 4
• Fight Night Round 3
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
• Top Spin 2
• Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis

Japan's lineup (2,800 yen):

• Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
• Burnout Revenge
• Chrome Hounds
• Perfect Dark Zero

Asia Pacific's lineup (prices vary by region):

• Dead or Alive 4
• N3: Ninety-Nine Nights
• Project Gotham Racing® 3
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

Europe's lineup (29.99 euros):

• Call of Duty 2
• Dead or Alive 4
• Project Gotham Racing 3
• Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
• Lara Kroft Tomb Raider: Legend