You know we’re in the throes of the holiday release season when most of the links are to reviews. This year, it’s not just the retail games that are getting great reviews (it seems like Batman: Arkham City is pretty darn good), but PSN titles as well. Sideway: New York and Rochard have been rated solidly, and PAYDAY: The Heist is only 2 days away. Did you know that PAYDAY has a Platinum Trophy to be earned? Start planning your bank jobs by looking at the Trophy list here.

The PS.Blog weekly reading list (Week of October 10, 2011)

• Castlevania: Harmony of Despair PS3 Review – GameSpot.com
• Batman: Arkham City PS3 review – GameSpot.com
• Sideway: New York Review – IGN
• FFXIV PS3 coming Q3 2012 – VG247
• House of the Dead: OVERKILL Wants Everyone To Own a Crossbow – Giant Bomb
• Payday: The Heist shields itself well – Destructoid
• Kristen Schaal wants you to put her in a Minecraft coma – Destructoid
• Namco Bandai Will Publish Ni no Kuni For PlayStation 3 In The U.S. And Europe – Siliconera
• Skyrim can be beaten in just over two hours (if you’re a developer) – Joystiq
• Army Corps of Hell marching to North America in time for Vita launch – Joystiq
• Batman: Arkham City Review – IGN
• Developer Interview: PixelJunk SideScroller – PSNStores
• NHL GameCenter LIVE Takes Center Ice On PlayStation Network To Start 2011-12 Season – ZoKnowsGaming
• September PS3 sales see ‘double-digit growth’ – PlayStation Universe
• The PlayStation 3 Says Barry Bonds Doesn’t Come Close To This Year’s True MVP – Deadspin
• Sony PlayStation Edges Apple iPhone 4S in Viral Video Shootout – Ad Age
• PS Move shipments total 8.3 million – GameSpot
• PlayStation 3 Official Wireless Headphones Lightning Review: KILL KILL KILL – Gizmodo
• PSN Review – Rochard – PlayStation Lifestyle
• Crysis PS3 Review – GameSpot
• Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception hands-on preview and first look at the desert village – GamesRadar
• Tales of Graces F Hitting North American Shores Shortly After New Year – PlayStation Lifestyle
• Uncharted Golden Abyss game brings console-like graphics to PlayStation Vita (video) – VentureBeat
• Review: Rochard – PSNStores