The EA Sports blockbuster football game is back with Madden NFL 08. Focusing on "weapons," in game events, and features from previous titles, Madden NFL 08 offers gamers another chance to create a dream season alone or in multiplayer competitions. The "weapons" returns, and gamers can now locate dangerous players by reading weekly scouting reports, watching player introductions, and by using trigger buttons before the snap on the field. There are a total of 24 different "weapons" and they include big hitters, defensive linemen, running backs, and catch receivers. Each "weapon" has a counter-weapon that gamers must uncover in order to bring a potentially destructive competitor down. However, by completing the mini-games in "Franchise" or "Owner" mode, players can alter the attributes for each team member.

On the field, a number of events return including hurdles, player celebrations, and defensive hot routes. Now when a competitor is gearing up to lunge for the legs of the ball carrier, gamers can hurdle over them and avoid going down. After jumping over his adversary, the carrier can then make his way to the end zone for a touchdown and a celebration animation. Gamers can select from 60 different signature moves including Chad Johnson's "River Dance," Rex Grossman's "Gator Chomp," and Dante Hall's "X." In the trophy room, players can revisit victories by viewing awards for rushing and passing records and multiplayer competitions. Additionally, gamers can now create different rings to earn as they progress through the game. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

NCAA Football 08 spends another season on the Xbox by adding a Campus Legend" mode where gamers must begin as a greenhorn high school player and work their way up in status and skill. After completing an all-star championship series against other regional high schools, players are presented with a list of colleges interested in having their abilities on the field. Gamers begin as the lowest rated team member, and must spend time earning practice points in order to advance up the roster. Players may spend their free time playing basketball, going to movies, or studying. On the field, gamers can influence other players and lead the action during plays with the Leadership Control. Improvements with the Hit Stick allow smaller players to low tackle larger opponents who sport shoulders of steel. Throughout the game there will be chances to spend some time on the field of 115 different stadiums, as well as study the playbooks of each collegiate football team. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Major League Baseball 2K7 continues 2K Sports' annual series with an emphasis on a more lifelike presentation, from the player models and animations to the commentary and crowds. Individual faces and body types have been refined, with in-game stars sporting the same accessories, batting stances, and home run celebrations as their real-life counterparts. The prior season's "Inside Edge" scouting data is now linked to user control, resulting in a temporary stat boost for players who successfully follow an athlete's particular strengths at the plate or on the mound.

On the diamond, the defensive AI has been tweaked to allow for more accurate positioning, relays, and cutoff throws based on scoring situations and the batter's tendencies. A number of new animations have been incorporated into the defensive game, allowing for fluid throws, slick dives, and show-stopping grabs. The popular franchise mode from previous iterations returns with a team's success now tied to ticket prices, attendance numbers, news, and fan hype. Veteran broadcasters Jon Miller and Joe Morgan reprise their commentary duties, and online support is once again included for head-to-head competition in custom leagues and tournaments. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Inspired by the 2006 feature film directed by Bryan Singer, Superman Returns features an open-ended Metropolis spanning 80 square miles of bustling activity. The Man of Steel begins the game with his superpowers fully intact, including flight, x-ray vision, heat vision, super hearing, super strength, super speed, and super breath. How players use these powers within the urban setting is up to them. Cars can be completely melted or simply cut into, objects can be blown out of harm's way or frozen in place, and more. The storyline follows Superman as he returns to Earth after a five-year sabbatical in space. The city he loves is in constant peril from the likes of Metallo, Parasite, and the indomitable Lex Luthor.

The action takes place from a third-person perspective as players complete story-driven missions, engage in mini-games, and rescue people from imminent danger. Since Superman is nearly invincible, his success is tied to the level of collateral damage experienced by the good citizens of Metropolis. Players must be actively involved in saving pedestrians from runaway trains, tornados, collapsing buildings, and much more. If the city or its populace suffers, Superman will be unable to continue. The game's story-based objectives combine events from the film with new sequences, often involving the superhero tackling archvillains in stages specifically devoted to a lone enemy and its lackeys. Superman Returns also features an original orchestral soundtrack and voice acting from the film's principal actors, including Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, and newcomer Brandon Routh. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

At Thrillville, players are invited to enjoy every aspect of their theme park, from building roller coasters to entertaining guests. Playing alone, gamers must ensure the survival of Uncle Mortimer's Thrillville by completing over 100 missions. Players must build from the ground up, constructing a total of five parks that feature three themed areas. Each area can be filled with over 100 attractions, 75 ride types, and 15 environments including "Pirates Gone Wild" and "Gold Rush."

Not just for looks, the midway games offer a break from the tycoon aspects of Thrillville by presenting one to four-player mini-activities such as bumper cars and saucer soccer. Another multiplayer activity includes swapping track and coaster designs with the wireless Ad-hoc connection. Keeping guests happy plays a major role in the overall success of a park, and players can sustain their customer's contentment by chatting and flirting with them, or by challenging patrons to one of the midway games. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Control your favorite collegiate basketball team by acting as manager, coach, and player, or create your very own squad and school in College Hoops 2K7. "Legacy" mode offers improved recruiting tools and bracketology, along with customization options for uniforms, schools, logos, and arenas. Create your own crowd chant so that fans can intimidate an opponent's free throw or celebrate a slam-dunk during the last second of the game. Success relies on team chemistry, so make sure your squad is well balanced and includes veteran and rookie athletes who are also team players or on-court actions can become less than satisfactory.

Halftime provides an opportunity to adjust your game based on where improvements are needed most. During a game you can watch the action through the coach's eyes, allowing you to pace the sidelines, make substitutions, and call plays. If you don't lead your team to the finals, you can get involved in Post Season NIT to gather more experience for the next season. College Hoops 2K7 also includes NCAA record books and a weekly broadcast of College Hoops Tonight, hosted by digital versions of Greg Gumbel and Clark Kellog. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

On the back of a fire breathing-dragon is where Eragon stands against the invading army of Shade Durza. Alone or with a friend, players who take the role of Eragon step into a world of combos and magic-based combat, including finishing moves, grapples, and counter attacks, as they journey from the village of Carvahall to the home of Farthen Dûr in an adventure based on the 2006 film. Gamers begin as a semi-skilled hero who is upgraded as the story progresses. Players may execute attacks with arrows, swords, and magic. Using magic, Eragon can push or pull an enemy toward him or knock attackers off platforms. Eragon can also manipulate his environment by creating pathways to previously unreachable areas. During the adventure, players may call for help from Saphira, Eragon's dragon, to complete airborne objectives and deliver attacks from the sky during melee combat on the ground. In flight, players direct the movement of the dragon, delivering tail swipes and fireballs to opponents as Saphira. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Konami's genre-founding dance sim series returns to Xbox with this fourth edition of Ultramix. Players score points by following onscreen directions in time to the music. While a gamepad will work, the best way to enjoy the game is with a dance mat controller, which has players tapping their feet to the beat. Like earlier versions, Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 4 is playable over the Xbox Live online service, allowing song downloads, content uploads, and head-to-head challenges between dance-happy gamers across the country. The game includes beginner-friendly levels, difficult challenges for the die-hard DDR fan, and improvements for existing modes such as "Quest," "Party," and "Jukebox." Players may alter steps and backgrounds in "Edit" mode, and Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 4 is compatible with the downloadable song packs for previous Ultramix titles. ~ All Game Guide

Built on a new engine, Tony Hawk's Project 8 is designed to be the most complete and well-rounded game in the series to date. Tony and his crew are looking for eight promising skaters, so single-players in "Career" mode must show the pros they can grind, heel flip, and spin better than the competition. Gamers may select their avatar from one of five characters each with their own abilities and a specific trick, and then begin to complete the objectives found in each environment.

Missions range from grind challenges to bail contests, and each activity has several variations. Players may also hook-up with photographers for picture challenges that require skaters to perform tricks and follow instructions while keeping up with the cameraperson. "Puzzle" goals make players adjust the rails, vehicles, and other objects within the closed course to create a skate-able path to travel without touching the ground. A text messenger will also beep in from time to time to alert gamers to newly opened goals or contests.

An in-game feature called "Nail That Trick" allows a player to slow the action down as the character enters the air, so that gamers may create new skills or perfect old ones by using the avatar's feet to flip the board in any direction. "Nail That Trick" can be accessed at any time, and can be used to transition into the next combo. Of course, there is a "Free Skate" area where skaters can spend time practicing tricks and earning upgrades. Skill enhancing bonuses are given while players are in "Free Skate," and can increase such attributes as spins, vert tricks, grinds, and airtime. All progress can be viewed in the move chart. Players who want live competition can access the Internet and engage in two-player challenges, a new game called "Walls," and more. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

After landing on the beaches of Normandy, soldiers spread out to liberate Europe from the Nazi regime. In Call of Duty 3, single players focus on the stories of four Allied soldiers that begin at Operation Cobra and lead to the eventual Liberation of Paris. Game room generals will lead the group through 14 missions filled with multiple attack routes as a member of either the American, British, Polish, and Canadian armies. Each path requires the use of special tactics in order to navigate the course effectively. Soldiers come equipped with special skills such as the British SAS soldier's knack for sabotage, and the Canadian mechanized infantry's expertise at inventive vehicles.

Internet action is available for up to 16 people in a single or split-screen game. Players choose from five different classes of character such as medic and anti-armor, and then customize gameplay options. Several game types include "Team Battle," "Capture the Flag," "War," "Headquarters," and a single flag "CTF" that can be played out on many different maps. Environments include deformable objects such as piles of wood that move and splinter when shot, and players may destroy soft cover to flush enemies out in the open. Additional "Battle Action" invites gamers to shoot less and get their hands dirty setting C-4 charges, and fighting Germans with their bare hands. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide