Weekly video game releases: 'Bad Company 2: Vietnam,' 'Dead Rising 2: Case West'

(All rights reserved - Electronic Arts)

Bad Company 2's Vietnam expansion is joined by Dead Rising 2's Case West episode in closing out the year. Looking into 2011, Kingdom Hearts: Recoded arrives on DS, while North Americans can have a crack at Plants vs Zombies (DS) and Lost in Shadow (Wii).

Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam (360 PC PS3)
Release: December 18 on PC. December 21 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Age Rating: Mature / 16+

Adds a separate, Vietnam-themed multiplayer mode to Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Includes period weaponry, vehicles, locations, and audio.
Price: 1200 MS Points (~$15/€14/£10) on 360. $15/€13/£10 on PC and PS3.
http://www.battlefieldbadcompany2.com

Neo Geo Station (PS3 PSP)
Release: North America, December 21. Europe, December 22.

A glut of classic Neo Geo titles released onto the PlayStation Network. At this point, most are for the PlayStation 3, though Fatal Fury, Metal Slug, King of Fighters '94 will be on PSP from the start.
Price: $8.99/€8.99 (PS3). $6.99/€6.99 (PSP).
http://neogeostation.snkplaymoreusa.com

Dead Rising 2: Case West (360)
Release: North America and Europe, December 27.
Age rating: Mature / 18+

Zombie-slaying photojournalist Frank West ( Dead Rising) joins forces with DIY warrior Chuck Greene ( Dead Rising 2) in creating new makeshift weapons for use against the infected hordes, and in further uncovering the roots of the outbreak. Also features co-op play.
Price: 800 Microsoft Points ($10/€9/£7)
http://www.deadrising-2.com

Kingdom Hearts: Recoded (DS)
Release: North America, January 11. Europe, January 14.
Age rating: Everyone 10+ / 12+

Continuing the Disney / Square Enix crossover from Kingdom Hearts II on the PlayStation 2, Recoded stars Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Malificent, Sleeping Beauty's wicked fairy.
Price: $34/€34/£29
http://kingdomheartsrecoded.com/

Plants vs Zombies (DS)
Release: North America, January 18.
Age rating: Everyone 10+

Popcap's simplified tower defense game, made most famous by its iPhone version. Extra mini-games, customizable zombies, and a 2-player mode attempt to justify the increase in price as compared to the $2.99 (€2.39/£1.79) iOS classic.
Price: $19
http://www.popcap.com/extras/pvz

Lost in Shadow (Wii) aka A Shadow's Tale
Release: North America, January 4. Already out Europe and Japan.
Age rating: Everyone 10+
A boy's shadow has to get to the top of a tower by climbing on, jumping between, and at times doing battle with other shadows cast within it. European reviews indicate that it's not for everyone, but some will fall in love with it.
Price: $39/€39/£35
http://www.lostinshadow.com