That's according to the PS3 game's official site, which should explain just what Last Rebellion is, for those who don't remember it. It should also shed some light on heroes Nine the Blade and Aisha the Sealer and why the game's character switching mechanic is needed to slay all those undead Belzeds.

Other things to learn about this PlayStation 3 exclusive: who and what Lorvin, Arzelide, Junovald, Meiktilia, and Formival are. Your best pronunciations are welcome in the comments.

Last Rebellion [NIS America]

The underworld title features celebrities like former Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi (pictured).

The game's release is March 18, 2010, and it is priced at ¥7,980 — US$90. This past February, Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 went on sale, and in March 2008, Ryu Ga Gotoku KENZAN! went on sale. Look forward to Ryu Ga Gotoku 5 February - March 2011 in Japan and the Ryu Ga Gotoku 6 the year after that.

DS『世界樹の迷宮3』が3月4日に発売決定、PS3『龍が如く4』は3月18日に発売日決定！ [はちま起稿]

Snake's '70s era sneak attack will hit North American PSPs just a few days before Europe gets a crack at it, a little more than two months after the game launches in Japan. The follow-up to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater features an original scenario from Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and a "unique new game system designed specifically with the PSP in mind," according to Konami.

We've already checked in with Konami USA to see what the publisher's plans are for PSPgo owners who may want to download the game at launch. Quick Update: Konami reps say "There will be a download sku as well as a UMD sku available at launch." Yay!

But there's some good news, UK gamers. And this is it.

"The good news is that we plan to have everyone in the UK playing Left 4 Dead 2 by Friday morning," the L4D team writes on the official blog. "Those who pre-ordered in the UK before the worldwide launch have been given access to the game."

Everyone in the UK playing Left 4 Dead 2 by Friday morning? That's over 60 million people! Take that, Modern Warfare 2.

Spirit Tracks was officially unveiled at this year's Game Developers Conference, but it wasn't until this year's E3 that we got to go stylus-on with the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. For more hands-on impressions of The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, make sure to choo choo your way to our latest preview of the game.

Nintendo also firmly dated two more Nintendo DS games, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, due October 12, and Style Savvy, shipping November 2nd in North America.

And not a bad piece of art, eh? At least made easier to appreciate with the condensed look of the new PlayStation 3 art template. Not interested in judging a game by its cover? Head to the official PlayStation.blog for further Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time details, including all those pre-order "incentives" that one can throw good money at and Insomniac's PAX plans.

Oh, and for those of us interested in picking apart box art minutiae, the back of the PS3 game case is also available for ogling at the blog. Even the spine!! It's branding heaven.

Update: Looks like the PlayStation.blog has removed the full box art for the game, possibly because of the features revealed on the back of said box. That includes things like multiplayer, lobbies, matchmaking, leaderboards, PlayStation Home integration and Trophies.

Keep in mind that some portions of the back of the Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time box are "for presentation only" and not necessarily a guarantee of what the final game will offer. But we're checking in with SCEA to find out what's happenin'.

It's Official: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Available in the U.S. on October 27 [PlayStation.blog]

Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick said during an earnings call today that Mafia II, Red Dead Redemption, BioShock 2 and Max Payne 3 would all be shipping sometime between February and June of 2010. That's a pretty packed schedule, but it's not like Take-Two has much choice.

Some of those games were pushed back from originally planned 2009 releases, joining the ever crowded Q1 and Q2 of next year. Take-Two gave a looser release window for some of those games back in July. At the time, Take-Two execs blamed a softer economy and development issues.

But Zelnick sounded confident that all four heavy hitters would ship in that five month window.

Rockstar Games, developer of two of the slipped titles that now have more firm sounding release plans, has had a little trouble making its dates this generation, with similar slips on Midnight Club Los Angeles and Grand Theft Auto IV.

A little bit later than some of us might have been hoping for, but considering MAG is just now entering a wider public beta phase, not totally unexpected. Cushioning that potential blow is news from Sony that MAG will be playable at the upcoming Penny Arcade Expo.

Seattle area MAG fans should keep Friday, September 4th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM open, checking in with the official PlayStation.blog for additional details.

MAG Arrives on January 26, 2010 – Jump into the Shadow War at PAX Seattle Blog Meet-Up [PlayStation.blog]

Sony also released Uncharted 2's final box art, reminding us of Mr. Drake's expert ability to hang from ledges and platforms with just one hand. Combine that with his expertise at maintaining a shirt that's half-tucked, half-not and you'll see why the stubbly treasure hunter's adventures warranted a sequel.

Oh, and speaking of pre-orders, Sony laid out its retailer plans for a quartet of downloadable exclusives with Amazon.com, GameStop, Game Crazy and BestBuy. Golden guns, right after this.

Yes, those are the golden Barettas that Drake can wield in multiplayer, adding a bit of flash to your online death match and "Plunder" competition. They're exclusive to BestBuy, meaning that if you're into sporting golden AK-47s, that should be your pre-order retailer of choice.

Other retailers are getting downloadable exclusive bonuses too, should your preference for weapons be a little more understated.

Here's how it works out elsewhere.

• Amazon.com - Exclusive UNCHARTED 2 Treasure Map
  The exclusive UNCHARTED 2 Treasure Map allows players to discover hidden treasures throughout the game.
• 
  
• Game Crazy - Exclusive Currency Multiplier for multiplayer online use
  The UNCHARTED 2 Currency Multiplier allows gamers to gain in-game currency and unlock bonuses faster than their opponents for a limited period.
• 
  
• GameStop - Exclusive first access to the Multiplayer Demo and the downloadable Revenge Attribute
  The Revenge Attribute is one of the last boosters that you can unlock in the multiplayer campaign. This bonus allows you to unlock the "Revenge" booster right from the start of your multiplayer campaign.

That GameStop exclusive access to the multiplayer demo will run from September 9th to September 29th, giving folks who pre-order at that location a two week head start on the demo. It will open to the public on September 30th and wrap-up on Uncharted 2's release day.

Also, if you really like to plan ahead, these downloads will be available to those who pre-order until December 31, 2009. So don't sit on that downloadable gold assault rifle, kids. Grab it day one, if you can.

That date was dropped in the latest issue of Famitsu, which could mean good news for those of us in North America too. See, Sega of Japan announced earlier this year that Bayonetta's previously, less-specific "Fall 2009" release window was reflective of a simultaneous worldwide release. So we may get it in October, as well.

Honestly, we were getting a little concerned about the game's ability to ship in 2009, given all the other titles slipping into 2010 recently. But, fingers crossed, we'll be kicking ass with hair by Black Friday.

We've gotten in touch with Sega of America to see if they have a date for the megaton-filled action game and will let you know what we hear.

Which will no doubt disappoint God of War fans hoping for some Yuletide carnage on the PS3, but then, God of War fans should know that the last two games were out in March as well. So don't look on this as a letdown. Look on it as a game simply fulfilling its destiny.

The game will be out on August 4, and while we wish it the best of luck, can't help but yearn for a time when the franchise was a little bolder, a little brighter with its colour palette (especially on mechanised Adolf Hitlers).

During the company's conference call to discuss second quarter financial results, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder announced that BioShock 2 will hit Europe on October 30 and North America on November 3.

The game, which is expected to ship on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, is still officially listed in the company's press release for second quarter earnings as coming to platforms "TBA."

UPDATE: Asked if the "TBA" is a sign that the game could become a timed exclusive, Take Two CFO Lanie Goldstein said, "In terms of BioShock, we're still working out what the right SKUs [versions] are and the right timing." Company chairman Strauss Zelnick quickly added: "No you shouldn't read anything into that."

BioShock 2 is in development by 2K Marin and is the sequel to 2007's hit BioShock from 2K Boston and 2K Australia.

Its last was way back in September of 2005, the PlayStation 2 game Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves. Obviously, inFamous is huge departure for Sucker Punch, whose previous work was more cel-shaded anthropomorphic raccoon Sly Cooper and less lightning-wielding bald bad-ass Cole McGrath.

Greg Phillips, producer at SCEA, writes on the official blog that Sucker Punch will be readying a demo for the game, but didn't provide specifics on when that will hit the PlayStation Store.

Also not specified: why the game is curiously capitalized as inFamous in print and as inFAMOUS on the game's newly released box art. Maybe because it's a PLAYSTATION 3 game? Your theories on why this is is welcome in the comments.

inFamous Date, Demo, and Art revealed [PlayStation.blog]