AU Shippin' Out November 6-9: Halo 4, Mass Effect Trilogy

This week's releases present a good opportunity to indulge in some alternative sci-fi imaginings; will you be traversing through a particular universe of preference, or do your tastes span across all galaxies?

First-person shooter Halo 4 is blasting its way onto Aussie shelves this week. Exclusive to the Xbox 360, the game marks the handover of the hit franchise from previous developer Bungie to 343 Industries. Microsoft wasn't shy about resourcing the project, and, as a result, Halo 4 has become its most expensive game to date. The results show; read our full review of the game here.

Halo 4 is a direct sequel to 2007's Halo 3, and it picks up four years after the events of that game. It is also the first instalment in the Reclaimer Trilogy, which will span Halo games 4, 5, and 6.

That's not all the sci-fi coming out this week, with action role-playing series Mass Effect getting a re-release in the form of the Mass Effect Trilogy, a triple pack that includes all three of the series' games. The pack will include some of the existing downloadable content for both PC and 360 platforms, as well as access to the Online Pass, which unlocks the multiplayer component in Mass Effect 3.

Gamers who are keen to experience the trilogy on the PS3 can expect it to arrive next week, although BioWare is yet to shed any light on details regarding DLC for Sony's console.

Other titles out this week include LittleBigPlanet Karting, Pokedex 3D Pro, and Silent Hill: Book of Memories. You can check out the full list of new releases below.

November 6, 2012
Halo 4 (360)

November 7, 2012
Spy Hunter (3DS)

November 8, 2012
LittleBigPlanet Karting (PS3)
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth (360)
Mass Effect Trilogy (360, PC)
Pokedex 3D Pro (3DS)
Silent Hill: Book of Memories (Vita)
Zumba Fitness Core (360, Wii)