Erich, Steve, and Jon are knee-deep in recent releases this week. Heavy Rain gets a torrential downpour of love from Steve, as does Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (Modern Warfare 2 fans may not want to listen to this part); Jon comes to terms with his disappointment in Bioshock 2, then he and Erich go old school with first impressions of the NES-tastic Mega Man 10; and it wouldn’t be an episode of this podcast if Erich didn’t whine about the combat in Mass Effect. Also discussed this week: Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Risen, the global PS3 meltdown, Nintendo’s recent media summit, upcoming releases, and the DSi XL.

What have you been playing? Let us know in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

You can listen to the show with the player below, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.

2/2
- Star Trek Online (PC)
- White Knight Chronicles (PS3)
2/9
- Bioshock 2 (multi)
- Dante’s Inferno (multi)
2/16
- Alien Vs. Predator (multi)
- Miles Ellsworth: Ace Attorney Investigations (DS)
2/18
- Deadly Premonition (xbopx360)
2/23
- Sonic & Sega Allstars Racing! (multi)
- Heavy Rain (PS3)
2/25
- Risen (xbox360)

Right now my buy list consists of White Knight Chronicles, Alien Vs. Predator, and Heavy Rain… I snagged in import of Risen back in the fall, and while flawed, it’s definitely a contender for those who dig on open world RPG’s. The North American version is promising some needed control fixes and enhanced graphics to boot.

I’m sure more than a few of you will be returning to Rapture, and EA’s colorful (read: EXTREME) interpretation of classic literature is sure to turn a few heads…

What are you grabbing?

The San Diego Comic Con hasn’t quite begun yet, but that doesn’t stop the onslaught of tidbits and news flying out of California. To promote the upcoming BioShock 2, 2K Games has partnered up with renowned artists in order to devise some promotional material entitled the BioShock 2 Artists Series.

The first of the series, “The Sisters” has been released up on the Cult of Rapture website by artist Jhonen Vasquez (Invader Zim, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac). Says Jhonen: “I was excited when I was asked to do a piece of art for BioShock 2, because I got to do something a little different from what I’m more known for doing, something a bit moodier, and the fact that I was such a big fan of the first game made it that much more attractive”.

This should be an interesting series to be sure; the BioShock franchise has such amazing artistic style that it’ll be great to see other artists’ take on the property. And hey, if you’re lucky enough to be at CC this year, stop by booth #5033 and visit Vazquez for an autograph session on Saturday July 25th between 2-4PM. Click after the jump for the PR material.

2K Games Partners Up With Famed Artists For BioShock®2 Artists Series

Jhonen Vasquez to be at San Diego Comic Con (Booth #5033) to sign limited number of first run prints of “The Sisters”

July 17, 2009 – 2K Games is proud to announce that it is partnering with several of today’s most renowned artists for the formation of the BioShock® 2 Artists Series. Featuring several artists from a wide range of backgrounds, each of the works are celebrations of Rapture from creative individuals who each bring their own inspired and interpretive styles to their work. Each artist has created a visual work that represents their Rapture, expressed through their own inspired and interpretive styles. The art pieces highlight the subjective impact that the BioShock universe has had on people, and how Rapture spoke to everyone individually.

The first entry in this series debuts today on the Cult of Rapture (www.cultofrapture.com ), the official community site for all things BioShock, with a piece called “The Sisters,” created by famed artist Jhonen Vasquez.

“I was excited when I was asked to do a piece of art for BioShock 2, because I got to do something a little different from what I’m more known for doing, something a bit moodier, and the fact that I was such a big fan of the first game made it that much more attractive,” said Vasquez, creator of Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.

To celebrate the launch of “The Sisters,” Vasquez will be on-hand at 2K Games’ booth (#5033) at the San Diego Comic Con being held at the San Diego Convention Center on Saturday, July 25 from 2-4 p.m. for a special autograph session. During this time, 2K Games will be handing out special first run prints of “The Sisters” to the first 500 attendees who visit the booth. The Cult of Rapture is also hosting a “Making Of” feature, where Vasquez walks readers through the creation of “The Sisters” from inception to completion. 2K Games and the Cult of Rapture will debut more entries from the BioShock 2 Artists Series over the coming months that provide more insight into the world of BioShock.

BioShock 2 will provide players with the perfect blend of explosive first-person shooter combat, compelling storytelling and intense multiplayer to form one of 2010’s most highly anticipated titles. Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture will once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. Gamers will step into the boots of the very first Big Daddy as they travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and their own survival.

(via Cult of Rapture)

I sort of hate the useless moniker AAA title, which exists solely for fanboys to toss at each other in message board poop fights.  But with the rumor of Sony’s humongous online shooter slipping to 2010 I think there is a viable question of the number of heavy hitter games landing on consoles this year.

Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by 2008′s gargantuan year, but the forecast does look a mite slim, especially when you consider Bioshock 2 was bumped (much to the chagrin of Take2′s stock holders).

What’s remains out there, calling to you for your money?  Me–Uncharted 2 tops the list, followed by Splinter Cell Conviction and Scribblenauts and maybe Bayonetta.  But that’s it for Day 1 purchases methinks…