Greetings, Ranters. Here we are, in the first full week of October, and the barrage of new releases continues unabated. Though this week's batch lacks a single clear standout, it is near overflowing with promising new titles and fresh takes on classic franchises.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West has a real shot at being one of the few new IPs to break through this season. NBA Jam is looking to bring the magic of yesterday's arcades to today's home consoles. And Castlevaina: Lords of Shadow might just be the 3D Castlevania game fans were hoping for all along.

Far more than those promising titles await gamers in a buying mood this week. Take a look at the new releases for October 3 through 9, 2010, broken out by console and date.

Microsoft Xbox 360

Nintendo DS

  • Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs 10/4
  • Shantae: Risky's Revenge 10/4
  • Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction 10/5
  • Deer Drive 10/5
  • Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light 10/5
  • Freddi Fish And Friends: ABC Under The Sea 10/5
  • I Love Puppies 10/5
  • Jewel Master: Cradle of Athena 10/5
  • Jewels of the Tropical Lost Island 10/5
  • Littlest Pet Shop 3: Blue Team 10/5
  • Littlest Pet Shop 3: Pink Team 10/5
  • Littlest Pet Shop 3: Purple Team 10/5
  • Logic Machines 10/5
  • Petz Fantasy: Sunshine Magic 10/5
  • Sports Collection 10/5
  • Vampire Moon: The Mystery of the Hidden Sun 10/5
  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: 3rd Edition 10/5

Nintendo Wii

  • Wii Party 10/3
  • FIFA Soccer 11 10/4
  • Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction 10/5
  • Def Jam Rapstar 10/5
  • Haunted House 10/5
  • Hollywood Squares 10/5
  • NBA Jam 10/5
  • Oops! Prank Party 10/5
  • Sled Shred featuring the Jamaican Bobsled Team 10/5
  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: 3rd Edition 10/5

PC

  • Discover 4 Game Pack 10/5
  • Insider Chronicles Triple Pack - A New Perspective on Mystery 10/5
  • Left 4 Dead 2: The Sacrifice 10/5
  • Natalie Brooks: Triple Trouble Collection 10/5
  • NBA 2K11 10/5
  • Lionheart: Kings' Crusade 10/8
  • WRC: FIA World Rally Championship 10/8

Sony PlayStation 2

  • Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction 10/5
  • NBA 2K11 10/5

Sony PlayStation 3

  • Actual Crimes: Jack the Ripper 10/5
  • Apache Overkill 10/5
  • Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction 10/5
  • Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 10/5
  • Def Jam Rapstar 10/5
  • Enslaved: Odyssey to the West 10/5
  • John Daly's ProStroke Golf 10/5
  • NBA 2K11 10/5
  • NBA Jam 10/5
  • Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 10/8

Sony PSP

  • Actual Crimes: Jack the Ripper 10/5
  • Apache Overkill 10/5
  • Ben 10 Ultimate Alien: Cosmic Destruction 10/5
  • NBA 2K11 10/5

Ninja Theory's Enslaved: Odyssey to the West leads the retail charge this week. As the trailer makes clear, it's a good looking game, and Game Rant enjoyed the demo. But few can doubt that Enslaved has gotten a major attention boost since Ninja Theory were revealed as the developers of the next Devil May Cry game. Will Enslaved give gamers a taste of the kind of experience they can expect from Dante's next adventure? We shall see.

And speaking of 3D action adventure games, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is finally emerging from under its cloak of darkness. With design input from Metal Gear mastermind Hideo Kojima, Konami's long running vampire saga goes high-def in a big way, as seen in the game's TGS trailer. It may be more battle heavy than traditionalists would prefer, but it might also be the first truly good 3D Castlevania game.

In the More Good News Department, there will be plenty of NBA Jam to go around this week. Originally a Wii exclusive, NBA Elite's delay to 2011 cleared the way for a proper PS3 and Xbox 360 release of the the best arcade basketball game ever. But will gamers flock to this faithful update of the arcade classic, or is NBA 2K11 the only basketball game players are interested in?

Honorable mentions this week go to the fun looking superhero silliness of Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley, from the developers of 'Splosion Man, and the zombie blasing goodness that is Left 4 Dead 2: The Sacrifice.

As always, we want to hear from you. What new games are you hoping to play this week? What upcoming games are you most looking forward to?