Musical experiments in platformer Sound Shapes beckon on PlayStation Vita and PS3, with contributions from Beck, Deadmau5, and Jim Guthrie.
Sound Shapes (PS3 PSVita via download)
North America: August 7, E for Everyone
Europe: August 15, 3+
Intriguing platformer that blends action and sound, with contributions from Deadmau5, Beck, Jim Guthrie and Superbrothers (of iOS, PC and Mac hit Sword & Sworcery); there's level creation and sharing between PS3 and Vita users.
Price: $14.99 / €12.99 / £9.99 for both PS3 and Vita versions together
Persona 4 Arena (360 PS3)
North America: August 7, Teen
European regions: August 31, 16+
Japan: since July, B (12+)
Considered role playing series crosses genres for a bit of bish bash bosh as the makers of the BlazBlue fighting games convert characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4 into agile one-on-one martial experts.
Price: $59 / €49 / £39 / ¥7,990
www.atlus.com/p4arena
Sleeping Dogs (360 PC PS3)
North America: August 14, M17+
European regions: August 17, 18+
Japan: September 27, Z (18+)
Roam around Hong Kong as an undercover cop infiltrating the brutal triads. Inspired by classic action flicks such as Infernal Affairs and Hard Boiled.
Price: $59 / €59 / £39 / R549 / ¥7,980
On PC: $49 / €49 / £29 / R399 / ¥7,980
www.sleepingdogs.net
Darksiders II (360 PC PS3)
North America: August 14, M17+
European regions: August 21, 18+
Plunge yourself into the chaos of the earth's final apocalypse as Death, one of the Four Horsemen, as voiced by the gravely Michael Wincott (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Crow), and vindicate fellow horseman War, star of the first game.
Price: $59 / €69 / £39 / R599
On PC: $49 / €49 / £35 / R399
www.darksiders.com
New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
North America: August 19, E
European regions: August 17, 3+
Japan: July 28, A (all ages)
Coin-collecting frenzy New Super Mario Bros. 2 has been boasting of its long-term replay value. Mario's latest outing could prove a decent little money-spinner for Nintendo too.
Price: $39 / €39 / £29 / R499 / ¥4,800
newsupermariobros2.nintendo.com
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360 Mac PC PS3)
North America: August 21, Teen
European regions: August 24, 12+
Settle the score between Autobots and Decepticons during the final moments of home planet Cybertron in a conflict that sucks in transforming robots miniscule and megalithic.
Price: $59 / €59 / £39 / R599, less on PC
transformersgame.com
