The big release season continues unabated, and releases don't get much bigger than Batman: Arkham City. But the Caped Crusader isn't heading to retail alone. Professor Layton returns to the DS and Insomniac is launching the latest in the Ratchet & Clank series. Rocksmith has the music genre covered this week, and Xbox 360 players can now try their hand at ruling the virtual people of a fictional banana republic.

　　Sure Bats has a belt full of gadgets, but what fells a foe faster than a car door to the sternum? Rocksteady's Batman makes his return to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this holiday season with this week's release of Arkham City. Arkham City is a follow-up to 2009's Arkham Asylum, and it places Bats in the open world of the aforementioned municipal to face another batch of villains. Under the watchful eye of "warden" Dr. Hugo Strange, who knows Batman's secret identity, inmates of Arkham City are free to do anything they want short of attempting escape.

　　Those looking for a cooperative PlayStation 3 game may want to give Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One a look. The latest release in Insomniac's inventive platforming series, All 4 One puts players in the shoes of either Ratchet, Clank, Quark, or Dr. Nefariousin, or players can select all of them in co-op mode for up to four players.

　　Level-5 and Nintendo have teamed for another entry in the whimsical Professor Layton puzzle series for the Nintendo DS this week. The fourth entry in the series, Professor Layton and the Last Specter sheds a light on how the master puzzle-solver met his young assistant Luke.

　　Ubisoft is taking its latest stab at the rhythm-game genre with the real guitar-controlled Rocksmith. The game begins by teaching players the basics of guitar playing and ramps up in difficulty as a player learns more. It come with an input jack that is compatible with "most electric guitars," and players can strum along to some 50 different tunes.

　　Kalypso's Caribbean El Presidente simulator makes its way to the Xbox 360 after its late August release on PC. As in previous entries in the series, Tropico 4 puts players in the shoes of the beloved, or hated, dictator of Tropico Island. New features this time around include an expanded economic system and political options that pit the player against foreign powers.

　　For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

　　SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

　　Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure--X360, PS3, PC, Wii, 3DS, Mac--Activision

　　MONDAY, OCTOBER 17

　　National Geographic ChallengeUTV Ignition Games

　　Professor Layton and the Last Specter--DS--Nintendo

　　TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18

　　1001 Touch Games--DS--Maximum Family Games

　　Batman: Arkham City--X360, PS3--Warner Bros. Interactive

　　Beat Hazard Ultra--PS3--Cold Beam Games

　　Ben 10: Galactic Racing--X360, PS3, Wii, DS--D3Publisher

　　Big Foot: Kinf of Crush--Wii--Southpeak Interactive

　　Double Rivals Attack PackSega

　　Double Super Hero PackSega

　　Everybody Dance--PS3--SCEA

　　Family Feud 2012 Edition--X360, Wii--Ubisoft

　　Gem Smashers--3DS, Wii--Crave

　　JASF: Jane's Advanced Strike Fighters--X360, PS3, PC--Maximum Family Games

　　Jewel Time Deluxe--DS--O-Games

　　Jimmie Johnson's Anything With an Engine--X360, PS3, Wii--Konami

　　Jungle Speed--Wii--Tommo

　　Max & the Magic Marker: Gold Edition--PS3--Pan Vision

　　Minute to Win It--X360--Zoo Games

　　Motion ExplosionMajesco

　　Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact--PSP--Namco Bandai

　　Okabu--PS3--SCEA

　　PowerUp Heroes--X360--Ubisoft

　　Pet Zombies--3DS--Majesco

　　Petz Puppies & Kittens--DS--Ubisoft

　　The Price is Right: Decades--PS3, Wii--Ubisoft

　　Rachet & Clank: All 4 One--PS3--SCEA

　　Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken--PS3--Ratloop Asia

　　Rocksmith--X360, PS3--Ubisoft

　　Sledgehammer--X360--Maximum Family Games

　　Sing4: The Hits Edition--Wii--Crave

　　The Sims 3: Pets--X360, PS3, PC, Mac--EA

　　The Sims 3 Plus Pets--PC, Mac--EA

　　Tropico 4--X360--Kalypso

　　WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

　　Bass Pro Shops: The Hunt - Trophy Showdown--Wii--XS Games

　　Bass Pro Shops: The Strike - Tournament Edition--Wii--XS Games

　　Dungeon Defender--X360, PC--Reverb

　　THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20

　　Cities XL 2012--PC--Focus Home Interactive

　　Cut the Rope--DS--Chillingo

　　Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge--X360--Mad Catz

　　Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder--Wii--iFun4all