The Drop: Week of March 21st 2011 New Releases

Our first-party domination continues with PlayStation Move Heroes dropping this week. When six of PlayStation‘s iconic heroes team up to take on evil, the fanboy in me can get into a wired up tizzy. Especially when Ratchet and Jak are on the box cover with a giant PlayStation Move sticker to sweeten up the deal.

A raider of tombs, receives her own remastering in high definition on Blu-Ray this week with Tomb Raider Legends and Tomb Raider Anniversary dawn a polygonal refresh. Toss in a ton of extras and Tomb Raider Underworld, and you’ve got yourself a PlayStation collection ripe with content.

The PlayStation Network brings a wealth of titles and demos as well, continuing the trend each and every week of mammoth releases. This week’s The Drop promises to entice and please your gaming taste-buds.

PlayStation Move

PlayStation Move Heroes — Together for the first time, PlayStation’s legendary heroes Ratchet, Clank, Jak, Daxter, Sly and Bentley, ban together to defeat a villainous duo in this wildly humorous adventure for the PlayStation Move. By using the PlayStation Move motion controller and The PlayStation Move navigation controller, players now have the unique experience of becoming one of their favorite PlayStation characters as they control their every move throughout the game. Players will smash, hurl and shoot their way through imaginative puzzles and challenges as the heroes team up against their new enemies.

A mysterious and evil force has crept into the galaxy, maliciously steeling entire cities and environments from Ratchet, Jak and Sly’s worlds. Stopping at nothing, this fiendish enemy enslaves a race of peaceful space creatures and puts the entire galaxy in harm’s way. Our loveable and fearless heroes find themselves joined together in the ultimate battle to protect the galaxy and in the fight for their own survival.

PlayStation 3

Crysis 2 — (Stereoscopic 3D) Whether played in 3D or standard 2D, Crysis 2 drops players into a devastated New York in the midst of an attack by a frightening alien species. The alien enemies are armed with deadly weaponry and exceptional sensory abilities that test players’ skill and push them to the limit. These terrifying invaders stalk the streets of New York, leaving the streets in chaos and the skyline in flaming ruin.

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars — LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars includes all the characters from both seasons of the hugely popular animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as some fan-favourite characters from the beloved theatrical Star Wars Saga. The game features brand new battle modes, giving players unique, head-to-head combat and an upgraded level builder, allowing the creation of customized bases and in-game battlefields.

Tomb Raider Trilogy — Exclusively for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, this triple-pack of Lara Croft adventures includes Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary — both newly remastered in HD quality — as well as Tomb Raider Underworld, previously released on PlayStation 3. A number of items were also created exclusively for this pack, including a Tomb Raider Trilogy PlayStation 3 theme pack, the official Lara Croft female Home avatar outfit, the Viking Thrall male Home avatar outfit and a collection of “making of” trailers in HD for the entire series.

Dynasty Warrior 7 (Stereoscopic 3D) — Based on the epic novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the genre-defining Dynasty Warriors series depicts the massive battles ignited by the fall of the Han Dynasty when three rebellious states moved to overthrow the Emperor of China. Incredible might and power of warriors is born again in this seventh chapter of the dynasties with Shu, Wei, Wu and the new Kingdom of Jin, the state that superseded the Three Kingdoms period. Dynasty Warriors 7 will embrace new technology with full stereoscopic 3D.

Mayhem 3D — Mayhem is a fast paced arcade racing and car destruction game. The inspiration for the game comes from two distinct types of events: Demolition Derby and Banger Racing.

PlayStation Network

DC Universe Online — A massively-multiplayer experience, DC Universe Online brings high-energy action to the forefront with a combat system designed to deliver a fast-paced action experience with the extraordinary powers of your personally created heroes and villains at your disposal. Battle with or against their favorite DC Super Heroes and Villains including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Joker. For the very first time, players and fans will be able to enter this fabled world as an active force for good or evil.

Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime — Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime is a four player, ghost-busting adventure that will take players on a brand new paranormal experience. Gamers will suit up with their proton packs and assume the role of a rookie hired by the Ghostbusters to save New York City from a disaster of ghoulish proportions.

Swarm — Swarm lets the player take control of 50 utterly fearless Swarmites and drive them through an intense, entertaining and often suicidal battle for a greater good. Run, bash, huddle, boost, stack, jump, push and throw your way through gauntlets of death and destruction in an attempt to collect valuable DNA and ensure that at least one Swarmite survives. With a unique combination of mass character control and fast action, the resulting brutal aftermath will make players want to play Swarm over and over again.

Battle: Los Angeles — Battle: Los Angeles gives players the opportunity to relive the thrill of the movie as they fight alongside characters from the film to defend the city of Los Angeles from attacks from unknown forces in fast and frantic first-person shooter gameplay. Players assume the role of Corporal Lee Imlay, a Marine fighting against a worldwide alien invasion that has the city of Los Angeles as the major battleground and focal point for the game.

PSN Demos

• WWE: All-Stars
• You Don’t Know Jack
• Ghostbusters: Sactum of Slime
• Hoard (PSP Demo)

minis

Doodle Pool — Doodle Pool brings the popular billiards game to the fun-loving casual play generation! US 8 Ball Rules, US 9 Ball Rules and UK 8 Ball Rules. High scores, 1 or 2 Player and Time Attack mode (fastest to clear the table) highlight the realistic modes this game offers, but it is really its unique shooting mechanic and fun approach to casual gameplay that makes Doodle Pool unlike any other billiards game.

MiniSquadron — MiniSquadron is a frantic shooter involving lots of little planes all vying for supremacy of the skies! Perform loop-the-loops, Immelmann turns and other daring feats of aerial shenanigans with a super fluid control system – experience the joy of freedom in the air!

PlayStation Portable

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (Also on PSN) — The dramatic, high-intensity action game that brought together an all-star cast of Final Fantasy characters is back with new enhancements. Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy adds new game modes, story missions, items, alternate costumes and combat features, expanding upon the action and excitement of Dissidia Final Fantasy in every way. This second Dissidia game offers players a unique combination of action-packed fighting game elements and RPG-based character development. Get ready for a new round of all-out brawling with some of the most memorable characters in the gaming world!

Hoard (Also on PSN) — Hoard is a fast-paced action game that promises addictive, thrilling action themed around dragons and their quest for treasure. The game gives players the chance to amass giant piles of gold by raiding medieval commerce, roasting knights with fire-breath, kidnapping princesses, scaring towns, and defeating powerful wizards.

LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars — Play either as a Jedi or Separatist with all-new character abilities, such as Squad command, Lightsaber slicing, Lightsaber jumps, long distance Jedi attacks and Grapple Tie-Ups, all within a new, easy-to-navigate hub.

Naruto Shippuden: Kizuma Drive — Naruto Shippuden: Kizuna Drive pits Naruto and friends against an unseen foe responsible for the disappearance of ninja from Hidden Leaf Village. New characters will descend onto the scene and unexpected plot twists are revealed as players discover who seeks vengeance upon Naruto.

PSone Classics

Legend of Mana — The world of Fa’Diel is a formless mass. It is up to you to create the world, using artifacts that are spread throughout the world. At the beginning of the game, the player must choose a female or male character, a starting weapon, and place to start. Once in the starting area, the player will be able to complete a small quest and find more artifacts. With that done, the new artifacts can be placed on the map to create new areas that have their own unique mini-quests. There is a total of 60 quests and artifacts to discover. The best way to think of all of the stories is to consider them the songs on a record. Individually, they are great; however, when combined they make up something much larger. The world of Fa’Diel will become what you make it in Legend of Mana.

[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.]