Seven cheers for the future

The celebration of the PlayStation®2 system's seventh birthday isn't quite over. In fact there's plenty of life in this party yet as this selection of forthcoming high profile games prove in abundance.

With the large number of classic titles available on PlayStation®2, you may have forgotten there are still plenty of big games coming around the corner for the system as well. With a system redesign on the cards and dozens of games in the pipeline, the next 12 months and beyond are paved with exciting times for PlayStation®2. So true to the theme of its seventh birthday, here are seven more imminent reasons to get energised about your PlayStation®2 all over again.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The Star Wars saga may be over on the big screen, but there are plenty more stories to tell as proven by the upcoming LucasArts game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Developed as a mass multimedia project which will also span across action figures, books, a role-playing game and comic books, this game will take place seven years after the rise of the Galactic Empire in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, bridging the gap between that and Episode IV: A New Hope.

With players assuming control of Darth Vader's secret apprentice sent across the galaxy to destroy the remaining Jedi, The Force Unleashed features action based gameplay set deep within a largely unexplored section of Star War mythos, focusing on Force powers such as lightning and telekinesis taken to extreme degrees worthy of the dark Sith lord the story revolves around.

Buzz! Junior: Dino Den

Fans of the family friendly Buzz! Junior range will be positively buzzing over this dose of dinosaur sized fun on PlayStation®2. Buzz! Junior: Dino Den features 35 games set in a land of dinosaurs, volcanoes and festering mud pools. Up to four players can join in the quest for Dino eggs, taking part in a massive variety of activities such as T-Rex riding, caveman dunking and stone age go-kart racing.

Buzz! Junior: Dino Den hits shelves in early 2008, boasting competitive play and a brand new Team mode, where players can join forces to compete in ten 2-verses-2 co-operative team games.

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

Electronic Arts' adult open-world action-adventure follows on from 2005 hit prequel, Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, where you assume control of a band of mercenaries working for the highest bidder in a war-torn land. Set in Venezuela where a power-hungry tyrant named Ramon Solano has sparked an international crisis, your job is to step into the chaos and fight for several different factions looking to gain an upper hand in the conflict, all while keeping your eyes on the main goal: revenge on Solano for turning on you after refusing to pay for a job.

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is all about explosive action, with the ability to ravage the destructible environments as you please. Foliage can be set alight, balconies blown up and towers toppled thanks to the dozens of weapons on offer. Vehicles can also be hijacked, including a command chopper which can be tagged with the new grappling hook item and then commandeered out of the sky.

Rock Band

PlayStation®2 owners won't be left out on the chance to rock when Electronic Arts releases Rock Band in 2008. The music title allows four players to participate using three different instrument-based peripherals (a guitar, bass guitar and drum) while the fourth croons away on a microphone, all simulating a real rock band by matching the lyrics and notes on the screen at the right time.

Rock Band promises 58 playable tracks, including Paranoid by Black Sabbath, Sabotage by Beastie Boys and I Think I'm Paranoid by Garbage, as well as giving players the option to customise their in-game musician's hair, clothing, style, body art and more.

The Golden Compass

Due at the end of 2007, The Golden Compass has prestigious roots in its origin. Sharing its title with the film, both are based on the first of Phillip Pullman's award winning novel trilogy, His Dark Materials. Sega's action-adventure game has you controlling a young girl named Lyra Belaqua as she travels through 13 dangerous environments and magical landscapes to rescue her uncle and friend.

As well as enjoying mini-games, solving puzzles and evading enemies as Lyra, players will also be able to use her daemon companion Pan to morph into different animals, and do battle against evil beasts as the giant armoured bear Iorek.

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

Ex-superhero turned attorney, Harvey Birdman will be flying to PlayStation®2 in 2008 to serve up his special brand of justice; something few fans will want to object to. The court-based adventure title has players collecting and presenting evidence, and cross-examining witnesses to prove their client's innocence - all in the bombastic style of the Adult Swim cartoon of the same name.

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law aims to bring the same cast and sharp humour as its source material, as well as cameos from well-known Capcom characters such as Street Fighter II's Guile, making it an exciting prospect for fans of the series and anyone just wanting something a little bit whacky and different in their games.

Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus

As Sega's premier online action role-playing game series, Phantasy Star Universe has a well regarded pedigree - and Ambition of the Illuminus aims to maintain that when it launches in 2008. The game places your customised avatar as the central hero working to restore peace in the Gurhal System, but also includes a number of new weapons, levels and cities to expand its colossal universe of futuristic swords and sorcery.

Ambition of the Illuminus features improved character customisation with scope to alter facial features, hair styles, body types and clothing, as well as abilities and classes. The fast paced online mode boasts new lobbies including the Casino Voloyal which features games such as roulette and slots, and original missions for up to six players.