The PlayStation Recap

Helluva week, guys. On top of getting some hands-on time with Resistance 3‘s multiplayer and single-player modes, as well at Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One and Twisted Metal as part of our Worldwide Studios Tour, I’ve returned home to an avalanche of fan-freaking-tastic PSN game releases. And Tuesday marks another milestone with the release of major PS3 retail games SOCOM 4, Mortal Kombat, and Portal 2. Gaming gods, give me strength…

What are you playing right now? What are you most excited to play on Tuesday?

• I’m playing: Mortal Kombat, Crysis 2, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Resistance 3 and Twisted Metal (at this week’s SCEA Worldwide Studios Tour)
• I’m watching: Twisted Metal extended trailer, Resistance 3 Boat level playthrough
• I’m reading: Origin by J.A. Konrath and Jack Kilborn

See SOCOM 4’s Benefaction: How to Beat a Level Without Firing a Shot — Jeff and I tackle this challenge in radically different ways.

Settlement in George Hotz Case — Read the full statement here.

MLB The Show Challenge of the Week #6 – Choice of Signed MLB Baseball — Protip: You can enter through the main menu of MLB 11 The Show!

Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios: A Taste of What’s to Come — inFAMOUS 2, Twisted Metal, Resistance 3, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One.

ModNation Monday: The ModNation Palooza Rolls On! — See the latest and greatest user creations and a look at the latest DLC.

Updates to PSP System Software, Media Go App — The PSP’s media manager application gains support for Xperia and Walkman devices along with other improvements.

inFAMOUS 2: Behemoth, UGC Detailed in Sucker Punch Videos — Shocking new video and lot

Capcom Announces Dragon’s Dogma for PS3: Monsters, Magic and Melee — Capcom prepares an open-world PS3 adventure for 2012.

Dungeon Hunter: Alliance Hits PSN Today With PlayStation Move Support — This PSN action-RPG includes flexible co-op play and motion controller support.

Patapon 3 Hits PSP Today for $20, Free Item Code Here — Redeem the code here for a free item for your in-game army.

SOCOM 4 Soundtrack on iTunes and PlayStation Store Today — Composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica, The Walking Dead) has something he wants you to hear.

PlayStation Store Update — Killzone 3: Steel Rain Map Pack, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Dungeon Hunter: Alliance, and the full version of Assassin’s Creed for a cool $20.

Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes Hits PSN Today, New Story Trailer — Capy’s new PSN game fuses strategy and puzzle gameplay, with a liberal dollop of Critter Crunch goodness.

Helghast Invade Your Toy Shelf! — DC Unlimited reveals Killzone Series 1: A pair of sweet Helghast action figures.

Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One: Terawatt Forest and the Mystery of the Creature Collector — Insomniac Games shows off never-before-seen environments and scenarios in this new gameplay video.

Valve Reveals Portal 2 for PlayStation 3: Steam Details — Buying Portal 2 for PS3 nabs you a free copy for your PC or Mac, PS3-to-PC co-op support and more.

Coming to PlayStation Plus: Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Red Johnson’s Chronicles, more — Never forget: PlayStation Plus members get the Killzone 3 Steel Rain Map Pack for free.

Resistance 3: The Dark Woods of Pennsylvania — Plus a new video showing a suspenseful boat ride through Chimera country.

This Week in PlayStation Home: Sodium 2 Beta Access & Mansion Garage Tours — One of Home’s most popular games gets a high-octane racing sequel, and you can play it now.

Sorcerer’s Lair Table for ZEN Pinball Unveiled on PSN, Watch the Exclusive Trailer — The premiere PSN pinball game gets a spooky new table soon.

Digital Comics Store Update — Series finale God of War #6, Ultimate Iron Man II, Resident Evil Vol.2, Ratchet & Clank, Castlevania, Silent Hill and more.

When Street Fighter Met Tekken — Legendary Capcom producer Ono talks Street Fighter X Tekken, including how this epic fighting crossover came to be.

Twisted Metal Extended Trailer Reveal, Pre-order for Axel — I’m digging the guy who plays Calypso, he gives off a good Randall Flagg vibe.

Visit the PlayStation Loft at Coachella (or follow along from home) — Coachella attendees can play as Kratos in Mortal Kombat now! Can’t go? Get a free Coachella shirt for your Home avatar here.

Mortal Kombat: Komposing Cinematic Audio and the Origins of Toasty! — Mortal Kombat’s Lead Sound Designer Dan Forden gives us the secret story behind one of gaming’s most popular Easter Eggs.

Portal 2: Pretty Much Every PS3 Question Answered (and that Cake thing, too) — Portal 2’s writer and project lead answer your detailed questions and exchange pastry tips.

Guitar Hero’s Tale Ends (for now) with a Massive Giveaway. Enter Here! — Enter for a chance to win a Guitar Hero “time capsule” with multiple games from the series, lots of DLC, and other collectible swag for superfans.

It Only Does Tactical Strategy—with a Twist — Kevin Butler sounds off on SOCOM 4. What else do you need to know?

MotorStorm Apocalypse Racing onto Store Shelves May 3 — It’s official! Game Director Matt Southern opens up about his motor masterpiece in a slick new interview video.

LittleBigPlanet 2 Hits Four Million Levels! — This is just the beginning…

Solve a Twisted, Dark Mystery in PSN’s Puzzle Agent — Featuring the work of cartoonist Graham Annable, the trailer for this wickedly humorous PSN puzzle game is absolutely worth watching.

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Patch for PS3 AND BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II on PSP this May — Two bits of good news for fighting fans.

Introducing SOCOM Pro: Special Game Types, New Weapons Included — SOCOM Pro is included with every new copy of SOCOM 4, and it grants exclusive perks.

PlayStation Network Video Content Update — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, horror films in the Deal of the Week spotlight, Friday Night Lights Season 5 and more.

SOCOM 4 Multiplayer Map Flythroughs — We’ve put together video flythroughs of every map included with SOCOM 4, including the GameStop pre-order bonus map, “Abandoned.”