http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...n_uk_thumb.jpgBatman: Arkham Asylum

Release Date: August 25
Watch the Batman Trailer >>http://media.ign.com/games/image/obj...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: The Dark Knight has entered the very place his worst enemies have been locked inside since he put them there, and now they're loose in the loony bin. It's a beat-em-up meets sandbox stalking. Awesome.
Why It's Hot: Ignoring the fact that all our play time has made it pretty obvious this will be the best Batman game ever made (which isn't saying a whole lot)... well, c'mon, man! He's The GD Batman!

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...and__thumb.jpgThe Beatles: Rock Band (Limited Edition)
Release Date: September 9
Watch the Beatles Trailer >>http://media.ign.com/games/image/obj...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: Until now, the folks at Harmonix Music Systems haven't really felt the need to make a one-band music game experience. It took one of the greatest bands in the history of music, but it's happened.
Why It's Hot: The Rock Band formula has become so firmly established, so slickly refined, that with the exception of three-part harmonies, there's not a ton here to talk ab-IT'S THE FRIGGIN' BEATLES, MAN! Remastered recordings! Studio chatter!

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/ar...7034437326.jpgThe BIGS 2
Release Date: July 7
Watch the Bigs 2 Trailer >>http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: The BIGS is baseball taken to the extreme. Then pushed a little farther. Massive home runs, Flash-like sprints around the base paths and hands-down the coolest take on a home run derby in video games.
Why It's Hot: Five words: Home Run Pinball is back. If you played the first one, you stopped reading this and rushed off to pre-order the game. If you didn't, you probably should. You'll thank us later. Seriously.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...2_UK_Thumb.jpgDirt 2
Release Date: September
Watch the Dirt 2 Trailer >>http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/ob...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: As a collection of various types of on- and off-road racing, the first Dirt was a surprisingly solid (and varied) racer. Now, it's back with a deeper, prettier, tighter racer using Codies' latest EGO Engine.
Why It's Hot: Codemasters' considerable experience in making racers has been brought to bear here, and there seems to be even more types of racing and upgrades to everything that made Dirt so enjoyable; handling, damage and variety.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...0409_thumb.jpgFight Night Round 4
Release Date: June 23
Watch the Fight Night Round 4 Trailer >>http://media.ign.com/games/image/obj...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: Hands-down the most realistic looking boxing series out there, FNR4 drops some of the greatest boxers in history into the same ring and lets 'em slug it out with a new control system and physics.
Why It's Hot: Until you've seen Round 4 running in glorious high-def at 60 frames a second, it doesn't really click. Once you do, though, and see how all the physics make hits come alive, it's clicky-clicky time.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...2709_thumb.jpgGuitar Hero 5
Release Date: September 1
Watch the Guitar Hero 5 Trailer >>http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/obje...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: You are some kind of media blackout god if you've managed to survive games for the past five years or so and don't know what Guitar Hero is. We would like to borrow your skills.
Why It's Hot: Accessibility is the name of the game here. Real-time difficulty changes, drop-in/drop-out multiplayer, challenges, and any combination of band members you want have all been added to keep the game fresh for newcomers and vets.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...8013645744.jpgGuitar Hero: Van Halen
Release Date: August 4
Read our Guitar Hero: Van Halen Preview >>http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/ar...8032316322.jpg
What It Is: Guitar Hero, plus Van Halen. What, that's not descriptive enough for you? Okay, so we don't quite know what's in store for this one completely, but... well, we've got a pretty good idea by now.
Why It's Hot: Guitar Hero: Metallica proved that Neversoft has the chops to do a band justice and advance things a little with additions like double-bass. Provided they can make lightning strike twice, arena rock could be amazing.

http://moviesmedia.ign.com/movies/im...ood2_thumb.jpgHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Release Date: June 30
Watch the Half-Blood Prince Trailer >>http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: Ever since EA acquired the license to the Harry Potter flicks, the movies have seen a video game pairing fairly close to the box office debut. Half-Blood Prince is no different, dropping two weeks later.
Why It's Hot: The aim this time around is apparently to replicate as much of the big screen Hogwarts as possible, including new areas from the newest flick. More enticing, however, is the promise of multiplayer spell duels.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...8013647884.jpgThe King of Fighters XII
Release Date: July 7
Watch the King of Fighters XII Trailer >>http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: SNK's perennial fighting game series has been a mainstay for years now, but KOF XII represents a ground-up reboot of nearly everything -- particularly the visuals which are gorgeously hi-res sprites hand-drawn from 3D models.
Why It's Hot: Online multiplayer, reworked balance, newbie-friendly mechanics... That's all well and good, and we're sure the game will be tweaked to tourney-ready status by release, but hummina hummina, those graphics! It's fun to just look at.

http://sportsmedia.ign.com/sports/im...2409_thumb.jpgMadden NFL 10
Release Date: August 14
Watch the Madden 10 Trailer >>http://media.ign.com/games/image/obj...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: Since football isn't going anywhere, nor shall its perennial video game complement. If you honestly don't know what a Madden game is by now, we have this awesome bridge we want to sell you. Discounted!
Why It's Hot: The usual yearly updates like a "new presentation" and "broadcast-like commentary" are making appearances, but the new Pro-Tak system for handling tackles (including gang pile-ups and fumble recoveries) looks neat. Plus, new franchise mode highlights!

http://sportsmedia.ign.com/sports/im...aa10_thumb.jpgNCAA Football 10
Release Date: July 14
Watch the NCAA 10 Trailer >>http://wirelessmedia.ign.com/wireles...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: Like the Madden series, NCAA Football is so inevitable that we'd sooner find all the water in San Francisco had turned to Cheese Whiz than go a year without getting another yearly iteration. Ah, consistency.
Why It's Hot: The march to include ever-increasing amounts of authenticity and realism (minus the real-life players, mind you) continues, expanding to all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools, plus mascots, cheerleaders, marching bands and more.

http://media.ign.com/ign/image/item/...tein_thumb.jpgWolfenstein
Release Date: August 4
Watch the Wolfenstein Trailer >>http://media.gamestats.com/gg/image/...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: BZ Blazkowicz, Nazis, the occult and Hitler are back! Familiar territory for fans of the series, sure, but the increased focus on Nazi superweapons and the occult mean more than just mindless, constant first-person pew-pew.
Why It's Hot: Though treading familiar territory, the addition of BJ having (gasp) powers now throws things a little off-kilter -- enough so that what was old can feel rather new again. Hey, the occult's powerful stuff, y'know.

http://media.ign.com/ign/image/item/...2907_thumb.jpgFallout 3: Mothership Zeta & Point Lookout
Release Date: July TBD (Mothership Zeta) | June 23 (Point Lookout)
Watch the Point Lookout Trailer >>http://codesmedia.ign.com/codes/imag...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: It's a swampy alien invasion! Bethesda has continued to expand the Fallout 3 universe with downloadable content, and the latest puts you in the swamps of Point Lookout and facing pissed aliens in Mothership Zeta.
Why It's Hot: Fallout 3's DLC has proven to be remarkably varied, and the prospect of staring down an alien abduction alone has us giddy with glee. A new swamp area means even less time in the Wastes.

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...0609_thumb.jpgGears of War 2: Dark Corners
Release Date: July 28
Learn More About Dark Corners >>http://media.ign.com/games/image/obj...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: In a slick little twist, Epic is going back to Gears 2 with a "deleted scene" of sorts that can be played stealthily or in typical all-out fashion. Oh and seven new multiplayer maps too!
Why It's Hot: The more than half-dozen new maps to play through online are reason enough to get excited, but revisiting the Locust Hollow for a cutting room floor scenario that can be approached two ways? Even better.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...0809_thumb.jpgKodu
Release Date: Summer
Watch the Kodu Trailer >>http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...1245368064.jpg
What It Is: Less a game in its own right and more a way to make your own games, Kodu is Microsoft's attempt to cull the myriad creative talents of the Indie Games (nee XNA Community) user pool.
Why It's Hot: Simply put, it's a more robust, slightly user-friendlier way of helping those that want to make their own games get it done in less time than existing tools. For Sam's sake, we hope it works.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...2709_thumb.jpgMarvel vs. Capcom 2
Release Date: Summer
Watch the Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Trailer >>http://media.ign.com/games/image/obj...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: A downloadable re-release of one of Capcom's most beloved and accessible fighters ever, MvC2 is nothing short of a comic/games mash-up dream come true. Sporting up-ressed visuals and online play... need we really say more?
Why It's Hot: Few fighters have ever offered as level a playing field few newcomers and vets alike than this arcade (and later Dreamcast) classic. Careful treatment of the original material and HD 3D backgrounds make it gorgeous.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...1243876771.jpgShadow Complex
Release Date: August
Watch the Shadow Complex Trailer >>http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: Epic's turn at playing publisher has borne this little morsel of Unreal Engine-powered fruit from ChAIR Entertainment; a non-linear, side-scrolling shooter with shades of Metroid, all on our 360s (and PCs)? Girly squeal time! EeeeEEEEEeeeee!
Why It's Hot: Normally we wouldn't just point you at our video section and call it a day, but much of what Shadow Complex represents is summed up so nicely in just looking at it. E3 stand-out indeed.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...0309_thumb.jpg'Splosion Man
Release Date: July 22
Watch the 'Splosion Man Trailer >>http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...1245369899.jpg
What It Is: It's a side scroller, yes, and there have been a few of those on the 360, but how many where you intentionally blow yourself up? Repeatedly? Awesome concept, even better execution, this one's worth watching.
Why It's Hot: Must... resist... temptation... to... make... "Hot"... and... 'Splosion... pun... The short answer is that the game's a gorgeous, innovative, and harkens back to the golden days of platformers. Y'know, except you constantly blow yourself up.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...0109_thumb.jpgTMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
Release Date: July 22
Watch the Turtles Trailer >>http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...1245369350.jpg
What It Is: The original Turtles in Time represented Konami at the peak of their 2D arcade brawler prowess and to this day remains a classic. Ubisoft is attempting to re-capture that magic, but this time in 3D.
Why It's Hot: Online co-op TMNT? What's not to love? Ubisoft is promising the old-school brawler gameplay won't change, and instead it's all being updated in loving 3D. Whiz-bang visuals and classic shell-kickin' action all in one place.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...0309_thumb.jpgTrials HD
Release Date: July 22
Watch the Trials HD Trailer >>http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/...1245370109.jpg
What It Is: Imagine you were Evel Knievel, but in a world where the old rules of stunt jumps and death defying no longer applied. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? Now you know why we're looking forward to Trials.
Why It's Hot: There's really nothing like Trials HD on XBLA right now -- and certainly not with the same tongue-in-cheek humor and potential for complete ridiculousness. The physics are sound, the graphics are purdy... Basically it's badass.

http://xboxlivemedia.ign.com/xboxliv...1009_thumb.jpgWatchmen: The End is Nigh -- Part 2
Release Date: July 21
Watch the Trials HD Trailer >>http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/ob...oxart_160w.jpg
What It Is: The Watchmen prequel beat-em-up was always planned as an episodic adventure, which is why we're hopeful that the issues present in the first part of Rorschach and Nite Owl's outing has a little more variety.
Why It's Hot: If nothing else, The End is Nigh is running on a very, very pretty engine, and the core beat-em-up mechanics are sound, the game just needs a bit more. Perhaps a new case will help.

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