Gaming releases this week: 'Dead Island', 'Resistance 3', more

Welcome to the busiest week of the year so far, with tantalising new titles Dead Island and El Shaddai, the anticipated third Resistance game, Space Marine and a Star Fox 64 remake on Nintendo 3DS.

Dead Island

Release date: September 6 (North America), September 9 (Europe)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC

This open-world action title is a blend of Left 4 Dead and Dead Rising. Trapped on a zombie-filled tropical paradise, you must work your way across the island with your fellow survivors to safe houses and to help others undertake missions. As well as ongoing ability upgrades and a weapon creation system, up to four players can jump into a campaign with drop-in drop-out co-operative multiplayer.

> Read our hands-on preview for Dead Island



El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

Release date: August 16 (North America), September 9 (Europe)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Developed by Ignition's Japanese studio, headed by Devil May Cry and Okami mastermind Sawaki Takeyasu, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is based on the events depicted in the Old Testament book of Enoch, and follows Enoch's quest to return the souls of seven renegade angels to Heaven. It's a God of War-style action-adventure at heart, but with a unique weapon system and jaw-dropping visual presentation.



Resistance 3

Release date: September 6 (North America), September 9 (Europe)
Platforms: PlayStation 3

The latest entry in the Insomniac Games-developed franchise takes a different tone from previous instalments. Set away from the action-paced frontline and into the American Midwest, you play a regular civilian fighting the alien invasion. Resistance 3 also supports PlayStation Move and SharpShooter control schemes.



Rise of Nightmares

Release date: September 6 (North America), September 9 (Europe)
Platforms: Xbox 360

Now for something a little more mature for Kinect; from the House of the Dead team comes Rise of Nightmares, which sees players explore a creepy castle in Eastern Europe populated by the undead and a whole host of nightmarish creatures. Moving through the castle is free-roaming, while first-person combat involves punches and kicks with some strong hit detection, and you can expect a few puzzles thrown in with a dark twist, such as reaching into a blood-filled toilet to find a key.

> Read our Rise of Nightmares preview



Also available this week:

Crimson Alliance (Xbox Live Arcade) - September 7
Monkey Island Special Edition Collection (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - September 9
NHL 12 (Xbox 360, PS3) - September 9
Call of Juarez: The Cartel (PC) - September 9
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - September 9
Starfox 64 3D (Nintendo 3DS) - September 9

You can keep up to date with upcoming releases with our gaming release diary. You can also find out the latest gaming news and updates through our Twitter account at @DS_Gaming.

What are you looking to buy this week? Add a comment to the space below!