Video Games

Game Title: The Wheelman
Category: Action/Racing
Console: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher: Midway
Hot: Skid marks
Not: Skid marks
Rating: 5/5

Combine Hollywood stalwart Vin Diesel's silver screen/interactive chops (he's even got his own studio: Tigon Games), MTV's marketing muscle, and Midway's next-gen know-how, and you get this long-awaited cinematic epic. Marrying on-foot ass-whupping interludes with gut-wrenching behind-the-wheel havoc, it's billed not only as the gold standard of vehicular chase sequence sagas, but a full-on movie-style experience every grease monkey should adore. Follow the trail of skid marks, burning metal, and chintzy one-liners to find out for sure this fall.

Game Title: NBA Ballers: Chosen One
Category: Sports
Console: PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher: Midway
Hot: Flamboyant attitude; Soundtrack; Handling; Graphics
Not: Limited long-term value; Bling-bling shtick; Not for realists
Rating: 3.5/5

The closest thing to over-the-top arcade B-ball since NBA Jam first rocked more domes than the Jordan-era Bulls, expect stunt-laden showdowns and super-powered shots aplenty from this ostentatious ode to the pro lifestyle. While funky combos-nothing like using other players as stepping stools-and off-the-court drama add charm, the mostly one-on-one and two-on-two match-ups only amuse so much, even with inherent multiplayer support. Even so, between Chuck D's commentary and Just Blaze's beats, it'll still have most shot-callers screaming, "Hip-hop hooray!"

Game Title: Major League Baseball 2K8
Category: Sports
Console: PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
Publisher: 2K Sports
Hot: Improved user front end; Presentation; Awesome solo/multiplayer; Extras
Not: No steroid scandal simulation mode
Rating: 4.5/5

Save the stale hotdogs and $20 beers for the unwashed masses; if you're a fan of America's national pastime, here's the best season ticket in town instead. Improved batting controls, a full suite of online options that dazzle, and enhanced pitching/fielding commands allow you to more easily use joysticks to land base hits or punk the competition. Ditto for added bonuses like Minor League franchises and collectible virtual trading cards, but sadly, still no support for locker room towel-snaps...

Game Title: Iron Man
Category: Action/Arcade
Console: PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Publisher: Sega
Hot: Hero's arsenal; Grand-scale environments; Explosive setup
Not: Storyline; Depth; Gets old fast
Rating: 3/5

Granted, you won't talk us into seeing the movie. (Scarily, those Catwoman flashbacks still haven't abated...) But a game that puts you in a steel bodysuit and rocket-powered boots and lets you duke it out with tanks and jetfighters while missiles whiz by and bazooka-wielding grunts take aim at your aluminum ass? Now that's what we call entertainment-despite the inevitable degree of repetition the title's mostly brain-dead battles are prone to.