Heads-up: What's new this week

A look ahead to Friday's new releases.

Welcome to Heads-up, VideoGamer.com's weekly feature which gives you an at-a-glance run-down on the games you'll be able to buy or rent this weekend. Every Tuesday we'll pick out the best of the bunch, link to our reviews and previews and keep you in the video game loop so you have enough time to pre-order for Friday's post. Time to splash the cash.

Recommendation of the Week: Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360
Gears 2 is undoubtedly the biggest single platform release of the year and deservingly so. Having earned a stunning 10/10 in our review we reckon it's the best action game money can buy and an absolutely essential purchase. With a longer, more explosive campaign than the original, even better visuals, improved multiplayer and the five-player co-op Horde mode, this must rank as one of the best sequels ever made. If you've got a 360 you need to own Gears 2. If you don't own a 360, now's the time to get one.

Recommendation of the Week: LittleBigPlanet - PS3
After a less than ideal delay LittleBigPlanet will finally hit retail stores this week. It had an awful lot to live up to but for the most part managed to deliver the goods. If you're after an incredibly creative platformer that lets you test your level design skills, look no further. As a multiplayer game LittleBigPlanet is great too, with certain sections only playable with a friend, or multiple friends. As one of the PS3's best releases this year we recommend you add LittleBigPlanet to your collection.

Recommendation of the Week: Guitar Hero: World Tour - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and PS2
Guitar Hero may have lost some of its cool now Rock Band is on the scene, but we were pretty blown away by Guitar Hero: World Tour. It's essentially the same gameplay that we're used to, with the inclusion of drums and vocals. The real key selling point for us, though, is the track creation tool. By jamming with friends you're able to create whatever you like, play it and then share it with the world. Even with Rock Band 2 on the horizon, we can't recommend World Tour highly enough.

Also worth a look
Tom Clancy's EndWar - Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and DS
WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2009 - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS and PSP
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 - PSP
Motorstorm: Pacific Rift - PS3
Professor Layton and the Curious Village - DS
Trauma Center: New Blood - Wii

And the rest...
America's Next Top Model - DS
Are you smarter than a 10 year old - DS
Bratz Kids - DS and Wii
Bratz Ponyz 2 - DS
Cake Mania 2 - DS
Disney Sing It! - PS3, Xbox 360
Disney's High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! - PS2
Equestrian Training Stage 1-4 - DS
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon - Wii
Guinness World Records: The Videogame - Ds and Wii
I did it Mum 2 (Boy and Girl) - DS
I did it Mum! Picture Book - DS
Imagine Dream Wedding - DS
Imagine Interior Designer - DS
Legend of Kage - DS
Legendary - PS3
Margot's Word Brain - Wii
Mechanic Master - DS
Midland Mainline - PC
Monster Lab - PS2
My Make Up - DS
My Secret Diary - DS
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm - PS3
NHL 09 - PC
Pass The Pigs - DS
Pocoyo - DS
Rubiks Puzzle World - DS and Wii
Rubiks Puzzle World - PC
Rubiks Puzzle World - PS2
Space Station Sim - PC