Explore Sony's E3 PSN Games

What big downloadable games are headed to Sony systems in the coming months? We went hands on with seven of the best.

Lest you develop the false impression that Xbox Live Arcade is the only place to go get some cool downloadable games in the coming months, today we have a close look at Sony's upcoming downloadable catalog. Interestingly, many of the games we saw were available for play on both Vita and PS3, and many allowed for cross saving your game to either system, or even simultaneous cross-platform play. 

Take a look at several of the games that Sony was highlighting here at E3. 

The Unfinished Swan

One of the best looking games at Sony's booth (downloadable or otherwise) is an unusual first-person gaming experience called The Unfinished Swan. Players begin the PS3 game in an entirely white world with no features; only by throwing out blobs of black paint do walls and floors make themselves visible, slowly sketching in the world as you go. Later in the game, we saw a level in which you're throwing water globes instead of black paint. Here, water could be thrown on an area to make vines grow towards the wet spot. The vines can then be used to climb previously inaccessible walls. The game manages to provide a constant sense of wonder and discovery, and it's one of our favorite DLGs at the show.

Sound Shapes

Making a return visit to E3 after an appearance last year, Sound Shapes continues to grow into a fascinating project that mixes platforming with music creation. Themed levels each draw musical sounds from well known artists like Deadmau5, and you navigate a strange round protagonist through challenging jumps and runs as the musical soundscape forms around you. The game also includes an extensive and fun music editor, in which you can place objects into a level and create new sounds as you go, and then play it or share your level with the community. The game includes cross-saving options between the PS3 and Vita

Guacamelee

Guacamelee continues to shape up into a fun twist on the familiar Metroid style of 2D action/platformers. You play Juan, a  Mexican wrestler with all sorts of special moves and crazy powers, including everything from suplexes to turning into a chicken to breach tight places. If playing two-player, the second player joins in as a female mummified wrestler named Tostada. The demo we played had some fun platforming sections with plenty of wall jumps, as well as the ability to change between a light and dark world to make platforms and walls appear and disappear. Guacamelee is targeting a release early in 2013 for both Vita and PS3, with cross-save options between the two platforms. 

When Vikings Attack

New studio Clever Beans is working on this amusing title about Vikings attacking the modern world. Rather than play a single hero, you control a small mob of citizens aiming to fend off the assaulting Vikings. To do so, you'll pick up objects in the environment and throw them at the gathered groups of Viking enemies. If it hits them, many will get knocked over, and others will scatter. However, they'll be doing the same to you. Once your whole crowd disperses, it's game over. Like in classic Dodgeball, if you catch the object being thrown you won't be "out." When Vikings Attack seems like a simple concept, but one with some fun potential, especially because the game includes simultaneous cross-platform play on Vita and PS3. 

[Next up: Learn about Soul Sacrifice, Dyad, and Retro City Rampage.]

Soul Sacrifice

Keiji Inafune's Comcept is working on a Vita titled called Soul Sacrifice (coming next spring). It's an action game where you can save or sacrifice the souls of enemies, and you can even sacrifice your own body for a powerful alternate form. Combat is carried out with attacks and defenses tied to specific controller buttons, and there are two sets of these commands you can choose from in the loadout screen and during battle. The game features co-op via a battlefield friend, and this person can also save your soul should you make the ultimate sacrifice.

Dyad

This unusual PS3 hybrid of racing and music games continues to draw the eye every time we see it. Racing down psychadelic tunnels filled with enemies, you can "hook," or shoot enemies as you pass, altering the music through your actions. You also want to try and zip past the enemies as close as possible without touching them to power up. Increasing layers of tasks are added as the game continues, and the levels continue to speed up, creating a fascinating trance-like quality to the game that is reminiscent of the cult classic, Rez. 

Retro City Rampage

In the works for years, Brian Provinciano is the lone developer behind Retro City Rampage. The old school visuals hide a deep game filled with all sorts of unique gameplay opportunities, mini-games, and Easter eggs. Over 50 story missions and 40 arcade challenges give lots of content to explore. Mini-games based on other indie games like Super Meat Boy and Bit.Trip are available in the game's menu, and the game also includes lots of cool ways to customize your game experience, like a TV color mode filter to make the game look like old systems such as the NES, Game Boy, Intellivision, or Atari 2600. Retro City Rampage is coming to both Vita and PS3, and you'll be able cross-save between the two platforms to play at home or on the run without switching out your save.