[PS3 #224] Vooruitkijkend naar 2010.

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Also, the former GameStop-exclusive power-up Gigawatt Blades will be available for all as a free PSN download, starting December 10 -- a nice freebie for latecomers to the game.

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White Knight Chronicles International Edition Coming to PS3 February 2, 2010



Posted by Cristian Cardona // Associate Product Manager, Software Marketing

So we know there are a bunch of people out there who are going to be getting a PlayStation 3 this holiday (or already opened theirs). Many new owners are probably going to ask us what we have to offer, and as many of you know, there’s plenty!

Level-5 and SCEA would like to add to that list of fantastic titles by announcing the North American release of White Knight Chronicles International Edition February 2, 2010.

The International Edition not only includes the fully localized copy of White Knight Chronicles, but it also comes with the following additional features and content:

* Over 50 disc-based online quests. You can complete these quests solo, or cooperatively with up to three other players to gain extra gear and experience. (That’s just on the disc. Wait until you hear what else we’ll have at launch!)

* Voice Chat. Need we say more? =)

* The Georama. Build an online village for your character where you can invite friends to complete quests online and purchase unique items and gear.

* Live Talk. Leonard and his companions will have side conversations during gameplay, adding a little more character to your travels through the world of White Knight Chronicles.
We hope you’re as excited as we are about this upcoming release! Be sure to check out this month’s coverage in Qore and keep an eye out for even more information on this incredible RPG in the coming weeks!

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IGN AU's Top 10 Games of 2009

1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Naughty Dog / PlayStation 3

If "few action games have ever done it better", then Uncharted 2 is one of those rare games. Let's take this one slowly because there's a lot of ground to cover and praise to be heaped.

While many games claim to let players live out their action movie fantasies, in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, this is absolutely the case. Nathan Drake is an infectiously likeable lead character, pulling traits from Harrison Ford and Nathan Fillion to create an unholy amalgam of charm and smarm. What follows the literal cliff-hanger opening is an instant-classic action adventure that does more to reinvigorate this genre than any other this year.

Knowing how to pace itself is one of Uncharted 2's greatest strengths. After every intense battle, hard-slough along the side of a train or through a collapsing apartment block, there's a much appreciated breather, allowing you to climb, explore and sometimes simply bask in this wonderful landscape that developer Naughty Dog has carefully crafted.

Key moments stand out for us, such as the sundrenched Nepalese village, high in the mountains. With no real objective per-se other than to meander through the town and see the sights and take in the ambience, Naughty Dog demonstrates that it's more than okay to take the pedal off the gas once in a while – it's critical, in fact.

Support characters are thoroughly entertaining, the voice-acting shames most other games and the animations that complement these are a mere hair strand's distance away from feature film quality. But above all other elements, Uncharted 2 is simply masterful to play. The refinements made to the cover system beyond the first game make for a far more reliable and enjoyable experience, while Drake's limber athleticism compels players to really ponder which surfaces might just be the right route to the goal.

Complemented with a stirring soundtrack and a meaty multiplayer experience that is every bit as fun as a third-person shooter can be in this mode, Uncharted 2 is a thoughtfully created experience that never forgets that its ultimate reason to exist is not to ape Hollywood in a futile 'me-too' exercise, but to let the players play the action; to entertain through gaming, not just watching.

All things considered, there was really no doubt in IGN AU's collective hivemind that Naughty Dog has done gamers a wondrous service with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. This is the game of the year for 2009 and a valid reason to buy a PS3; more than any of that though, it's the reason why we play games in the first place.