The Drop: Week of Feb 7th 2011 New Releases

“What have you done this time, you meddling milquetoast?” After the success of Costume Quest on PSN, Double Fine productions is hanging up their halloween costumes, dumping their endless supply of candy and busting out their diorama tool-kit with the arrival of Stacking on PSN, which I’m sure you’ve heard is free for PlayStation Plus members. The popular tower defense title by PopCap Games tosses up the PlayStation sign, when the undead sprout a taste for flowers and potpourri in the ever-so-popular Plants vs Zombies. See, zombie vegetarians totally exist.

Maybe you’re a total zombie snob and prefer the tenderness of intergalactic blobs? Arriving from a distant galaxy, a race of alien blobs have landed on a peaceful planet with a hunger for everything and anything. Help the delightfully cute balls of joy navigate through stages avoiding the hostile humans (such vermin) as they consume everything they touch in Tales from Space: About a Blob. See, zombie-like blobs totally exist.

Rounding off this week in new releases is the PS3 and PSone with a triple combo of titles ranging from the unlimited senses of speed to the harvesting of moons. And now, I invite you to hit the jump as I quote another great line from Tim Schafer’s classic Day of the Tentacle, “You know what they say: “To save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.”

PlayStation Network

Stacking — Set in a diorama world, Stacking is a third-person adventure puzzle game where you play as Charlie Blackmore, the world tiniest Russian stacking doll. He is all too accustomed to being overlooked and dismissed–too small to be of any consequence. But Charlie’s size turns out to be his greatest strength after all. Read More: Coming to PlayStation Plus: Free Day One Download of Stacking and Exclusive Demos for Killzone 3 and Yakuza 4

Explodemon — PlayStation exclusive Explodemon is a 2.5D action platform game with an explosive main character. Mixing classic platforming action with the refined contemporary gameplay of more modern action games, it brings old-school gameplay bang up to date. Read More: The Epic Story Behind Explodemon, Hitting PSN on February 8th

Tales From Space: About A Blob — This PlayStation exclusive is “about” a race of alien blobs that land on an Earth-like planet and start eating everything around them. Eating is just what Blobs do — they can’t really help themselves. Although the Blobs aren’t really out to hurt anyone, mistrustful humans greet them with hostility. Players will interact with the game environment using unique growth and absorption-related control mechanics, experiencing the world at vastly different scales as they progress. Both single-player and co-op play will be supported. Read More: Coming to PSN: Tales from Space: About a Blob for PS3

Plants vs Zombies — Help! The zombies have invaded! And don’t look now, but they’re coming for you next! You’ll need to think fast and plant faster to fend off this mob of helmet-clad, pole-vaulting zombies. Read More: Plants Vs Zombies Coming Soon to PSN!

PSN Demos

• The Undergarden
• Hoard
• Tales From Space: About A Blob
• Tetris
• Stacking

PlayStation 3 retail releases

Test Drive Unlimited 2 — Test Drive Unlimited 2 aims to transform the driving genre, adding the persistence, progression and customization of the latest multi-player games to the racing experience. Players define their online persona through unparalleled customization of their avatars and vehicles, and the acquisition of property, clothing and other accouterments of a luxurious international lifestyle. The challenge comes to life with refinement and balance of the core Test Drive driving experience.

Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll — Trinity is an action RPG set in the world of Zill O’ll. You lead three characters of different types, Aleus, Daguza, and Zelena, through a massive story that features plenty of optional sub quests. The game’s combat system is party-based, with all three characters using swords, magic, and other attacks to defeat the sometimes massive enemies. The fields of play themselves contribute to the action, changing as you cast magic and break down columns. As an example, you can freeze a lake to walk over it, or pick up a column that’s fallen due to your attacks and use it as a weapon.

You Don’t Know Jack — The award-winning You Don’t Know Jack trivia franchise is now playable on your PlayStation 3! The pioneer of the interactive game show format, You Don’t Know Jack returns with all-new questions and classic features such as Screw Your Neighbor and commercial parodies. Filled with more than 15 hours of game play, You Don’t Know Jack offers multiplayer action and online challenges via PSN. Along with classic quiz modes such as the DisOrDat and the Jack Attack, You Don’t Know Jack offers features like the Wrong Answer of the Game and collectible prizes, with more than 70 full episodes of trivia quiz show.

PSone Classics

Pocket Fighter — Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix plays up the fan frenzy for Capcom’s best-loved characters in the fighting franchise with miniature versions of popular Capcom fighters engaged in fierce battles. Combatants vie to collect power-up gems as they perform an array of special attacks and powerful combos.

Reel Fishing II — The great outdoors serve as the perfect backdrop for such realistic fishing fare. This installment of the popular angling series puts its emphasis on a wider variety of fish and lures, improved graphics, and options galore.

Harvest Moon: Back to Nature — In Harvest Moon: Back to Nature, you have just inherited your grandfather’s farm. Unfortunately, it has not been well cared for. The mayor has given you three years to restore the farm and gain the esteem of the local citizens.

[Editor’s Note: The following dates are subject to change. Game details are gathered from Press Releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]