Strangely, only one thing we reported on at Tokyo Game Show this year was under embargo. And that was this LocoRoco 2 trailer. Why? We don't know. If you read our hands-on impressions, you'll know that we're absolutely in love with this rather substantial sequel. Take a watch and see if you can find all the new gameplay features and enemies.

Despite what that affront-to-mankind-in-motion-picture-form, Spider-Man 3, may have tried to make you believe, merging with a dreaded symbote doesn't turn you into a mopey jerk with an unfashionable haircut and nightmarish dance moves. We feel that the upcoming Activision web-slinging simulator, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, depicts a much more accurate account of the side-effects of fusion with tar-like alien lifeforms: A widening of the eyes, an elongation of the teeth, and tendrils -- oh, so very many tendrils.

The launch trailer for the aforementioned title, posted above, gives us a good sampling of the symbiotic adversaries we'll be pummeling come Web of Shadows' October 21 release date -- and with a classy touch of Moonlight Sonata to boot. We highly suggest checking it out -- perhaps you'll find some place in your heart that hasn't eternally sworn off games featuring the titular, charismatic wall-crawler.

"Sorry it took so long," LocoRoco designer Tsutomu Kouno told me. In spite of the original's high-profile and well-received launch on the PSP, it's been over two years since we saw these lovable blubbers hit Sony's handheld. The silence around the long-rumored sequel is a bit baffling, as getting our hands on with the upcoming PSP title revealed a disarming amount of new content for the sequel.

It's undeniable that the original LocoRoco charmed hardcore gamers, thanks to its lovable style and rather unique design. However, it couldn't keep the attention of these gamers, as it was perhaps a bit too simplistic. While children and casual gamers were enchanted, hardcore gamers needed substance beyond tilting left and right.

So perhaps LocoRoco 2 is Kouno's attempt at bridging the gap between hardcore and casual audiences. The upcoming PSP-exclusive sequel maintains all the saccachrin sweetness of the original, but adds new gameplay features that add a tremendous amount of depth to the experience. The sheer amount of content found in this UMD/downloadable game is staggering.

As the gaming world sets its focus on Japan for the Tokyo Game Show, Sony decided to hold a preview event for the media (and later for community) in Toronto, Canada. Showcasing some of the most anticipated titles of the year for the platform, Sony showed off everything you'd want or hope to see.

Prince of Persia made its community debut and we had a chance to take the adventure for a spin. Killzone 2 surprised everyone with its presence but no one with its style and Dead Space proved that even a game releasing next week will garner a pile of crowd attention.

Here's a recap of all the coverage out of the Sony Holiday Event in Toronto, Canada, as well as images from the event:

• Joystiq hands-on: 30 minutes with Prince of Persia
• Joystiq hands-on: Killzone 2
• Joystiq hands-on: The beginning of Dead Space (PS3)
• Joystiq hands-on: Revisiting the Quantum of Solace

Time to bring out fat kitty again as the PSN update drops a bunch of new content on us this week. There's interactive art piece Linger in Shadows, a bunch of new add-on content, a new Qore, the level pack for echochrome PSP and a whole truckload of premium themes. Check it all out after the break.

The European PSN update can be found over with those Tokyo socialites at PS3 Fanboy.

We've always known that zombies are tools. Well, mostly in the sense that they want to bite us on our vulnerable, fleshy bits, but one should certainly consider the possibilities afforded by having a snarling, undead force at one's disposal. That's what Tecmo has in mind for Undead Knights, a newly announced action game -- with just a sprinkle of strategy -- for the PSP.

Stuck in the midst of a royal power struggle, you're encouraged to see every enemy as a potential ally. Casting you in the role of the anti-hero, Undead Knights sees the dead join your ranks, an increasing and varied assortment of undoubtedly foul-smelling monsters which will act out your every destructive whim. If we had to draw a comparison, we'd say it sounded a bit like Overlord -- or perhaps a more sinister Tokobot. Either way, Tecmo intends to keep things relatively smooth and simple, with action forming 80% of gameplay, and strategy relegated to those times when the unique services of certain felled enemies are required to progress.

If you feel conquering is best done in the company of friends, you'll be pleased to note that Undead Knights will support 4-player ad hoc multiplayer and co-op. It will rise to retail in 2009.

Sony has announced that all future first-party PSP games will be available through download in Japan, beginning later this year via the Wi-Fi Store. The store is scheduled to open in Japan on October 15th with the firmware v5.00 update. Games to be sold by direct download include Secret Agent Clank (11/20), Patapon 2 (11/27), and LocoRoco 2 (12/4) (these titles will also be available on UMD).

There is currently no date for the release of the store in North America or Europe. We're also wondering how downloadable games' pricing will compare to standard UMD retail prices (considering that direct downloads save on packaging, shipping and a slew of other costs). We'll update as soon as we hear anything.

Remember Nintendo's attempts at GBA-GC connectivity? Well, Sony may be a generation late to the party, but at least they're doing it right. For this interesting gaming experiment, you'll need a PSP, a PS3, Resistance 2 and Resistance Retribution. And the results are quite interesting.

Earlier, we noted that you'll be able to use your DualShock controller with Retribution through a new feature called PSP Plus. However, there's even more fun to be had through the game's unique Infection mode. In this new feature, players can connect PSP's Resistance Retribution via USB cable to a PS3 running Resistance 2. From R2, players can go into the menu and activate Infection, which will almost instantly transform the PSP game.

Today's PSN update will see the release of a $5 expansion pack for echochrome on PSP. The PlayStation Blog states that the PSN's mind-bending puzzler will receive an additional 40 stages for the doll to survive.

The expansion pack will also be offered in a bundle with the original game, though no price was set. There is also no mention of an expansion for the PS3 version, which released the same day as the PSP version back in May.

Level-5's Tokyo Game Show booth featured a Closed Theater presentation (much like their competitor, Square Enix). However, unlike the other JRPG overlord, Level-5 encouraged us to actually let you watch these trailers as well by endowing us with a DVD (courtesy of booth girl). Our favorite trailer of the three new games unveiled at TGS this year is for PSP: Ushiro, a horror-themed RPG that has you playing a ghost haunting his darling (in a not-so-Patrick Swazey way).

That's not all, of course. The busy RPG team is also hard at work on a new DS game in collaboration with Studio Ghibli, and a new PSP game that lets you customize some robots. Check out those videos, and more, after the break.

One of Sony's upcoming PSP games, Resistance Retribution, will utilize a newly developed technology called "PSP Plus." The feature will allow players of Retribution to connect their systems to the PS3, in order to enable use of PS3 wireless controllers. Using the DualShock will enable dual-analog control in the game. In addition, rumble will be supported. This potential use of connectivity was hinted at in a patent filed over a year ago.

Other games may be able to potentially utilize PSP Plus -- however, it is currently a Retribution-only tech. Stay tuned as we reveal the exciting additions PS3's Resistance 2 and PSP's Resistance Retribution will bring (together!).

What's the game that's got Japanese gamers all in a frenzy? It's Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G -- the title that's sold over two million copies on the PSP this year in Japan. Fortunately the Japanese are not being selfish and won't be keeping the multiplayer action title to themselves -- it's coming stateside in Spring 2009 and will be renamed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

While Freedom Unite isn't physically at the show, Capcom has another Monster Hunter title at TGS. That would be Monster Hunter 3 (Tri) for the Wii and it has been drawing huge crowds leaving people with hour long waits ... and it's only the first day. An "industry only" day. Just wait until the public comes in on the weekend. We wonder if the success that was founded in Japan will follow across the Pacific? Monster Hunter Freedom games haven't exactly been picked up by Western gamers in the past.

October's episode of Qore goes deep into the heart of horror with segments on Dead Space, Resident Evil 5, Fallout 3 and Shaun White Snowboarding. Yes, that last one fits into the horror category.

Purchasers of this edition of the online magazine gain access to Sega's Valkyria Chronicles demo and there's also interactive "shooting galleries," which open up extra video segments. Qore is $3 per episode or $25 for an annual subscription.

Some interesting statistics about Electronic Arts' recently launched FIFA09 in the U.K. (via Chart Track):

• It is currently beating the sales rate of FIFA08 -- itself a bestselling UK game last year -- by 37.5%.
• It debuted at the top of the PlayStation 2, PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 charts.
• Of those sales, 42% were on Xbox 360, making it the 3rd fastest selling game on Microsoft's format (behind GTA IV and Halo 3), while 40% were on PS3 where it is the 2nd fastest selling game (behind GTA IV). 11% go to PS2, 3% to PSP and the rest for PC, Wii and DS.

Just goes to show you that no matter the culture or continent, EA owns football. See the full top 10 list of All Formats software sales after the break.