Announced back in June of this year, NBA Unrivaled is Tecmo's entry into the basketball video game market since 1992's Tecmo NBA Basketball, the basketball companion to Tecmo Super Bowl. Like Tecmo NBA, Unrivaled features cut scenes and exaggerated special moves, making it more NBA Jam and less NBA Live.

Unlike the game from 1992, however, NBA Unrivalled features all 30 NBA teams with top players from the latest rosters, full 5-on-5 arcade gameplay, and full 1080P HD support.

NBA Unrivaled drops on Wednesday on the Xbox Live Arcade in North America, Japan, and Europe, with a PlayStation Network version coming in the near future.

Two new titles hit the Xbox Live Arcade this week, both setting you back 800 Microsoft points should you choose to partake. Inferno Pool is a whole new sort of competitive pool, with players firing balls at their opponents as they attempt to domination their own tables in 1-4 player multiplayer online and offline matches.

Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! is a platforming game in which the player tries to climb from the Earth into outer space, harnessing rainbows to aid your ascent. Solo players can partake of Story, Time Attack, and Challenge modes, with 2-player co-op and competitive online play available for those who would rather involve others.

Anything strike your fancy this week? I'm eying Inferno Pool, though I might hold out for Hustle Kings on PSN this winter.

Now the mean streets of Liberty City are only a 7GB download and $29.99 away from the net-connected Xbox 360 owner. The $30 price tag is consistent with retail prices on the Platinum Hits version of the title and only $5 more than GameStop charges for it used, so depending on how much you value your time and gas money, it might be a better deal to download the game via the Xbox Live Marketplace. If anything it will save those of you who traded the game back in after finishing the Lost and Damned DLC the embarrassment of having to re-purchase it again in order to experience the upcoming Ballad of Gay Tony expansion.

I know that feeling far too well.

Xbox 360 Games on Demand: GTA IV [Major Nelson]

I completely approve of more adventure games on Xbox Live Arcade, even if one of those games is a collection of short, bite-sized Sam & Max adventures previously released on the PC and Nintendo Wii. Sam & Max Season 2, which Telltale renamed Beyond Time & Space, sees the detective duo travelling across through time and space, running into famous historical figures like Santa Claus and Satan. It's a bit pricier than most xbox Live Arcade games at 1600 Microsoft points, but you get a great deal of game for those points.

Joining Sam and Max are Axel & Pixel by Czech studio Silver Wish Games. Axel & Pixel combines point and click adventuring with some strange driving levels, with an art style that impressed Totilo considerably. If anything it's pleasant to look at, priced nicely at 800 Microsoft points.

These are exactly the sort of games I would relax with if we weren't in the midst of the fall review season. Play them for me, and let me know how they go?

This week on Arcade: Axel & Pixel and Sam & Max Season 2 [Major Nelson]

Moonshot Games is keen on taking years of experience working on AAA console titles and applying it to the downloadable games market in order to create something out of this world. Managing director Michel Bastien was the production lead for Halo 2 and 3. Director of technology Damián Isla was Bungie's AI and gameplay engineering lead. Creative director Rob Stokes was a writer, mission designer, and design lead for the Halo franchise. Together they hope to prove that the little guys can be great as well.

"The Moonshot team firmly believes that the stars need not be limited to multimillion-dollar projects supported by armies of ground crew. There is a place in history for that small, nimble craft, built smartly on a modest budget, and piloted by expert hands. "

A team with this sort of pedigree is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Check out Moonshot Games' official website to see how good they are at stretching a metaphor.

Zen Studios' Sky City-themed Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 pinball table will attempt to capture the frenetic action of Tecmo's game, with five multiball game modes, tons of missions, weapon combos, electrical ramps, and something called "ball slicing effects" which actually doesn't sound all that appealing. I'm not all that sure I can bring myself to spend my hard-earned dollars with anything that carries the phrase "ball slicing" in its description.

The table is tentatively scheduled for an October release, so stay tuned to PSN and the ZEN Pinball website to know when you'll be able to get your ball slicing on.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 ZEN Pinball Table [PlayStation Blog]

Trine has been available on the PC for quite some time, but on the PlayStation 3 it's been only our friends over in Europe who've gotten to purchase and put the game's heroic trio through their paces. That ends on October 22nd, when Trine finally sees a U.S. PlayStation Store release. I'm not sure why the European and U.S. releases were separated by a month, but I'm guessing it has something to do with Nobilis being a French publisher and all that entails.

Those interested in checking out Trine when it hits the PlayStation Store would do well to read Luke's review of the game, to see how a burly Australian man feels about it.

Dreams really do come true! Though sometimes heavy-handed in its message, the Xbox Live Indie puzzle-platformer Clover was an amazing accomplishment for Binary Tweed. Blitz Games Studios recognizes this, bringing the story of orphaned teen Sam to the PC via its downloadable division, Blitz Arcade.

"It's fantastic to be working with Blitz Games Studios. As stalwarts of the UK games industry, the Oliver Twins were responsible for many of the games I played growing up, giving the relationship between Binary Tweed and Blitz 1UP a common cultural background. Partnering with a company of such experience is exactly the kind of route that I hoped Xbox Live Indie Games development would make accessible."

Clover: A Curious Tale will feature many improvements over the original version, including a completely remastered piano score, new puzzles, voice acting, and new ambient effects. They've also improved the animation and added a new intro and ending, making this the ultimate version of Clover and a must-buy for fans of the original.

The game is being released as part of Blitz's 1UP initiative, dedicated to assisting independent developers in bringing their titles to the market. No word on when Clover is coming to the market, but it's good to know that it's making its way.

Digger was more or less a clone of the arcade game Mr. Do. You drive your mining vehicle around, digging tunnels, collecting emeralds, and dropping bags of gold on monster's heads. Creat has left the gameplay mostly intact, giving the graphics, sounds, and animations a fresh new look while adding in cooperative multiplayer for those of you who really dig playing with friends. They've even scored music from techno artists Candie Hank, Gangpol & Mit and GMG.

It looks like Creat has gone great lengths to preserve the original gameplay while making everything else better. I'm just not all that sure the original gameplay deserved preservation. We'll find out tomorrow when Digger HD goes on sale for $9.99

Digger HD Available Tomorrow on PSN for $9.99 [PlayStation Blog]

Q-Games makes the pixels a little smaller on Thursday with the release of PixelJunk Monsters for the PSP and PSPgo. A slightly updated version of the PS3 tower defense game, the download-only title boasts some new features, including the ability to hang out in the lobby and watch a running play-by-play of the round currently underway while you wait your turn. You can check out Q-Games' Dylan Cuthbert discussing all of the new features in a video interview over at the PlayStation blog.

PixelJunk Monsters is a perfect fit for the portable treatment. I might pick it up myself come Thursday, even if my PSP doesn't slide open like the cool kids' do.

TGS 2009: Download PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe this Thursday! [PlayStation Blog]

Yes, it's a fine week across the board downloadable titles. Even DSiWare is getting an interesting game that doesn't have the words Art Style in the title. That game is Dragon Quest Wars (500 DSi points), a grid-based strategy game featuring monsters from the classic RPG series. Perhaps the most interesting feature of Wars is the ability to play online with opponents around the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. Dragon Quest Wars is joined on DSiWare this week by Nintendo's Art Academy: Second Semester (800 DSi points), a sequel that provides more tools and greater challenges to fans of the First Semester, which was released earlier this month.

It's block-bashing goodness on WiiWare this week with the release of Arkanoid Plus! (600 Wii points), an updated version of Taito's classic ball versus bricks game. They've spiced things up this time around with new modes and settings that change the way the game is played. Konami represents on WiiWare this week as well with DRiFT Mania (800 Wii points), a racing game for 1-8 players.

Finally we have the Virtual Console, which is graced this week by the arcade version of Sega's classic beat-em up Altered Beast (1,000 Wii points). I've always felt the arcade version was far superior to the one that came with the Sega Genesis, so this is one situation where I really don't mind doubling up.

As always, check out the official descriptions below for more info on what you may or may not be purchasing today.

DSiWare

Art Academy™: Second Semester
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Art Academy is a portable art course that anyone can enjoy. Art Academy: Second Semester provides new and returning students with a larger set of tools and in-depth lessons designed to encourage the creation of more complex artwork. By gaining an even deeper understanding of colors and techniques used by famous impressionist artists, you will be ready to take on more challenging themes that include moving objects, and vast landscapes with distant objects. The openness of Free Paint mode offers plenty of opportunities to hone your skills and boost your confidence as an artist.

DRAGON QUEST® WARS™
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Language
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: DRAGON QUEST WARS is a grid-based strategy game featuring all of your favorite quirky DRAGON QUEST monsters. Choose from several modes and get ready for battle. While the rules are simple, strategy is the key to victory. The game features single-player and DS Wireless Play, as well as battles with foes worldwide via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. (Broadband Internet access is required for online play.)

WiiWare

ARKANOID Plus!
Publisher: TAITO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points™
Description: ARKANOID Plus! is an updated version of the original arcade blockbuster. Players must destroy colored blocks by guiding an Energy Ball around the screen using a spaceship called a VAUS. The game features a host of new modes and settings that radically alter the experience: Arcade Mode consists of 61 rounds divided into left and right versions, with two types of boss characters appearing in the last round; VS Mode lets players face off against a friend or the CPU; and the unfailingly frantic Time Mode challenges players to clear rounds within a strict time limit. With the subtle differences arising from the choice of "Lives" or "Barrier" rules, plus a plethora of exciting items, you're in for hours and hours of block-busting fun.

DRiiFT Mania
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: DRiiFT Mania is the ultimate top-down multiplayer racing experience. Challenge your friends in fast, exciting races and some totally crazy game modes. You'll need to adapt your driving skills to the different racing environments if you want to succeed.

Virtual Console

Altered Beast™
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: "Rise from your grave!" When legendary Greek god Zeus brings you back to life with those famous words, you set forth on a mission to rescue his daughter, Athena, from the wicked God of the Underworld, Neff. To survive the gauntlet of mythological foes, you must hunt down the three-headed wolves that inhabit each stage and collect the Spirit Balls that they release. The Spirit Balls increase your strength and allow you to transform into a variety of forms, including a Werewolf, Weredragon, Werebear, Weretiger and the ultimate form, the Golden Werewolf. Each creature possesses powerful attacks to help bring an end to Neff's scheme.

Side-scrolling shooters have seen a bit of a comeback thanks to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, and the original Söldner-X was one of the better results of said resurgence. With the sequel, SideQuest hopes to please old fans and bring some new ones into the fold.

"We received an amazing feedback upon the launch of Söldner-X: Himmelsstürmer, which has encouraged the whole team to work on a sequel", said Marcus Pukropski, CEO of SideQuest Studios. "With Söldner-X 2, our main goal is to please fans of the first part as well as new gamers alike. I am especially excited about the introduction of a new dynamic score-linked difficulty mode, which adjusts to the skills of each individual player."

Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype sees the player returning to Gota IV to take on seven levels worth of frantic, high-definition 3D shooting action. Two new ships join the roster, each with their own unique weapons systems, and a new score-based difficulty system will keep things easy for the novices while ramping up the challenge for more experienced players.

Look for Söldner-X 2: Final Prototype to hit PSN sometime in winter 2009/10.

In a bleak world, legend tells of a child queen who will one day rise to give hope to a world filled with despair. In Drawn, you must unlock riddles and solve puzzles as you work your way to the top of The Painted Tower in order to save the young girl who would be queen. I'm completely surprised that this is the first I've heard of this title, because it's right up my alley - a gorgeous art style, point and click adventure gameplay, and puzzles aplenty. I may not have heard of it before, but now I am drooling.

Luckily I won't have long to wait for the release. Drawn: The Painted Tower is being released at 12:01am Pacific time this Friday at BigFishGames.com for the low, low price of $6.99.

Quantic Dream founder David Cage spoke to Videogamer.com at Gamescom last week about the possibility for additional, post-release downloadable content for the cinematic action adventure Heavy Rain, going out of his way to make sure players understand that the company wouldn't simply be releasing content that didn't make it into the retail release.

"It's a self-contained experience. We won't release the end of the game as DLC that you need to pay for. The game has all the scenes it's supposed to have. It's a complete story," Cage told VideoGamer.com at Gamescom last week. "But we are talking with Sony at the moment about having maybe extra downloadable content, maybe with prequels or sequels about the characters. I'm sure people will get attached to some of them and will want to know them even better."

I'd say he's right. I would have killed for downloadable content for Omikron or Indigo Prophecy, two of the studio's previous games lauded for their storytelling. More content from Quantic Dream is always welcome.

Heavy Rain sequels and prequels possible through DLC [Videogamer.com]

Minis, which we touched on briefly last week, will be showing up in their own special section of the PlayStation Store come October 1st, giving PSP owners smaller-sized games at a lower price, perfect for the UMD-less PSP Go. Titles in the Minis section will all be limited to 100MB or less, meaning you can pack quite a few in between your full PSP titles.

Fifteen titles will be available for purchase when the Minis section launches in October, with Sony expecting at least fifty titles by the end of the year. Confirmed for release are Fieldrunners, Puzzle Scape, Alien Havok, Sudoku, Pacman Championship Edition, Championship Manager, Burn Zombie Burn 2D, Funky Punch, Breakquest, and Melody Bloxx.

The press release doesn't list prices, but we expect each will be below $10, if not much cheaper.

The Commander's Challenge add-on provides the player with a series of 50 challenges against a set of nine different commanders, one of which is "Nature Boy" Ric Flair of wrestling fame. As players progress through the various challenges, they unlock new units, new technology, and even more challenges, until eventually they finish the final one and fall back on the couch, completely spent.

Basically it's a whole slew of new content, which is always good. I just hope they price it as an amazing value.

"Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge launches players into action-packed scenarios while going head-to-head against ruthless commanders who will stop at nothing to crush your army," said Wes Eckhart, Producer of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge at EA Los Angeles. "Commander's Challenge delivers the ultimate RTS gameplay experience console players have been craving. Delivering over thirty hours of RTS entertainment, it is an incredible value at less than $10."

Oh thank goodness! I worried for nothing.

The Commander's Challenge will be released sometime this fall for 800 Microsoft points and $9.99 PlayStation real monies respectively.

With the PSPgo coming out in October, it makes sense that Atlus would choose to release Persona PSP on the PlayStation Network simultaneously with the retail release. They're betting that early adopters of the new version of Sony's handheld will jump at a new-old roleplaying experience, while those of us still rocking the normal PSP might just be too lazy to get up off the couch. Fair enough.

Those of you with the motivation to leave your dwelling place will still be rewarded, however, with the 2-disc soundtrack remaining exclusive to the retail version.

Along with Avatar clothing and accessories, movie sharing, and the ability to update your Netflix queue directly from your television (yes!), one of the main features of the Xbox Live summer update is the ability to purchase and play Xbox 360 titles directly from the console. Microsoft today released a list of the twenty-four launch titles for their Games on Demand service in the U.S., with big name titles like Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and BioShock existing peacefully alongside more niche titles like Dance Dance Revolution Universe and Disney's Meet the Robinsons.

Want the full list? We thought you'd never ask.

U.S. Games on Demand Launch Titles:

Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)
Burnout Paradise (EA)
Call of Duty® 2 (Activision)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Fight Night Round 3 (EA)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (LucasArts)
Mass Effect (Microsoft Game Studios)
Meet The Robinsons (Disney)
MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ)
Need for Speed Carbon (EA)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
Prey (2K Games)
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
Sega Rally (Sega)
TEST DRIVE: UNLIMITED (Atari)
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
Tomb Raider Legend (Eidos)
Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)
Viva Piñata 2: Trouble in Paradise (Microsoft Game Studios)

A nice varied list, which includes several titles that I might never have purchased at the store but could potentially purchase from home if I get bored enough. It could finally be time, Viva Piñata 2.

Honestly I haven't had much time to play World at War outside of the initial launch and our video podcast with the developers, so I might be a bit late in saying this: all games should include explosive monkeys. I'm not sure how the monkey figures into the three new multiplayer maps and one new zombie map dropping in tomorrow's Map Pack 3, but it's reassuring to know it's there.

The eagerly-awaited multiplayer game of fantasy combat and cake eating is coming with this week's PlayStation Store update on the 30th, priced to move at $15.00. For those of you unfamiliar with the title, it's a cartoonish action game in which the player wears different hats to change their classes, feeding the opposing team's princess in order to make it harder to rescue her. It's a deceptively deep game, allowing for a great deal of showboating and did-you-see-what-I-just-did moments. It's definitely worth the price of admission.

Along with this glorious news comes a video in which Titan's Chris Millar and Craig Leigh answer PlayStation Blog readers' questions about the game, which we've embedded below for the sake of convenience. Go convenience!