PS3 Full Games

007 Legends ($59.99, $53.99 for Plus members)

Gamers and Bond aficionados alike will become James Bond, reliving the world-famous spy’s most iconic and intense undercover missions from throughout the entire Bond film franchise — including this year’s highly anticipated new installment, “SKYFALL.” SKYFALL missions will be available as a free download on November 9, 2012.
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 7.84 GB

DOOM 3 BFG Edition ($39.99)

DOOM 3 BFG Edition is the ultimate collection of games that defined the first person shooter including DOOM, DOOM II, DOOM 3, and DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil, and the Lost Mission.
ESRB: M– Mature // File Size: 7.1 GB

Wheel of Fortune ($29.99)

Spin the wheel along with Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the virtual version of America’s Game!
ESRB: E– Everyone // File Size: 978 MB

Jeopardy! ($29.99)

Join Alex Trebek and play as a contestant on ‘America’s Favorite Quiz Show!” Test your knowledge to make it to Final Jeopardy! and the coveted Winner’s Circle!
ESRB: E– Everyone // File Size: 1.42 GB

PSN Games

Of Orcs and Men ($49.99)

OF ORCS AND MEN is a role-playing game that puts you into the role of an elite Orc soldier and a sneaky Goblin, determined to lead their mission to success… assassinate the one responsible for the great war which ravages the Orcs and the Goblins: the Emperor of Men himself.
ESRB: M– Mature // File Size: 2.3 GB

Arkedo Series ($5.99)

The critically acclaimed Arkedo Series is now available on your PlayStation 3! Douse your console in a colorful world and get ready for some serious old-school action! This collection of 3 vintage-style games features ‘JUMP!’, a platformer with an 8-bit hero, ‘SWAP!’, a match-4 game with multiple tricks, and ‘PIXEL!’, a gorgeous platform-adventure game full of big, glowing pixels!
ESRB: E– Everyone // File Size: 105 MB

PS Vita

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale PS Vita Beta

In this beta you’ll be able to play as Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Colonel Radec, Sly Cooper, PaRappa, and Fat Princess in both the Metropolis and Hades stages. You’ll be able to try out four-player online tournaments and 2 v 2 online tournaments. For the 2 v 2 games we’ll be supporting friend invites, so you and a friend can fight another team online. This beta is available to all PS Vita owners.
ESRB T – Teen // File Size: 551 MB

Silent Hill: Book of Memories ($39.99)

Enter your very own horror story with the newest release of Silent Hill, for the PlayStation Vita handheld system. Silent Hill: Book of Memories is a chilling exploration of the best that Silent Hill has to offer. Enter a world full of untold stories, change the past, and write your own ideal history. Encounter a chilling lineup of iconic Silent Hill characters and scenes that will leave you craving more!
ESRB: M– Mature // File Size: 1.6 GB

Dokuro ($19.99)

The hard-headed, skeletal hero Dokuro must navigate a series of deadly traps to guide the Princess to safety. Push blocks, flip switches, and wield the almighty chalk to make your escape. Drink the blue potion to turn into a chivalrous hero with the power to gallantly cut down any foes who would harm your precious Princess. Engaging puzzles and epic boss battles await you in this charming, unconventional fairytale.
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 310 MB // US only

PS Minis

Breakquest: Extra Evolution ($3.99)

BreakQuest is back and is twice the fun! Stunning visuals and shapes, energizing physics and exciting sounds! Enjoy 100 сompletely redesigned action-packed levels, each featuring own colorful design, elements behavior and visual effects.
ESRB: E– Everyone // File Size: 56 MB

PS2 Classics

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe ($9.99)

Guide the four Pevensie children through the enchanted land of Narnia as they fight to end the rule of the wicked White Witch.
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 3 GB

PSone Classics (Added to PS Vita Store)

• Front Mission 3

PlayStation Store Highlights

If you’re in the mood for a little James Bond you’ll be happy to see that 007 Legends is releasing today on PlayStation Store. Even better, if you’re a PlayStation Plus Member you’ll receive 10% off the purchase price during launch week. If that’s not to your liking, there’s also DOOM 3 BFG Edition, complete with DOOM, DOOM II, DOOM 3, DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil and the Lost Mission. For a more family-friendly experience, both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are hitting the store today.

Of course, if you own a PS Vita you’ve probably been looking forward to Silent Hill: Book of Memories. Well, the wait is finally over — the game is available for download now, so go bunker down with the creepy survivor horror.

Aside from the discount on 007 Legends that I’ve already mentioned, Plus members have quite a few treats this week. PAYDAY: The Heist joins the Instant Game Collection, there’s an exclusive beta for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and you can purchase The Unfinished Swan a week before anybody else. On top of all that, there’s a massive Halloween sale, so stock up on games while they’re cheap!

As always, please leave your thoughts in the comments below. You can also chat about this update in the PlayStation Community Forums.

PlayStation Plus

Click here to learn more and purchase online or go to the PlayStation Store to activate instantly.

Instant Game Collection	PAYDAY: The Heist
Exclusive Beta	PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale (PS3)
Exclusive Early Access	The Unfinished Swan — $14.99
Discounts	007 Legends (10%) – PS Plus Price: $53.99 Monster World IV – PS Plus Price: $1.00 SEGA Rally Arcade – PS Plus Price: $2.99
The Halloween Sale	Costume Quest – PS Plus Price: $3.75 Dead Nation – PS Plus Price: $3.75 Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime – PS Plus Price: $1.25 inFAMOUS Festival of Blood – PS Plus Price: $2.50 AMY – PS Plus Price: $2.50 Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection Content Pack – PS Plus Price: $7.34 Dead Space 2 – PS Plus Price: $9.79 Plants vs. Zombies – PS Plus Price: $7.34 Plants vs. Zombies PS Vita – PS Plus Price: $7.34 Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack – PS Plus Price: $3.91 The House of the Dead Overkill Bundle – PS Plus Price: $15.39 Dead Rising 2 Off The Record – PS Plus Price: $9.79 Zen Pinball 2 Monsters Bundle (PS Vita & PS3 Cross-Entitled) – PS Plus Price: $4.19 Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City – PS Plus Price: $24.49
Last Chance (Leaving on 10/23)	Starhawk Solo Campaign – PS Plus Price: $0.00 The Unfinished Swan — $14.99 Derrick The Deathfin (30% Off) – PS Plus Price: $5.54 Monster World IV – PS Plus Price: $1.00 Starhawk – Original Soundtrack Starhawk – Pod Launcher Starhawk – Grizzly Rig Starhawk – Pod Launcher Starhawk – Mire Prospector Map Starhawk – Maw of Despair Prospector Map Starhawk – Spectrum Series Vehicle Paint Jobs Starhawk – Mega Extreme Series Vehicle Paint Jobs Starhawk – Rally Series Vehicle Paint Jobs Starhawk – Classic Warfighter Series Vehicle Paint Jobs Starhawk – Sweet Tooth Outcast Skin Starhawk – Shade Warrior Skin Starhawk – Tyro Exussum Skin Starhawk – Gamma Sacrum Skin Starhawk – Rift Hunter Skin Starhawk – Huxley Ardin Skin Starhawk – Bishop Mullens Skin Starhawk – Victor Rodriguez Skin

Bundles

The House of the Dead Overkill Bundle (29.99)

In one of the most popular arcade franchises, relive the over-the-top madness in this thrilling House of the Dead bundle. As gory as you remembered it, unload on the relentless mutant armies using automatic rifles, grenades, and other mutant blasting weaponry with either the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller or the PlayStation Move controller.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 13 GB

Price Change

• Tom Clancy’s Future Soldier – PS3 Game (now: $49.99 original price: $59.99)

Sales

• SEGA Rally Online Arcade – PS3 Game (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)
• Odin Sphere – PS2 Classic (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)

“Hero” Pack Sale

• DJ Hero 2: Old Skool Hip Hop Mix – PS3 Game Add-On (now: $3.99 original price: $7.99)
• Guitar Hero 5: Disturbed Track Pack – PS3 Game Add-On (now: $2.75 original price: $5.49)
• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Muse Track Pack – PS3 Game Add-On (now: $3.13 original price: $6.25)
• Guitar Hero World Tour: The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack – PS3 Game Add-On (now: $2.75 original price: $5.49)
• Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock: Rocky Horror Picture Show Track Pack – PS3 Game Add-On (now: $2.75 original price: $5.49)

The Halloween Sale

Game	PSN Sale Price	PS Plus Sale Price
Dead Space 2	$13.99	$9.79
Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection: Pack	$10.49	$7.34
Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike	$10.49	N/A
Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation	$10.49	N/A
Call of Duty: Black Ops Annihilation	$10.49	N/A
Dead Rising 2 Off The Record	$13.99	$9.79
Plants vs. Zombies PS Vita	$10.49	$7.34
Plants vs. Zombies PS3	$10.49	N/A
Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City	$34.99	$24.49
Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack	$5.59	$3.91
The House of the Dead Bundle	$21.99	$15.39
Zen Pinball 2 PS Vita Monsters Bundle (The Paranormal, Sorcerer’s Lair and Plants vs. Zombies)	$5.99	$4.19
AMY	$4.99	$2.50
Costume Quest complete bundle	$7.49	$3.75
Dead Nation	$7.49	$3.75
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime	$2.49	$1.25
inFAMOUS Festival of Blood	$4.99	$2.50

PS Vita Add-ons

New Little King’s Story

• Pigtail Wig Set ($0.99) – Download the ‘Pigtail Wig Set’ to unlock different color Pigtails that add Life +3!
• Sports Set ($0.99) – Download the ‘Sports Set’ to receive items that increase your Attacks and damage to monsters, just by bumping into them! This includes the Football Helmet, Uniform, Lingerie, Racket, Tenniswear, Metal Chair, Wrester Mask and Pants, Blackbelt Outfit, Soccer Uniform, Sumo Suit, Gymnast Outfit, and Cheerleader Costume!
• Military Set ($0.99) – Download the ‘Military Set’ and access new items to help you survive! This pack includes Gas Mask (cures poison), Goggle Helmet, Flight Jacket, and Camouflages (each adds Life and defense against winds)!
• Japanese Set ($0.99) – Unlock the ‘Japanese Set’ and receive various items that will give you more Life! This set includes the Festival Mask, Mini Yukata, Shinsen-gumi Robe, Samurai Sword, Samurai Helmet, Samurai Armor, Ninja Hat, Ninja Outfit, Kunoichi Hat, and Kunoichi Outfit!
• Classic Set ($0.99) – Download the ‘Classic Set’ for items that will give you more life and cures poison! This set includes the Pirate Hat and Outfit, 10-Gallon Hat, Cowgirl, Cowboy, and Detective Hat and Outfit!
• Ultimate Pass ($19.99) – Be the first to download the Little King’s DLC Ultimate Pass! Purchase the full DLC library in advance to save 50% on all of the New Little King’s Story downloadable content packs. Reign over your kingdom with the most powerful weapons, strengthen your attacks, and increase your life span! The boundaries are limitless with this ultimate DLC pack – download it today!

Pure Chess

• Battalion ($0.00) – The Battalion set brings a touch of class to the chess board with its delicately embossed pieces and effortless charm.

Zen Pinball 2

• Monsters Bundle ($5.99) – Celebrate Halloween with the Zen Pinball 2 Monsters Bundle! This Cross Buy entitled bundle includes three Halloween themed tables, including Paranormal, Sorcerer’s Lair and Plants vs. Zombies!

PS3 Add-ons

Darksiders 2

• Angel of Death ($1.99) – Give yourself an edge with a unique set of enhanced armor with a heavenly design as well as a pair of upgraded matching scythes and a new colored VFX trail for your trusty crow Dust. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Deadly Despair ($0.99) – Features a permanent speed boost for Death’s trusty steed Despair, allowing players to travel across the vast world even faster than before. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Fletcher’s Crow Hammer ($0.99) – Bludgeon your foes with the Fletcher’s Crow Hammer. This item is best suited for 5th – 10th level characters. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Shadow of Death ($1.99) – Strike fear into the hearts of your enemies with the otherworldly Shadow of Death Armor and Scythe set. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Mace Maximus ($0.99) – Prove your greatness with the Mace Maximus. This item is best suited for 5th – 10th level characters. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Mortis ($0.99) – No mere shield, Mortis is a buckler with a mind of its own – more than willing to bite back at opponents who dare attempt to strike it. This item is best suited for 5th level characters. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Rusanov’s Axe ($0.99) – Watch your enemies flee in terror with Rusanov’s Axe. This item is best suited for 5th – 10th level characters. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.
• Van Der Schmash ($0.99) – Pulverize your enemies with the Van der Schmash. This item is best suited for 5th – 10th level characters. Please note this item is NOT included in Season Pass which ONLY includes the Maker Armor Set, The Abyssal Forge, and The Demon Lord Belial. Visit darksiders.com for more details.

Borderlands 2

• Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate’s Booty ($9.99) – Enter the hostile wastelands of Pirate Bay in search of ancient treasure buried somewhere in the waste, a cache that would make even the most stoic of Pandora explorers hunger for its discovery. It’s rumored to be guarded by the largest, most vicious creature on Pandora – but that shouldn’t deter a real adventurer… featuring new wasteland locations, new enemies, new quests, and much more loot! This content is included with the Season Pass.

Dead or Alive 5

• Formal Pack 1 ($4.99) – The best looking fighters just got better with 4 new costumes for select characters. This set contains costumes for the following characters: Hitomi, Mila, Rig, & Lisa.
• Kitty Pack ($4.99) – The best looking fighters just got better with 4 new costumes for select characters. This set contains costumes for the following characters: Helena, Christie, Tina & Lisa.
• Series Costume Pack ($4.99) – The best looking fighters just got better with 4 new costumes for select characters. This set contains costumes for the following characters: Kasumi, Leifang, Ryu Hayabusa, & Lisa.

Dust 514

• 4,000 Aurum ($1.99) – Purchase 4,000 AUR to spend on weapons, vehicles, gear, boosters, and more in the DUST 514 beta.
• 10,000 Aurum ($4.99) – Purchase 10,000 AUR to spend on weapons, vehicles, gear, boosters, and more in the DUST 514 beta.
• 20,000 Aurum ($9.99) – Purchase 20,000 AUR to spend on weapons, vehicles, gear, boosters, and more in the DUST 514 beta, and get 1,000 extra AUR free!
• 40,000 Aurum ($19.99) – Purchase 40,000 AUR to spend on weapons, vehicles, gear, boosters, and more in the DUST 514 beta, and get 3,000 extra AUR free!
• 100,000 Aurum ($49.99) – Purchase 100,000 AUR to spend on weapons, vehicles, gear, boosters, and more in the DUST 514 beta, and get 10,000 extra AUR free!
• 200,000 Aurum ($99.99) – Purchase 200,000 AUR to spend on weapons, vehicles, gear, boosters, and more in the DUST 514 beta, and get 25,000 extra AUR free!

Lights, Camera, Party!

• The Good, the Bad and the Monkey ($4.99) – Download “The Good, the Bad and the Monkey” to enhance your experience with the most insanely hilarious PlayStation Move game you and your family have ever played!

Mass Effect 3

• Ground Resistance Pack ($1.99) – Resist the Reapers! Add more firepower to your single-player campaign with two assault rifles, two shotguns, two pistols, and the Kishock harpoon gun.

Medal of Honor Warfighter

• Online Pass ($9.99) – Online Pass includes full access to the Multiplayer in MEDAL OF HONOR WARFIGHTER.
• SOG Spec Ops Unit (This appears free for users with the Battlefield 3 Online pass) – Get instant access to the Swedish SOG Spec Ops unit in multiplayer for being a Battlefield 3 gamer and picking up the fight on the next, great installment of shooters built on the Frostbite 2 engine.

Mugen Souls

• Sparkly Coordination ($0.00) – Here is a set of equipable items! Control peons that you yourself have customized!
• Undisputed God Prudence Pack 1 ($0.00) – This a set of usable items for all you beginner ultimate gods out there! The set includes, healing, revival and hot spring use items.
• G Up Pack 1 ($0.00) – I want to upgrade my items, but I just don’t have the points… Here is a present just for you with the points that are necessary to upgrade items, G Up!
• Point Pack 1 ($0.00) – I just can’t seem to get enough points… For those of you who feel this way, here is a currency boost containing G and a character strengthening boost containing Mugen Points.

Pure Chess

• Battalion ($0.00) – The Battalion set brings a touch of class to the chess board with its delicately embossed pieces and effortless charm.

Rock Band 3 – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing song game tracks. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• Under a Raging Moon ($1.99) – John Parr
• Solar Winds ($0.99) – Devin Townsend
• Scarred ($0.99) – Chaotrope
• Not Fade Away ($1.99) – Jerry Naylor
• Into Your Hands ($1.99) – Kandia
• Come On Eileen ($1.99) – Save Ferris
• Animal I Have Become ($1.99) – Three Days Grace
• All I Wanna Do ($1.99) – Sheryl Crow

Rocksmith

• Unlock All Bonus Songs ($4.99) – This time saver pack gives you access to all bonus songs.
• Unlock All Guitarcade Minigames ($2.99) – This time saver pack gives you access to all Guitarcade minigames.
• Unlock All Guitars and Basses ($2.99) – This time saver pack gives you access to all guitars and basses that can be equipped in Amp mode.
• Unlock All Venues ($2.99) – This time saver pack gives you access to all venues when choosing the ‘perform’ option while playing songs.
• Ultimate Time Saver Bundle ($11.99) – Includes: Tone Designer Time Saver Pack, Unlock All Guitarcade Minigames, Unlock All Bonus Songs, Unlock All Guitars and Basses, Unlock All Venues
• Alternative Rock Pack ($29.99) – Includes: ‘All the Small Things’ – blink-182 ‘Dammit’ – blink-182 ‘What’s My Age Again?’ – blink-182 ‘Paralyzer’ – Finger Eleven ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ – Foster The People ‘My Sharona’ – The Knack ‘This Love’ – Maroon 5 ‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’ – My Chemical Romance ‘Planetary (GO!)’ – My Chemical Romance ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ – My Chemical Romance ‘Come Out and Play (Keep ‘em Separated)’ – The Offspring ‘Gone Away’ – The Offspring ‘Self Esteem’ – The Offspring ‘Bodysnatchers’ – Radiohead ‘Cousins’ – Vampire Weekend
• Classic Guitar Pack ($29.99) – Includes: ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ – Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan ‘Jessica’ – The Allman Brothers Band ‘Whipping Post’ – The Allman Brothers Band ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ – Blue Öyster Cult ‘More Than a Feeling’ – Boston ‘Born on the Bayou’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival ‘Smoke on the Water’ – Deep Purple ‘Barracuda’ – Heart ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ – Iron Butterfly ‘Free Bird’ – Lynyrd Skynyrd ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – Queen ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ – Queen ‘Keep Yourself Alive’ – Queen ‘Killer Queen’ – Queen ‘Stone Cold Crazy’ – Queen
• Classic Hits Pack ($23.99) – Includes: ‘The Thrill is Gone’ – B. B. King ‘Godzilla’ – Blue Öyster Cult ‘Soul Man’ – The Blues Brothers ‘Space Oddity’ – David Bowie ‘What’s Going On’ – Marvin Gaye ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’ – Otis Redding ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ – Pat Benatar ‘Message in a Bottle’ – The Police ‘Roxanne’ – The Police ‘Synchronicity II’ – The Police ’20th Century Boy’ – T. Rex ‘My Girl’ The Temptations

Sleeping Dogs

• Tactical Soldier Pack ($1.99) – Enforce the streets in style, fully equipped with the strongest armor and most destructive weapon in the game. Items come with their own buffs.
• Community Gift Pack ($0.00) – Get kitted out with a selection of free gifts, our special thank you to the community.
• Street Racer Pack ($3.99) – Burn rubber in four wheels, tear up the streets on two tires, and even rip through the water in your speedboat.

Zen Pinball 2

• Monsters Bundle ($5.99) – Celebrate Halloween with the Zen Pinball 2 Monsters Bundle! This Cross Buy entitled bundle includes three Halloween themed tables, including Paranormal, Sorcerer’s Lair and Plants VS Zombies!

Game Videos (Free)

• FAR CRY 3 ISLAND SURVIVAL GUIDE: TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN (NEW)
• FAR CRY 3 ISLAND SURVIVAL GUIDE: WELCOME TO THE ROOK ISLANDS (NEW)
• WWE ’13 ATTITUDE ERA TRAILER (NEW)
• WWE ’13 MIKE TYSON INTERVIEW TRAILER (NEW)

PS3 Themes

• Dynamic American City Chicago Skyline Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic American City Chicago Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Binary Blue Code Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Binary Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Brazil Green Waterfall Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Brazil Iguazu Waterfall Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Brazil Natural Hot Spring Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Brazil Salvador de Bahia Beach Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Dark Queen Of Hearts Fairy Tale Theme — $2.99
• Dynamic Digital Worm Hole Theme — $2.99
• Sports Champions 2 Archery Static Theme — $0.00
• Sports Champions 2 Bowling Static Theme — $0.00
• Sports Champions 2 Boxing Static Theme — $0.00
• Sports Champions 2 Golf Static Theme — $0.00
• Sports Champions 2 Ski Static Theme — $0.00
• Sports Champions 2 Tennis Static Theme — $0.00

Available In-Game Only (Not on PlayStation Store)

Rock Band 3

• Come On Eileen ($0.99) – Pro Guitar (In Game Only) – Save Ferris

In my last PlayStation.Blog post, I talked a bit about the origins of my favorite numbskull, Dokuro, and the story surrounding his heroic exploits. My ever-diminishing pool of skeleton-themed puns notwithstanding, I’d like to go a bit deeper into the gameplay elements of Dokuro as well as the concepts that spurred development choices.

Although Dokuro was inspired by children’s books — The Velveteen Rabbit and a Japanese children’s book called Kuma to Yamaneko — don’t let the adorable chalk-laden game fool you into thinking the Dark Lord’s castle is child’s play. At first, Dokuro may look like a pretty straightforward 2D side-scrolling puzzler: You’ve got a clear goal of escorting the princess from point A to point B, and a seemingly narrow list of what you can and cannot do to accomplish it. You push a few boxes around, toggle a switch or two, and bash a few bozos who try to hurt your precious princess. The game wouldn’t be a fraction as interesting as it is, however, if it simply stopped there.

As you progress through the treacherous castle, you are gradually introduced to new concepts and abilities, such as using the spicy-red chalk to transfer fires and toggling the amazing anti-gravity device to solve vexing gravity-defying riddles. Just as soon as these new concepts are introduced, they snuggle right into your existing bag of tricks. Now you’ve got to avoid heavily armed knights, transform into a hero to slash away at your foes, push an explosive barrel up against a fragile wall and red chalk that barrel’s fuse before the bouncing flame monsters get you!

By the end of the game, you’ve learned how to interact with a whole slew of environments and objects including seesaws, windmills, pendulums, and water.

Every new skill you learn becomes a necessary part of your repertoire as you encounter increasingly complex puzzles, but the game won’t just test your brains. While many of its stages can be solved with mental dexterity alone, there are quite a few stages that will rely on your platforming expertise. For many stages, you will have to carefully time Dokuro’s jumps, shoves, chalks and heroic transformations to survive some of the more precarious pitfalls. The game’s creator, Noriaki Kazama, described these extremely challenging stages as ones that “come at the users with intent to kill.” However, if you ever get fed up with these challenges, you are permitted to skip as many as ten stages and return to finish those death-inducing stages after you’ve had some time to calm down.

The developer Game Arts suggests that if you get stuck on an area, the best thing to do is take a step back and look at the whole picture. What can Dokuro do? What concepts have been recently introduced? And why do I keep jumping into those stupid spikes!? Even the seemingly daunting boss battles can be conquered quite smoothly once you observe their movements and take advantage of your surroundings. In stages like that, it’s important to remember the Ambrose Redmoon quote that inspired Dokuro in the first place: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

Dokuro’s motivations may not be clear at first, but once the princess gives him her magical bell to help him protect what’s most important to him, he literally glows with purpose! Seeing this plucky little pile of bones struggle to reach his goals makes the punishing puzzles and brief event scenes all the more rewarding.

Dokuro consists of 15 stages, each with about 10 areas. At the end of each area, you are greeted by a lovely little flower and a small box that says how long you took to clear the area this time around. In my normal puzzling experience, I’d be taken to some kind of stage select or results screen, but the developers were concerned this would pull players away from the immersive experience, so they cut this part out and made it feel like one continuous journey since the levels seamlessly bleed into one another up until you encounter a story event or boss battle.

Dokuro is out today on PS Vita via PSN for $19.99. We also plan to give away some fantastic artwork from one of the original Dokuro artists. For more details, feel free to check out our Facebook page.

One day Dokuro’s boss, the great and powerful Dark Lord, returns to his castle with a beautiful princess in tow. I suppose “in-cage” is more accurate, since this particular princess did not come of her own free will. From the moment Dokuro lays his eyes on her, our bony hero is love-struck and resolves to save her from his master’s treacherous castle.

The Princess pays no mind to imminent danger and will automatically move forward until she reaches an obstacle she cannot cross. Dokuro’s main goal is to get the Princess from point A to point B. Naturally the path is always complicated by traps, pitfalls, and the occasional flying demon. These puzzles will take all the moxie and gumption you can muster as you travel through floors of ever-increasing complexity. As you progress, you uncover new abilities like the Hero Transformation mode that allows you to slash enemies to bits, and the almighty chalks that let you directly manipulate your surroundings with the touch of your finger.

It may seem a strange thing to have a seemingly invisible skeleton save the day, but Dokuro’s unsung endeavors are precisely what make the little scamp so relatable. Before the development team had even begun work on Dokoru, the game’s producer brought in children’s books filled with heartwarming fairytales to inspire the team. The classic storybook style is clearly evident, but the team decided on a unique twist. It was originally suggested that the protagonist be a handsome knight, but something about the little skeleton minion struck a chord with the designers and they decided it would make for a much more interesting story to have the Dark Lord’s own peon save the day. Dokuro may not be the hero the Princess expected, but he’s the only one she has – even if she doesn’t notice him! The game’s themes of unrequited love and tireless devotion are so clearly conveyed that any text is almost completely unnecessary. Dokuro is a skeleton-man of action and his beads of inexplicable sweat say more than mere words could ever convey!

It’s weird to think of a pile of bones as being cute or charming, but once you’ve met Dokuro, it’s hard to think of him any other way. Fearless, unrelenting, and with the power to single-handedly defy the Dark Lord’s minions, Dokuro will let no puzzle stand in his way as he escorts his beloved Princess to safety.

Get ready for some bone-chilling excitement when Dokuro hits PlayStation Store this October.