Weekly Releases: 10/3/10

October is looking to be a massive month for releases, this time around. September had its moments, but Halo: Reach took most of the thunder. Get your wallets ready! In fact, this week is the first week that the three significant games are not the only ones we should really consider significant.

Significant Releases

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (360 / PS3)

Developer: MercurySteam (Clive Barker's Jericho) / Kojima Productions (Metal Gear Solid)
Publisher: Konami

Castlevania takes a decidedly different direction in the hands of a European developer. Gabriel Belmont is a member of the Brotherhood of Light, a group of holy knights dedicated to fighting evil. When his wife is murdered and left drifting in limbo, Gabriel decides to destroy the Lords of Shadow, with the intent of obtaining mystical masks, one of which can supposedly bring the dead back to life. Unlike previous Castlevania titles, this game is more akin to action titles such as God of War, where QTE segments and set-pieces take a majority of the title. Rather than take place in an open-world experience, Lords of Shadow provides fifty levels filled with action and puzzle elements.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (360 / PS3)


Developer: Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword)
Publisher: Namco-Bandai Games

150 years into the future, mankind has been mostly decimated by an army of robotic weapons which have remained active beyond the onslaught of war. In the world remain few survivors, and a number of them are disappearing into mysterious slave ships which send them off to the west. The game takes place following two survivors, Monkey and Trip, as they venture to escape the multitude of attacking mechs. Players control Monkey, who can climb and attack with brute force against the mechs, while the AI-controlled Trip uses technology to aid Monkey while keeping away from the mechs. Monkey will need to work with Trip effectively, especially because if Trip dies, Monkey will die, too. A true dual fight for survival, to be sure.

Shantae: Risky's Revenge (DSiWare)


Developer + Publisher: WayForward (Lit, Batman: The Brave and the Bold)

A niche adventure title for GameBoy Color which has become highly-renowned is back! Shantae, a half-genie who saved Sequin Land in the past, must get back together in order to fight off the evil Pirate Risky from taking over the magical land she protects. The game is a platformer with a magical twist. Shantae can use her magical powers to shift into other forms which are useful in venturing through a multitude of locales. This game is apparently the first in a trilogy of releases, but that might not be the case anymore.

Wii Party (Wii) - NdCube / Nintendo

A party game published by Nintendo and without Mario? The game uses a collection of unique minigames, including a game in which players hide Wii Remotes around the room or pass a controller slowly to one another as if it were a bomb. Those looking for more unique party games might find it here.

Comic Jumper (XBLA) - Twisted Pixel

Captain Smiley is not in the best of sorts, financially, and in order to keep at his job, he decides to venture into other comics for income. Players control Captain Smiley as he travels between four comicbook styles: Modern, Fantasy, Silver Age, and Manga. Filled with humorous dialogue and diverse gameplay segments, it will certainly keep players entertained.

NBA Jam (Wii) - EA Sports / EA

NBA Jam has returned, and this time, the game is bringing out a few new modes into the mix. The Wii version of the title, coming out this week, contains a number of new players and a multitude of older ones as well. A new Remix Mode was made for this game in which players venture through a multitude of NBA Jam-worthy games as well as partake face-offs against old-school legends in a new Boss Battle scenario. Unfortunately, online will not be in the Wii version, but multiplayer offline is still a lock.

Final Fantasy: The 4 Warriors of Light (DS) - Square-Enix

A new take on the older Final Fantasy worlds, The 4 Warriors of Light is a simpler, more class-based RPG with less flashier aspects of the newer games. There are many classes which each warrior can join, ranging from knight to time wizard to farmer. In battles, players have Attack Points, in which certain actions take up more AP, thus preventing an onslaught of Ultimate attacks and forcing a level of strategy into the game. Most RPG fans looking for something different may have it with this game.

Other Releases:
Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction (Ps3 / Wii / DS)
Def Jam Rapstar (PS3 / 360 / Wii)
John Daly's Prostroke Golf (PS3)
NBA 2K11 (PS3 / 360 / PSP / PC)
Fifa Soccer 11 (Wii)
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (DS)
Littlest Pet Shop 3 (DS)
Lionheart: Kings' Crusade (PC)

Previous 10 Weeks:
9/26/10 - Dead Rising 2
9/19/10 - Civilization V
9/12/10 - Halo: Reach / Prof. Layton and the Unwound Future / Playstation Move
9/5/10 - Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep / Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
8/29/10 - Metroid: Other M
8/22/10 - Mafia II / Shank / And Yet it Moves
8/15/10 - Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days / Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
8/8/10 - Madden NFL 11 / Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game
8/1/10 - Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
7/25/10 - Starcraft II / Hydro Thunder: Hurricane

SOURCE: NeoGAF