Asia Shippin' Out: January 17-21

Leading the charge for this week's releases in Asia is Little Big Planet 2 for the PS3. While the game is a 2D platformer with cute aesthetics, the game's hook is that it offers a plethora of user-friendly tools to create user-generated content that will be shared online for all to see. From making a Space Invaders minigame to tributes to Mega Man 2's Clash Man stage, Media Molecule's sequel has players covered. The game will be out this Tuesday and will feature both English & Chinese subtitles and options.

Also out this Thursday is Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix for the PSP. The game will feature a new secret episode as well as additional content that was tailor-made for both the US and Japan releases. Other noteworthy additions include a new Command Board, a new D-Link for three playable characters, new boss battles, and a special code to download a special Kingdom Hearts costume for Cloud in the upcoming Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy game. The game's text will be in Japanese, though the cutscenes will be presented with English vocals much like past Square Enix international versions of their RPGs released in Asia.

For those attuned to the whimsical, free-to-play MMORPG world of Dragon Saga (or Dragonica in this part of the world), the next update will be made available on Tuesday. Titled Chapter 3: Reign of Frost, the expansion will feature a new location called Muted Island that's filled with new ice-themed mobs and missions, as well as a new place for looting called Specters' Tower. For something completely different, there's the new F7 Tactic Mode that's basically Dragonica meets Desktop Tower Defence.

Last but not least is the PS3 release of Mass Effect 2 this Tuesday. In addition to running on the upcoming Mass Effect 3 graphics engine, the game will feature a 15-minute motion comic that acts as both a recap for new players and a save game creator that lets players determine the outcome of Mass Effect 2's world (like how the imported save files did for the Xbox 360 and PS3 version). All of the DLC for Mass Effect 2 will be included in this version of the game.

January 18
Little Big Planet 2 (PS3)
Dragonica Chapter 3: Reign of Frost (PC)
Mass Effect 2 (PS3)

January 20
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix (PSP)