Today, Sony has announced that, since the usual update day (Tuesday) falls on New Year day 2013, we’ll be getting the store update a day early. Included in this update are more holiday deals, as well as two new free games for PS+ members: Chronovolt (Vita) and NBA Jam: On Fire Edition (PS3).
Chronovolt is a steampunk influenced puzzle-platformer game in which you take control of the Chronosphere, a device that contains the energy and powers of time. You’ll have to guide it through levels (all of which fall into one of three settings: A lush Mayan world, a frozen Chinese landscape, and a futuristic world) utilizing every one of the Vita’s controls. Also, by obtaining power-ups (known as Chronovolts), you will have the ability to use certain time powers, such as rewinding the game to prevent yourself from taking a lethal spill. Overall, the two reviews over at IGN even out to an 8.0, so it seems to be a decent addition to the growing PS+ library of Vita games.
The free PS3 game is NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. This features all the NBA Jam modes you’ve grown to love (assuming you are a fan of the series), such as “Big head mode”. With, “fast-paced arcade-style Basketball action,” NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is sure to please at least a few sports games nuts out there. That said, there seems to be a bit of controversy on the update page, where a user has stated that the NBA Jam servers go offline January 11. The Sony rep has replied that he’ll look into it, but he believe it is just the regular edition’s servers. Here’s hoping the rep is right, otherwise it knocks out one of the game’s main selling points.
Last up are the current Holiday sales. Included are Batman: Arkham City (regular: $29.99, sale: $20.99, PS+: $14.70), inFAMOUS Festival of Blood (regular: $9.99, sale: $6.99, PS+: $4.90),
inFAMOUS 2 (regular: $19.99, sale: $13.99, PS+: free), Assassin’s Creed 2: Deluxe Edition (regular: $19.99, sale: $13.99, PS+: $9.80), Shadow of the Colossus (regular: $19.99, sale: $13.99, PS+: $9.80), Bulletstorm (regular: $19.99, sale: $13.99, PS+: $9.80), Sound Shapes (PS3 and PS Vita Cross Buy) (regular: $14.99, sale: $10.49, PS+: $7.35), Sound Shapes (PS Vita only) (regular: $14.99, sale: $10.49, PS+: $7.35), TOKYO JUNGLE (regular: $14.99, sale: $10.49, PS+: $7.35), Skullgirls (regular: $14.99, sale: $10.49, PS+: $7.35), and Touch My Katamari (regular: $24.99, sale: $17.49, PS+: $12.25).
With a sports game and a new, apparently decent Vita game in the IGC, not to mention the Holiday deals still going on, this week’s update isn’t TOO bad. Overall, however, the month of December hasn’t been a great one as far as content goes, as many US PS+ users feel. Furthermore, if the rumour about NBA Jam proves true, many (who like sports games and would otherwise appreciate the title) will likely end up disliking the free PS3 game, as online play is a major selling point for sports titles.
