By Oo Gin Lee

» Publisher: Namco Bandai

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm
Platform: PS3; Genre: Fighting
Release date: End of this year

What it is: A 3D head-to-head slug-it-out in high-definition in which you control a team of ninjas from the hit Naruto anime series.

Why it's cool: In the demo, there were four teams led by Naruto, Neji, Gaara and Kakashi. You control the team leader and are able to call upon your members for support when you are in trouble, or if you want to deliver the coup de grace and knock out your opponent before he has a chance to recover.

Plenty of combat options are available. You can charge forward to deliver super-fast combo punches or throw powerful shurikens (ninja stars) and bombs from a distance. Unlike most fighting games which is played in 2D, this one lets you run around everywhere as you dodge a foe, or jump and charge at him. As you fight you can build up your chakra, or internal energy, to deliver even more powerful blows.

» Publisher: Capcom

Resident Evil 5
Platform: PS3/Xbox 360;
Genre: Action shooter
Release date: March next year

What it is: You take down tons and tons of virus-infected, zombie-like humans.

Why it's cool: Any game that has a fifth version, yet commands one of the longest queues at the Tokyo Game Show must be worth a look. What's interesting is that you always have two members in your team - the hero Chris Redfield and a female counterpart Sheva.

You can exchange weapons and items, call out for help and, if you have a friend, play together in cooperative mode.

In the demo, I was in a village and witnessed the virus-infected mobs execute an uninfected human. Then, they noticed me and my partner and came for our heads. Even though they moved slowly, battling the crazed mobs was no walk in the park as they came at us in great numbers. Beating the hooded boss was tough - I didn't make it.

» Publisher: Square Enix

Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Platform: Xbox 360; Genre: Sci-fi role-playing
Release date: February next year

What it is: The fourth instalment of the series which will be made exclusively for the Xbox 360.

Why it's cool: It's one of the highly anticipated Japanese-style role-playing games from legendary Japanese company Square Enix (the guys behind Final Fantasy). Microsoft is betting on it to draw more Japanese gamers to the Xbox.

I played a 10-minute demo where I controlled a team of four heroes with varying skills in melee, ranged and magic combat styles. The combat takes place in real-time and is fast and furious. You can control only one character at a time but can easily switch between all four with the left Tab button.

» Publisher: Capcom

Street Fighter 4
Platform: PS3/Xbox 360; Genre: Fighting
Release date: Next year

What it is: This hit arcade fighting series returns after almost a decade with sizzling 3D graphics, cool moves and new fighters.

Why it's cool: The best fighting game I have ever seen. Street Fighter (SF) was the game that started the whole action fighting genre and it has been nine years since the last one - Street Fighter 3 Third Strike. The fighters and background locations are rendered in beautiful 3D although gameplay is still classic side-scrolling 2D.

I gave the game's well-known heroes Ryu and Ken a shot and managed to execute their good old fireballs, flying uppercuts and spinning kicks with little problem.

The game also felt more like SF 2 which required less focus on combos and more anticipation of enemy moves and the appropriate reaction. If you can't wait till next year for the console version, the arcade version is already available at Virtualand Bugis Junction.

» Publisher: Sony

Little Big Planet
Platform: PS3; Genre: Cooperative platform
Release date: Next Thursday

What it is: An addictive game which requires you to solve puzzles by moving bricks, jumping across pits and more.

Why it's cool: Up to four persons can play together to solve level after level of quests. You can even create your own levels and share it with everyone via the Internet. Many situations call for teamwork to manipulate the environment and solve the puzzles (often by trial and error).

This is great for family bonding and fun. In the demo, I played with two Sony PlayStation staff who spoke only three English words: jump, here and good. Using plenty of sign language, we managed to join hands and, amazingly, complete the level.

» Publisher: From Software

Ninja Blade
Platform: Xbox 360; Genre: Action combat
Release date: Early next year

What it is: Plenty of non-stop action.

Why it's cool: Everyone loves ninja fighting games. This one has you free-falling from aeroplanes, jumping off buildings and braking your fall using your katana (samurai sword) as a grinding handbrake.

In the demo I tested, the action was lightning-fast and feels a bit like Ninja Gaiden 2. After dispatching some ninjas with ease, I was met by a huge spider monster which shot wave after wave of energy blasts at me. I had to dodge and jump to reach the monster and then time my slashes at its legs to take it out.

» Publisher: Capcom

Bionic Commando
Platform: PS3/Xbox 360/PC;
Genre: Action adventure
Release date: Early next year

What it is: You navigate impassable terrain by swinging like Spider-Man from ceilings and buildings using your bionic arm, plus smash enemies in close combat.

Why it's cool: This is the modern version of the hit arcade game of the 1980s. The gameplay is fantastic as you learn to use the grappler in your bionic arm to swing from building to building and across chasms and pits. It's not all just about problem-solving, though. That same arm is also a mean bludgeoning weapon during close combat.

You can use guns and toss grenades with your free hand. The coolest attack is to swing like Tarzan and land your kicks, complete with knockback momentum, straight into your enemy's chest.

» Publisher: Konami

Winning Eleven 2009
Platform: PS3/Xbox 360; Genre: Soccer
Release date: Next month

What it is: The latest version of the hit soccer series.

Why it's cool: The game has a huge international fan base. Besides the fantastic graphics, this latest version has a four-person cooperative mode. In this mode, I teamed with two Japanese gamers at the show to challenge the computer and we started doing high-fives every time we scored a goal.

The basic controls work the same as the previous versions and you can't hold the shoot key for too long or your shot will sail over the crossbar and miss the goal.

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Oct 22, 2008.