Fret Nice, Bad Company 2 & AVP demos jam on PSN

It's been five years since Donkey Kong Jungle Beat arrived on the GameCube and established the (still small) platformer-controlled-by-a-rhythm-game-instrument-peripheral genre. Now Tecmo has effectively doubled the size of the genre, as the publisher is headlining this week's PlayStation Store update with the debut of Fret Nice for the PlayStation 3.

Fret Nice is a 2D platformer playable with rhythm game guitar controllers or standard PS3 pads. Whichever the way they choose to play, gamers will guide a character through a paper cut-out world, slaying enemies by busting out specific riffs on the guitar (or pad), and unlocking new levels as they go. Fret Nice is available for $14.99 and is also scheduled for release on the Xbox Live Arcade.

PS3 owners who've already had their fill of instrument-based platformers may still find plenty in this week's PSN update to keep them busy, as Sony's update also included five free demos. In addition to a sample version of Fret Nice, gamers can get new looks at Bad Company 2's multiplayer action, Aliens vs. Predator, Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce, and Tank Battles.

Over on the PSP side of the store, Sony has added two more games to its downloadable catalog. First up is the downloadable exclusive Armored Core: Silent Line Portable. As in previous installments of the long-running mech combat series, Silent Line Portable lets players build their robot mercenary from hundreds of parts. Veterans of Armored Core 3 Portable will be happy to learn their spare parts data can be carried over to Silent Line Portable. Looking ahead, this version's data can be exported to the upcoming Armored Core: Last Raven Portable. Armored Core: Silent Line Portable is now available for $14.99.

Joining Silent Line Portable in the PSP new releases section is After Burner: Black Falcon. Originally released in 2007, Black Falcon received a positive critical response for its arcade-style action and tongue-in-cheek approach, which includes--among other things--flying a jet fighter through the heart of a volcano. Black Falcon is available for $15.99.

A full list of the week's deals and new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content, is available on the official PlayStation Blog.