The Drop: Week of January 30th 2012 New Releases

Twisted Metal is nearly here, and to celebrate the return of our beloved PlayStation franchise, we’ve sweetened up this week’s The Drop with a demo on PSN. Get your skills checked and in-order just in-time for our big Twisted Metal community event on Thursday, February 2nd.

Blu-ray releases make their triumphant return this week with a sequel, to a sequel. Final Fantasy XIII-2 changes things up with an adventure to search for the missing Lightning. New heroes join returning warriors in the fray that is SoulCalibur V. Wield a butterfly design-inspired sword and an arsenal of guns to decimate waves of ungodly enemies in the not-too-distant future in NeverDead.

On the digital front, guide fluid through several booby trapped mazes, in the physics based and puzzle/platform game, Puddle. The full PS3 version of Madden NFL 12, brings all 32 teams, stadiums and all your favorite player in the league to PSN. Join Hiro, the smallest hero on the biggest adventure, as he embarks on an epic and electrifying quest to restore harmony to a world on the brink of chaos with Mini Ninjas. This week’s The Drop brings us pig skins, puddles, medicated psychopath and miniature ninjas. Just another Sunday afternoon at PlayStation.

PlayStation 3

Final Fantasy XIII-2 — Cocoon, a utopia in the sky. Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise. Under the Sanctum’s rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity. Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever. Their tranquillity was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie.

The moment that fal’Cie from Pulse – the feared and detested lowerworld – awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end. Fal’Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants. They become l’Cie – chosen of the fal’Cie. Those branded with the mark of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself. A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the world. A promise to challenge destiny. After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins…

Set several years after Lightning and the others saved Cocoon, some survivors have decided to start over by rebuilding on Gran Pulse. Lightning, however, is nowhere to be found and thought dead by many, but Serah believes otherwise. When her town is suddenly overrun by monsters, a mysterious man named Noel appears to save her. Together, the two set off to find Lightning…

SoulCalibur V — SoulCalibur V picks up 17 years after the events of SoulCalibur IV with new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil. The tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, unfolds as his family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords.

NeverDead — NeverDead is a third-person action game set in a fantasy and horror-influenced universe where supernatural battles between humans and extraordinary creatures blanketa vast city landscape. Gamers wield a butterfly design-inspired sword and an arsenal of guns to decimate waves of ungodly enemies in the not-too-distant future.

The game begins in the waking hours of peace and calm, when the world is under threat of being consumed by a demonic plague. Centuries have passed since the world succumbed to an unforeseen shadow of evil, and a hero was made an immortal by demons. These demons have risen once again in the present day causing unrelenting mayhem reinforced by destructible environments within the game. Now using his immortalic regenerative powers re-assembling his own body to evade death, the hero carries out the only salvation the world will know, for he is Never Dead.

PlayStation Network

Madden NFL 12 (Full PS3 Game) — Madden NFL 12 continues the rich tradition of the storied franchise by bringing fans closer to the NFL than ever before. Featuring all 32 teams, stadiums, and all your favorite players in the league, Madden NFL 12 is True to the Game. All-new collision system, advanced defensive A.I. enhancements highlight the 2012 edition’s improved feature set, with Custom Playbooks also added provide a more authentic gameplay experience. Franchise mode includes more than 100 new features and enhancements, while Superstar mode now allows fans to control the growth of their superstar with an all-new progression system. Dynamic Player Performance creates unprecedented realism as a player’s skills and confidence will rise and fall based on his performance throughout a game or in Franchise mode, just like the real NFL.

Puddle (Demo Available) — Experience a brilliantly designed physics-based puzzle/platform game where you must guide a puddle of fluid to its target destination, not by moving the fluid, but by tilting the game world. The player must work with friction, momentum, and the unique properties of each type of fluid and environment to send as much of each puddle past fires, rifts, potential spills and more. But watch out: the fluid motion is realistic! Tilt too quickly and you will lose control.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (Full PS3 Game) — Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a raw and brutal crime shooter designed to take players on an even more intense story experience, following two of gaming’s most disturbed criminals, through the gritty Shanghai underworld. Introducing a new visual experience, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is inspired by documentary filmmakers and the user-generated era. Every aspect of the game has been designed to deliver a fresh perspective to the words ‘intensity’ and ‘realism’ in videogames.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Full PS3 Game) — Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a violent and chaotic journey of two men – a flawed mercenary and a medicated psychopath – and their brutal attitude towards right and wrong. Now, they must partner up as a mess of cash makes for hell on Earth in this co-op action game.   

Mini Ninjas (Full PS3 Game) — Prepare yourself for a Ninja adventure like you have never seen before! Use your skills and mighty Ninja training to battle a magical army of evil Samurai. Harness the power of your Kuji magic and utilise the special skills of your Mini Ninja friends as you travel through a perilous world to reach the final confrontation with the Evil Samurai Warlord in his Fortress of Doom.

Demos

• Twisted Metal
• Syndicate

PlayStation Portable

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact (PSN Download) — Featuring large-scale battles against massive groups of enemies, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact puts players in the middle of epic fights as their favorite Naruto Shippuden characters through electrifying single-player and multiplayer modes. Deliver an action-packed and dynamic fighting experience, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact lets players unleash their honed Jutsu skills through exciting single-player and multiplayer modes. Story Battle lets fans become part of explosive Naruto Shippuden fights straight from the anime with more events and battle sequences than ever before on the PSP.

[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.]