What do you do for an encore after selling 10 million copies of intense aerial combat action games? Make it bigger, better and even more photorealistic than its predecessors, and then add a multiplayer component so you can play against friends online. In Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation for Xbox 360, players give commands to allied fleets (aerial, naval or ground combat units), and climb into the cockpit of authentically detailed modern aircraft (e.g. F-15 E Strike Eagle, F-22 Raptor and Tornado). While dog-fighting against enemies over ocean water or taking out ground targets in a huge city, the action keeps you glued to the screen for "just one more" mission. You can use your standard 360 controller, but serious aerial combat fans might opt for the Ace Combat 6 bundle ($149.99) which includes the game, a durable flight stick and throttle controller and an Xbox 360 faceplate to decorate your console.

If you concentrate more on your missions at hand -- and less on the corny story, characters and dialogue -- you will get a lot out of the 20-hour single-player campaign (and if you're good enough, unlock a very hard mode by completing the game). When you're ready to take to the unfriendly skies online, multiple Xbox Live game modes range from straightforward "kill or be killed" deathmatch play and team-based head-to-head matches to co-op gaming where you must work together when taking on computer-controlled adversaries. Whether you're new to this arcade flight series or a longstanding fan, Ace Combat 6 offers an immersive, high-definition experience that is sure to please.