This Week In Releases - September 28th, 2010

Quick note before we get started for you NBA fans.  EA Sports NBA Elite 11 has been delayed, so your only option next week will be NBA 2K11.  I was going to do an article about which basketball game you should purchase in 2010, but in case it hadn't become obvious, NBA 2K11 is almost assuredly the choice this year.  Check out the demo if you haven't already, I was impressed.  Now, on to the show.

This final week of September brings a very diverse group of major console releases.  Three titles headline our entrance into the ultra-competitive holiday season.  What games tickle your fancy this week?  Here are some of the major releases:

• FIFA 11 (DS, PSP, PS2, PS3, 360, Wii, PC):  FIFA 10 was one of the better sports games of recent memory, and the FIFA series, long loved overseas, is hoping to ride the renewed interest in futbol stateside coming off of this summer's World Cup.  While the game doesn't seem to be as groundbreaking as last year's edition, but new features in FIFA 11 include Personality Plus and the ability to create a Goalie in 'Be A Pro' modes.  Purchase Probability: 9 out of 10.  The FIFA and NHL franchises might not be as well known as Madden, but there is little doubt in my mind that they battle it out for the franchise that makes the best games.  I'm very excited to dive into this years EA Sports soccer game.

• Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock (PS3, 360, Wii, PC):  With the Guitar Hero franchise losing steam at a record pace, this title can be considered a make or break for the franchise.  Activision spammed the market with music games last year, and the sales figures showed that consumers weren't biting, and I don't think there's any doubt that Rock Band 3 is the more anticipated game coming out this year.  Some of the setlist is intriguing, but there is not really the focus on Metal Rock that the game has claimed for some time.  The quest mode has been completely redone, but early reviews are not encouraging.  Purchase Probability: 3 out of 10.  I am usually one to quickly pick up new music games, but the combination of no longer living with my roommates and knowing I haven't given Rock Band Beatles it's just due means I can comfortably hold off on this until the price comes down.

• Dead Rising 2 (PS3, 360, PC):  The original Dead Rising was probably the most unique game of the early hi-definition console era.  I wish I had spent more time with it, and hope someday I come around to it.  Dead Rising 2 is a zombie killfest that should turn out to be a very fun game, and hopefully will be a little more accessible to gamers than the first was.  Capcom has had a long time to fix the issues that people had with the first release, and I am curious to see how they do.  Purchase Probability: 6 out of 10.  There are obviously going to be a lot of games that come out in the next few months, and I know I will play Dead Rising 2 at some point, I just don't know how soon it will be.  If it gets to November and I haven't picked it up yet, it'll likely have to wait until 2011, but that's not to say that I won't regret not picking it up sooner at that time.

Other Titles of Note: MySims: SkyHeroes (DS, PS3, 360, Wii, ) (see my demo impressions here), Borderlands add-on: Claptrap's New Robot Revolution (PS3, 360, September 30th release on PC), Laura Croft and the Guardian of Light (PS3, PC), Quantam Theory (PS3, 360) thoughts on this demo have been poor, but I will try it out and leave my impressions before the week is over, Rapala Pro Bass Fishing 2010 (DS, PSP, PS2, PS3, 360, Wii) I don't think I knew they still made these every year.  Good for Rapala.