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Hellboy: Science of Evil (PS3)

DIRECTOR Guillermo Del Toro has brought a fantastic feel to the Hellboy movie sequel, and Science of Evil on PS3 looks to bring a snippet of the big-screen impact onto next-generation consoles.

The story's been produced specifically for this video game and you'll find that the top-notch graphics, awesome voice-acting (including Hellboy himself, Ron Perlman) and comic-book humour will hit the mark with fans.

Soul Calibur (Xbox 360)

BACK in the days of the Sega Dreamcast, Soul Calibur established itself astheone-on-one fighting game across all consoles.

Even then it was renowned for its stunning graphics, slick cut-scenesand its easy-to-pick up control method.This next-gen version hasn't really changed very much at all.

Buzz Master Quiz (PSP)

IF you're still heading out for those summer holidays, take time out to brush up on your trivia while you're in the car or on an aeroplane.In a fantastic collection of general knowledge teasers, the Buzz series on PSP, could see you taking part in a timed movie challenge one minute and then identifying different animals from around the world, the next.

Baroque (Wii)

IF dungeon crawling is the way you like to spend your evenings and weekends, Baroque is likely to set your oil lantern flickering with excitement.

Battling with merciless foes through treacherous underworlds, scouring for new items to help you in your travels and unlocking the secrets of a devastated land, this game can seem pretty daunting to those who've never sampled this genre's delights before.

Madden NFL 09 (Xbox 360)

NOT many franchises have stood the test of time as well as the Madden NFL series, and it's that time of year again, when the EA crew flex their grid iron next-gen muscles to offer up the latest virtual translation of football, stateside.

And, almost without fail, this version delivers with fantastic graphics, an improved game engine and a new BackTrack instant replay feature that allows you to see where you went wrong with any particular play and learn from your mistakes.

Summer Athletics (Xbox 360)

AS Great Britain builds on a decent medals haul in Beijing, you're given the chance to set your own records in Summer Athletics, which boasts many of the exhausting disciplines you may have been watching at some ungodly hour on TV recently.

Beijing 2008 (PC)

THE Olympics are finally here and, while video gaming has yet to be recognised as an Olympic sport, that's not going to stop you enjoying Beijing 2008 on PC.

You can instantly transport yourself to China and compete in over 30 events, from athletics and gymnastics to cycling, table tennis or archery. It all adds up to a pretty impressive sporting compendium.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (PS2)

THE Mummy films have just enough special effects and tongue-in-cheek cheesy humour to justify their summer blockbuster status, and Tomb of the Dragon Emperor sees Brendan Fraser and company enter their third adventure.

This is the sadly-yet-predictably poor tie-in video game.

Race Driver: GRID (Platform: Nintendo DS)

FANS of racing games are often disappointed if a game proves to be too arcadey or too much of a plodding simulation.

While this may not boast the supreme graphics of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, this shrunk down DS version of Race Driver: GRID does a fantastic job of juggling both balls, offering over-the-top thrills and spills for the casual racer, coupled with an intense on-track experience that still manages to make a big impact on the small dual screen system.

Echochrome (PSP)

A SIGN of a puzzle title's true potential is often the appearance of utter simplicity from the outset.

One glance at the monochrome, linear appearance of Echochrome may lead you to wonder what all the fuss is about, but within a few levels you'll be entranced by a 3D puzzler that gives thinking gamers something they've never played before.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - Platinum (PS3)

IT doesn't seem like the PS3 has been around long enough to be knocking out platinum budget titles, but when it's a game of the quality of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, we're not going to complain too much.

Put simply, for £20 this is probably the best action adventure on the console to date.

SBK-08: World Superbike 2008 (Xbox 360)

IF the Moto GP series were to glance into either wing mirror, it'd be likely to see SBK coming up on the inside.

While the former has dominated two-wheeled console racing, SBK-08 is the series' first appearance on the next-gen consoles.

Flat-Out Ultimate Carnage (PC)

THE FlatOut franchise might lack the hype of Burnout and Gran Turismo, but it offers no less of a unique driving experience and has remained steadily popular.

Ultimate Carnage has been rebuilt from the ground up, taking a heavy steer from last year's Xbox 360 version, and it provides a pretty breathtaking experience.

Soulcalibur IV (PS3)

THE Soulcalibur series has an almost peerless pedigree when it comes to the fighting genre and to say that this PS3 release has been eagerly anticipated would be something of an understatement.Namco has topped the lot this time, as weapon-wielding battles take on a new level of depth and visual delight.

City of Heroes Issue 12: Midnight Hour (PC)

IT'S every kid's dream to re-enact the crime-fighting, world-saving escapades of their favourite comic book hero.

You may not necessarily want to be a good guy though - Heath Ledger's recent performance as The Joker will have a legion of fans clamouring for the 'dark side'.