Vandal Hearts, MGS PSP bundle, 50%-off sale hit PSN

Sony today belatedly celebrated the arrival of 2010 by launching a "10 for '10 Game Sale" on the PlayStation Store. Although the promotion was billed as cutting prices in half for 10 specific downloadable PlayStation 3 and PSP games, Sony has curiously included 12 games in the "10 for '10" promotion.

Among the discount dozen are the PS3 games Braid ($7.49), Zen Pinball ($4.99), Critter Crunch ($3.49), Burn Zombie Burn ($4.99), Tank Battles ($3.49), and Uno ($3.99). On the portable side, gamers can now obtain Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign ($4.99), Crystal Defenders ($3.99), Thexder Neo ($4.99), Creature Defense ($3.99), and Kurulin Fusion ($2.49) for half their original asking prices. According to Sony, the deals are set to end January 27.

As for newly available content in the week's PlayStation Store update, the biggest new release is Konami's strategy role-playing game revival Vandal Hearts: Flame of Judgment. A prequel to the two original PlayStation installments in the Vandal Hearts series, Flame of Judgment dispenses chunks of the series' backstory in between turn-based tactical battles on two dozen different maps. Like its just-released Xbox 360 counterpart, Vandal Hearts: Flame of Judgment is available on the PS3 for $14.99.

On the handheld front, Sony has added three more options to the PSP side of the store. First off, gamers can now get all three previously available Metal Gear offerings--Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops Plus, and the Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel--in one bundle for $29.99. DJ Max Fever is also making its downloadable debut, as PM Studios' rhythm game from last year spins onto the PlayStation Store with a $19.99 price tag attached. Those looking for something a little newer can consider Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance for $29.99, an enhanced edition of Xseed Games' critically panned 2008 PSP RPG.

A full list of the week's deals and new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content, is available on the official PlayStation Blog.