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: Ninja Gaiden 2, Xbox 360
Team Ninja's Xbox 360 exclusive is the first of a string of major Microsoft Game Studios releases that looks set to end with Epic's Gears of War 2 in November. It's certainly a hardcore title, but one all serious gamers should lap up.

Hardcore is perhaps an understatement for the Ninja Gaiden series, and even though this final instalment in the Ninja Gaiden saga was promised to be more accessible it's still as hard as nails. Casual gamers attracted by the box art are advised to put the box down.

It's bloody, fast and always only seconds away from the next set of enemies willing to be torn limb from limb to stop elite ninja Ryu from saving the world. This is one of the Xbox 360's most thrilling experiences and one that comes highly recommended.

Also out this week
Lego Indiana Jones, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PC: The film's just hit cinemas and now it's time to bring memories from the '80s flooding back with the latest movie franchise to get the LEGO treatment.

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures takes the first three movies and gives them the same blocky makeover that's already been hugely successful for Star Wars. It's excellent family fun that's full of laughs, charm and some nifty puzzles. If Ninja Gaiden isn't your cup of tea there should be plenty to enjoy here.

And the rest...
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (Xbox 360, PS3)
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition (Xbox 360, PC)
Mass Effect (PC)
Looney Tunes: Cartoon Concerto (DS)
Sports Island (Wii)
Barrow Hill (PC)
Dracula Origin (PC)
Etrain Odyssey (DS)
Everybody's Golf 2 (PSP)
Midnight Play Pack (DS)
PDC World Championship Darts (PC)
Stratego (DS)
Sunage (PC)
101 Bunny Pets (PC)