Weekly Releases: 9/5/10

Labor Day is upon us, and while many students are taking the time to sleep in one last time before school really kicks in, they should be prepping for the upcoming Fall game-spree!

Significant Releases

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP)


Developer: Square-Enix Osaka (Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories)
Publisher: Square-Enix

Kingdom Hearts finally makes its way to the PSP, and this time, it is a prequel to the entire series. Taking place a decade before the events of the original, Birth by Sleep guides players through the adventures of three key-blade wielders, Aqua, Terra, and Ventus. They find that a Master key-blade wielder, Xenahort, is trying to collect the seven princesses of heart and...going much further into the plot will spoil things, but in short, people with key-blades in three campaigns of sorts fight off creatures called the Unversed in a number of Disney-themed worlds. The game removes MP in favor of Focus, a gauge that allows each character to use special attacks; first-person spell casting is also a feature added into Birth by Sleep. Multiplayer modes play a large factor to the title, as well.

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (360 / PS3 / Wii / DS)


Developer [Console]: Beenox (Guitar Heroes Smash Hits, Monsters vs. Aliens)
Developer [DS]: Griptonite Games (Where the Wild Things Are, X-Men Origins)
Publisher: Activision

Spider-Man gets some much-needed support this time around: three more Spider-Men! In a squabble with Mysterio, the Tablet of Order and Chaos is destroyed, with its pieces being sent into multiple dimensions with alternate Spider-Men. Madame Web, a psychic supporter of Spider-Man, calls for these other characters to collect the tablet and restore order. The four worlds represent different Spider-Man worlds: Amazing, Noir, 2099, and Ultimate. Each world has its own gameplay twists and graphical differences (for example, Noir has stealth aspects whereas 2099 has more vertical combat), and villians from each universe will ultimately get in the way. A unique twist to the Spider-Man franchise, for sure!

TerRover (PSN)


Developer: Creat Studios (Wakeboarding HD, Mushroom Wars)
Publisher: Sony

Ever wanted to explore alien worlds as if you were one of the machines that went to Mars? TerRover does that, but it throws in a lot more than just red rocks! Players assume the role of a TerRover as it travels across multiple alien worlds and collect items for research. After time, players will be capable of choosing more TerRovers, each with their own abilities to access the previously inaccessible. Combining physics-based platforming with an endearing art style, it looks like a game PS3 owners should examine more than once.

Other Releases:
NHL 11 (PS3 / 360)
NHL Slapshot (Wii)
R.U.S.E. (360 / PS3 / PC)
Tom Clancy's HAWX 2 (PS3 / 360)
Dance! It's Your Stage (XBLA)
Plants vs. Zombies (XBLA)
Batman: the Brave and the Bold (Wii / DS)
Dawn of Heroes (DS)
UFC Undisputed 2010 (PSP)
Chime (PC)
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale (PC)

Previous Weeks:
8/29/10 - Metroid: Other M
8/22/10 - Mafia II / Shank / And Yet it Moves
8/15/10 - Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days / Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
8/8/10 - Madden NFL 11 / Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game
8/1/10 - Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
7/25/10 - Starcraft II / Hydro Thunder: Hurricane
7/17/10 - Limbo
7/11/10 - Dragon Quest IX
7/04/10 - Crackdown 2
6/27/10 - Sin and Punishment: Star Successor / Singularity

SOURCE: NeoGAF