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Out This Week

LittleBigPlanet 2! Mass Effect 2! Mindjack!

Dark blue icons of video game controllers on a light blue background
Image credit: Eurogamer

Ah, 2011. Full of optimism, hope and... wait, today's the most depressing day of the year. And it's raining everywhere. Yeah!

For gamers, though, there's a glimmer of hope, and that's because this Friday marks the first big release day of 2011 – particularly if you're a PlayStation 3 owner.

LittleBigPlanet 2, a game some are already calling game of the year, launches this week. The enchanting user-generated platformer should entice PS3 owners young and old with its heart-warming visuals and robust creation tools. But will it cast a spell over shop tills?

PS3 owners who favour action over creation will be delighted to hear that BioWare's superb science fiction role-playing game Mass Effect 2 finally hits Sony's console this week. According to BioWare, the game's "not a simple port". But is it too little, too late for PS3 gamers?

Elsewhere, Square Enix's curious PS3 and Xbox 360 action game Mindjack enters the fray. The brain-hacking shooter could surprise us all. Time will tell.

This Week In Shops!

LittleBigPlanet 2

  • Developer: Media Molecule
  • Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
  • Formats: PS3

What is it? Sequel to one of the best PS3 exclusives around. Join Stephen Fry's soothing voice on a platforming adventure. Oh, and you can create stuff, too. What does Eurogamer think? Simon Parkin smothered LittleBigPlanet 2 in praise with his 9/10 review. "As a package, as a concept, as an unfinished story, LittleBigPlanet 2 is a world apart," he wrote.

LittleBigPlanet 2's first 15 minutes.

Mass Effect 2

  • Developer: BioWare
  • Publisher: EA
  • Formats: PS3

What is it? The PS3 version of Eurogamer's Game of 2010. Said to utilise the Mass Effect 3 engine, and includes loads of extra gubbins. What does Eurogamer think? A Digital Foundry Mass Effect 2 Face-Off of epic proportions is due first thing in the morning. Bring popcorn.

Mass Effect 2's PS3 launch trailer.

What Else?

  • Mindjack (PS3, Xbox 360)
  • Spare Parts (PS3, Xbox 360)

On PSN

  • Square Parts
  • Modern Combat: Domination
  • Costume Quest on Ice

On Xbox Live Arcade

  • Spare Parts

Chart Predictions!

Each week one of the team will step up to predict the UK all-formats chart. The following predicts the outcome for the week beginning Friday 21st January (to be reported on Monday 24th January).

Wesley Yin-Poole, News Editor

"It's hard to look beyond Activision's all-conquering Call of Duty: Black Ops. I predict it'll remain steadfast in first place, with EA's FIFA 11 in second. Just Dance 2 will remain in third, and Wii Fit Plus will no doubt stay in fourth. At best, LittleBigPlanet 2 will chart in fifth. Mass Effect 2 I suspect will do well, but will fail to break into the top 10 – remember, Chart-Track doesn't include digital sales, and ME2 launches day and date on PlayStation Network. Mindjack? If it gets into the top 20 I'll be impressed."

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops
  2. FIFA 11
  3. Just Dance 2
  4. Wii Fit Plus
  5. LittleBigPlanet 2

UK All-Formats Top 5 (reported this morning)

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops
  2. FIFA 11
  3. Just Dance 2
  4. Wii Fit Plus
  5. Kinect Sports

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