The Drop: Week of October 29th 2012 New Releases

On PS3 this week, it’s a time of civil unrest and political upheaval in the Americas. As a Native American assassin fights to protect his land and his people, he will ignite the flames of a young nation’s revolution. Assassin’s Creed III takes you back to the American Revolutionary War, but not the one you’ve read about in history books. On PS Move, Sports Champions 2 revives favorite features, including the surprisingly deep and challenging single-player Cup Play and the customizable Free Play mode, plus fun arcade Challenge rounds for each event.

On PS Vita and PSN, you’re a cunning new assassin – Aveline, an assassin of mixed French and African heritage. You must use your skill, instinct and weaponry – including a machete, poison-dart blowpipe, and duelling pistols, to hunt down and eliminate your enemies in Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation.

Also on PS Vita, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is the 19th release in the long-running Need for Speed franchise, and the first for the PlayStation Vita. It hearkens back to the earliest games in the series as players compete in races with police unified against them. Enjoy this week’s The Drop.

Assassin’s Creed III

Also on PSN — Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date. Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier to bustling colonial towns and the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army.

Sports Champions 2 (Also on PSN/PS Move Required) — Sports Champions 2 comes with six pulse-pounding events including five new games and an update to the beloved Archery event from the first title. The new events include Skiing, Tennis, Boxing, Golf, and Bowling, offering a variety of activities that will appeal to everyone. Sports Champions 2 features new game modes, including Party Play, a new game feature, which invites you to compete with your family and friends in custom, multi-sport tournaments. It will also include beginner friendly controls without needing to calibrate for easier pick-up-and-play, ensuring competitors of all ages can jump right in and join the fun, while seasoned veterans can choose advanced modes for a greater challenge. For added fun, users can choose the new Create-a-Player function to customize everything from their character’s outfit to their animation and sound.

WWE ‘13 — Step into the ring of the ’13 edition of the WWE video game. WWE ’13 transforms gameplay through the introduction of WWE Live, completely changing the way players embrace the videogame’s audio and presentation elements. Predator Technology returns to further to further implement critical gameplay improvements while fan favorites in WWE Universe Mode and the franchise’s renowned Creation Suite are poised to offer the utmost in player freedom. Furthermore, WWE ’13 introduces a groundbreaking, single-player campaign based on the highly influential Attitude-Era. Complete with a robot ruster-the largest to date in the franchise–along with a host of additional features, WWE ’13 is ready to live a revolution of its own.

Toy Story Mania (Also on PSN/PS Move Support) –– Four-player game support competitive and cooperative multiplayer options Engage in 10 fast-paced shooting galleries, containing 30 addictive mini-games – some adapted from the theme park attraction, others brand new and original to the game. Experience bonus levels in 3D and compete against family and friends for top prizes. Team up to unlock Easter eggs (hidden game features and items) and collectibles. In-game tickets allows players to buy “Sticker Books” that feature different game characters that can be used to build your own in-game scenarios based on certain themes.

Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation

Also on PSN — The year is 1765. As the events leading up to the American Revolution heat up in the north, Spanish forces plan to take control of Louisiana in the south – but they have yet to reckon with Aveline, a deadly Assassin who will use every weapon and ability in her arsenal to win freedom for her land and her people. Whether silently eliminating her enemies with slow-motion chain kills or luring them into deadly traps, Aveline strikes mortal fear into the hearts of those who stand in her way. As an Assassin, Aveline soon finds herself on an unforgettable journey that will take her from the crowded streets of New Orleans to voodoo-haunted swamps and ancient Mayan ruins. She will play a pivotal role in the turbulent birth of a new nation as she fights for freedom, not only for herself, but for her fellow citizens.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted (Also on PS3/PSN) — Do you have what it takes to become Most Wanted? Designed for a new, more connected generation of racing fans, Need for Speed Most Wanted offers players an expansive open world packed with exhilarating action where they can choose their own path to become the Most Wanted. Players will have the freedom to drive anywhere, discover hidden gameplay, takedown rivals, challenge friends or just hang out and toy with the cops. Everything they do counts towards the end goal of becoming #1 on their personal Most Wanted List.

Ragnarok Odyssey (Also on PSN) — An action-heavy RPG set in the lush landscape of the familiar Ragnarok Online universe, Ragnarok Odyssey is a fast-paced game with a heavy emphasis on melee combat. The game is set in a world where humans and giants are pitted against each other in battle following the death of the world’s ancient gods. Based on Norse Mythology, the world of Ragnarok Odyssey will begin to take form as players advance through the story, with new areas opening up as their journey goes on.

In Ragnarok Odyssey, players will embark on a campaign to take down monsters and giants of massive scale, and characters can chain together massive combo attacks both on the ground and in the air thanks to the game’s extremely versatile combat system. Massive enemies can literally be smacked across the screen, and players can even up their speed and agility at the expense of HP for particularly challenging battles. On top of this, the game promotes cooperative gameplay, supporting up to four players for ad-hoc and online cooperative gameplay.

Okami HD

PS Move Support — Okami comes alive through beautiful scenic 3D levels that have the appearance and texture of paper scrolls brushed with watercolor-like calligraphy art. Playing as Amatarasu, the sun goddess who takes on the form of a wolf, your goal is to bring life back to the world. Bringing life back to the world involves defeating lots of beasts. With each beast you defeat, the world’s life force is restored just a bit, with colors and eventually people appearing. This beautiful adventure combines a unique control scheme, an engrossing story, and a visual design reminiscent of watercolor paintings. It has been remastered with some HD visuals and added PlayStation Move support.

Twisted Metal — Twisted Metal, the longest running franchise in PlayStation history, is now back, exclusively on the PS3 system. With four factions battling for control, players step into the combat boots of a twisted disciple in a high octane, highly destructible world. Players fight for the prize of one wish fulfilled by the stylishly evil Calypso, the mastermind behind the Twisted Metal tournament. Disciples strategically dismantle opponents in vehicles loaded with weapons of Twisted destruction. With a robust online system, players unleash destruction with up to 16 players through PlayStation Network and battle through a variety of favorite and new game modes.

Smart As… (For PS Vita) — Test your knowledge in never-before-seen ways with Smart As… Experience a brilliant brain workout in 15 unique challenges using the innovative features of PlayStation Vita. Test your analytical skills in Roller Blocks, use the touchscreen to challenge your dexterity in Chain Reaction and improve your three-dimensional problem solving with Cube Mania. Make new friends and take on the world via Player to Player challenges.

LEGO: The Lord of the Rings (For PS Vita) — Explore Middle-earth in an epic and thrilling LEGO video game adventure for the entire family! LEGO The Lord of the Rings brings to life the legendary fantasy saga by J.R.R. Tolkien. The game follows the original storylines of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Players can team up in pairs as adorable LEGO The Lord the Rings minifigures to experience countless dangers, solve riddles and battle formidable foes on their journey to Mount Doom.

Demos / PSP Release

• PS Vita Demo: Smart As…
• PSP: Airport Hero: Haneda
• PSP: NBA 2K13

PlayStation 2 Classic

Nobunaga’s Amition: Rise to Power — In Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power, players will assume the role of Nobunaga, or of a rival warlord, in their quest to unite Japan under one rule. Packed with 7 dramatic scenarios – from the 1551 Struggle for Power to the events following Nobunaga’s death in 1582, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power lets players embark on their quest from more than 300 different starting points.

[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.]