A guide to games: part two

For those new to the world of PlayStation, here's the second part in a whistle-stop tour of the major game genres.

Action Adventures
Although the 'action adventure' is something of a loose definition, these games generally see you controlling a character within a 3D environment, on an adventure of some sort.

But what adventures! Some of gaming's most iconic moments can be found in this genre: Lara Croft's legendary Tomb Raider series, for example, or the explosive action of Ratchet & Clank.

With game developers honing their craft at an incredible rate, the art of telling stories within games is always moving on to ever bigger better experiences, and you can be sure that you'll find the very best adventures on PlayStation as the next generation begins.

Try these Action Adventure titles: Tomb Raider: Legend (PS2 and PSP), God of War (PS2), Genji: Days of the Blade (PlayStation 3), Ratchet &Clank: Size Matters (PSP)

Beat 'em ups
Up there with driving games as one of the most enduringly popular game genres out there, beat 'em ups have enjoyed a strong showing on PlayStation systems ever since Tekken battered its way onto PS one in the mid-90s.

With beat 'em ups, half the fun comes from mastering the controls, allowing you to take your favourite character into any battle knowing you have what it takes to come out on top. They're especially fantastic when played in multiplayer; after all, what's the point in being a great fighter if not to lord it over your downed opponent?

Capcom's seminal Street Fighter series is always fantastic for slick, Japanese arcade action, while the Tekken series continues to astound, most recently on PSP. For real fighting purists, Sega's Virtua Fighter has always been an obsession, and Virtua Fighter 5 arrives with PlayStation 3 for some truly next generation fisticuffs.

Check out these beat 'em up titles: Tekken: Dark Resurrection (PSP and PlayStation Network), SoulCalibur III (PlayStation 2), Virtua Fighter 5 (PlayStation 3)