Stuntman: Ignition

The biggest upgrade in Stuntman: Ignition is its multiplayer mode. Eight-player online (360 and PS3 versions) is absolutely insane. Either simply race to the end, or play for stunt points in battle. They take place on the same tracks and both feature nitro boosts, but entail totally different strategies. Racing is more straightforward, while battles require you to be wary of director objectives and take advantage of string-stealing tactics to rob your opponent of points.

We got a meaty taste of these multiplayer modes at a recent THQ event, and darned if it isn't some of the most fun we've had behind the next-gen wheel in a wolf-pack of other drivers. Affecting your opponents is hilarious, and the graphics and physics reward you with realistic car damage and some big-time spills.

Stunt Tournament mode is a single-console, pass-the-controller affair that the developers said was something that came out of their play sessions. Additionally, Movie Challenge mode is tied to single-player, but forces you to compete against rivals who appear as ghosts in your game - untouchable but still influential. As if you didn't have enough to worry about.