The Drop: Week of Dec 20th 2010 New Releases

“Twas the night before The Drop, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…” Did you honestly think we were going to sit this one out and get lost in a sea of eggnog and pecan pie this holiday? This may be the last official “The Drop” post I’ll be publishing this year, but we’ve made sure to go out with a triumphant explosion of gaming to wrap up 2010. The PlayStation Network delivers on all fronts this week, with an assortment of digital stocking stuffers with over 25 games for your PS3, Move and PSP.

The long awaited sequel to echochrome finally arrives on PS3 and on PlayStation Move when echochrome II emerges from the shadows this week, fans of Godzilla or Power Rangers will enjoy trashing a fictional metropolis with Eat Them! and rounding out what’s been an amazing collection of 50 PlayStation Move titles, Top Darts hits the bulls-eye. “…But I heard him exclaim, before he drove out of sight, Happy Holidays to all, and to all a goodnight!”

PlayStation Network

echochrome II (PlayStation Move Compatible): Utilizing the PlayStation Move motion controller and the PlayStation Eye camera, players can rotate levels and control light and shadows to change the way objects are viewed and the shadows they cast. The ultimate goal is to lead your character through the path from beginning to end, while learning how a variety of different objects can be combined with perspectives, angles and the use of light can be used to help solve the puzzle.

(PS Blog Coverage: echochrome ii)

Eat Them! (PSN Exclusive): Destroy cities, eat people, smash your friends and unleash your beast in this action-packed monster smasher from the makers of Savage Moon. Build your unique creature in the Monster Lad and go on a monster mash, causing as much damage to the city as possible. Enjoy bonus missions, multiplayer modes and global leaderboards to maximize your monster madness!

(PS Blog Coverage: Eat Them!)

Top Darts (PlayStation Move Compatible): Top Darts features a large selection of traditional darts games as well as an assortment of unique challenges & frantic offline multiplayer games for up to 8 players. Using the accuracy of the PlayStation Move motion controller, aim for the highest score in nine classic dart games including 501, Around the Clock, Soccer & Warfare. Or go for gold in a wide range of fun and diverse challenges based on time limits, target scores, and accuracy.

(PS Blog Coverage: Top Darts)

Prince Of Persia: The Two Thrones HD: Part of the Prince of Persia Sands of Time trilogy, this remake of the classic third chapter of the series has been upgraded with enhanced graphic effects and offers options for HD (720p) and stereoscopic 3D output. The Prince of Persia, a seasoned warrior, returns from the Island of Time to Babylon with his love, Kaileena. Instead of the peace that he longs for, he finds his homeland ravaged by war and the kingdom turned against him. The Prince is rapidly captured and Kaileena has no choice but to sacrifice herself and unleash the Sands of Time in order to save him.

Blokus (PlayStation Move Compatible): The award-winning hit board game from Mattel arrives on PlayStation Network. The winning strategy: block your opponents so they cannot add any more pieces to the board. Play with your friends in local or online multiplayer modes using one of the four game variations.

More PSN Games

• Borderlands
• Risk: Factions
• Alpha Mission II
• Art Of Fighting
• Baseball Stars Professional
• Fatal Fury (Also on PSP)
• League Bowling
• Magician Lord
• Metal Slug (Also on on PSP)
• Samurai Showdown
• Super Sidekicks
• The King Of Fighters ’94
• Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People – Season Pass
• BUZZ! – Quiz Player

PSone Classic

Front Mission 3: An excellent science-fiction-themed strategy game with role-playing elements, Front Mission 3 is the first installment of the popular Japanese series to make it stateside. In a future where giant robots known as “Wanzers” are the war machines of choice, you are cast as a civilian test pilot who gets swept up in an international military conspiracy surrounding a weapon of mass destruction.

minis

N.O.V.A: With Earth no longer able to sustain life, huge artificial satellites called “near-orbitals” were constructed for people to live on. To protect themselves, the near-orbitals banded together to form N.O.V.A., the Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance. Now, a strange threat has emerged from the darkness of space. A Marine ship, reported missing just a week ago, has suddenly reappeared and is headed directly for the near-orbitals, ignoring all communications. Against his will, retired Marine hero Kal Wardin is forcefully returned to active duty to prevent mankind’s annihilation.

A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks: Following in the footsteps of Frima’s critically-acclaimed Young Thor, Widget’s Odyssey and Zombie Tycoon titles released earlier this year, A Space Shooter for Two Bucks! features the level of quality fans and media have come to expect from Frima Studio and all with a ridiculously low two dollar price point, just in time for the Holiday gaming season.

More minis

• Jane’s Hotel
• Forest Puzzle
• Dr. Minigames

[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.]