Sony sets holiday PSP lineup

With only a pair of first-party games released for the PSP since Sony launched its handheld in March (MLB in April and Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee in May), many gamers have been understandably frustrated by the system's spotty software support. Sony looks to address those concerns, starting with today's announcement of specific release dates for six Sony-published titles all due on shelves by mid-November.

The wave of releases kicks off next week with MediEvil Resurrection, which will ship to retail September 13. The fittingly titled Resurrection returns the action series to consoles after a lengthy hiatus (the last MediEvil game was released for the original PlayStation in 2000) and sees the return of Sir Daniel Fortesque, the undead knight protagonist of the slightly askew franchise. MediEvil Resurrection is rated T for Teen.

Gretzky NHL '06 will strap on the skates and take to the ice on the eve of the NHL regular season, October 4. In addition to the simulation-oriented gameplay of previous installments, Gretzky NHL '06 gives players an arcade-style NHL showdown mode and the new Wayne vs. Wayne mode, which lets gamers play with no Gretzky, one Gretzky, or even a team full of Gretzkys. Gretzky NHL '06 is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older

Hoops action hits the PSP on the same day with NBA '06. In addition to the expected five-on-five gameplay, Sony is offering dodgeball and horse modes. There's also a new "clutch" shooting mechanism and a revamped play-calling system. NBA '06 is rated E for Everyone.

Sony's 3D brawler The Con follows on October 18, putting players into an underground fighting scene and letting them build up a team of fighters to plow through the game's story mode. There's gambling going on too, so savvy players can take a strategic dive when it's to their financial advantage. The Con is rated T for Teen.

Sony rounds out its first-party holiday PSP schedule with SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo on November 8 and Kingdom of Paradise on November 15. Fireteam Bravo takes the long-running military series out into the field with its first handheld installment, which spans 14 missions and features interactivity with the PlayStation 2 game SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs. Kingdom of Paradise brings action role-playing to the PSP, putting players in the role of a young warrior named Shinbu and allowing them to customize his fighting style and create their own combos. Neither Fireteam Bravo nor Kingdom of Paradise has been rated yet.