[This is the first of a new Metromix column examining the cross-section of movies and games.]

REVIEW: "Iron Man"
Rating:
Publisher: Sega
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, PSP, DS, PC
Reviewed on: Xbox 360

Assuming Versace doesn't adds a weaponized blazer to their fall collection, this third-person action game is your best chance to fly in a laser-shooting suit of armor.

Inspired as much by the hit movie as the old comic books, the game has you using Iron Man's patented repulsor rays, Unibeam, and ability to catch missiles in mid-flight and fling them back at people to take on armies of bad guys. Though largely fought in mid-flight, you can also hit the ground to tear up tanks with some "God of War"-like button mashing.

The only problem: the suit's advanced targeting and energy conservation systems make the early levels a bit too easy, while the twitchy flight controls and overwhelming number of enemies in later levels increase both the difficulty, and the annoyance, factors.


HEADLINES:
Royal decree: Über-producer Jerry Bruckheimer is bringing "Prince of Persia" to the screen with Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal as the Prince and future Bond girl Gemma Arterton as his love interest. Mike Newell ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") will direct for a planned summer 2009 release.

Bourne again: Franka Potente will provide the voice of Marie in Sierra's game "The Bourne Conspiracy," coming in June. Potente originally played the role on film in both 2002's "The Bourne Identity" and 2004's "The Bourne Supremacy."

Space case: EA and "Simpsons" animators Film Roman will release an animated movie prequel for their upcoming sci-fi survival horror game "Dead Space." The film will air on Starz sometime between mid-September and the game's Halloween release, with an uncut version hitting DVD soon after.

Street justice: Hyde Park Films and 20th Century Fox have set Kristin Kreuk ("Smallville"), Neal McDonough ("Band Of Brothers"), Michael Clarke Duncan ("The Green Mile") and Chris Klein ("American Pie") to star in "Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li," due out February 27, 2009. Kreuk has the title role, while McDonough plays villainous M. Bison, Duncan is Balrog and Klein is Nash. Thankfully all of this has nothing to do with the 1994 Jean Claude Van Damme-led adaptation.

To boldly go…: "Space Chimps" are coming to console near you. Brash Entertainment will turn the upcoming animated movie—about astronaut monkeys—into an equally cartoonish game in which you (or you and a friend) can play as the two space-faring simians. It's due in July on the 360, Wii, DS, and PS2.

Force fed: Namco Bandai's fighting game "Soulcalibur IV"—which features "Star Wars" icons Darth Vader and Yoda as playable characters on the PS3 and 360 versions, respectively—will be out July 29th.

Uwe fail: Director Uwe Boll's latest video game adaptation, "Postal," is due out May 23rd. Among those who'll be downplaying it in future interviews are Dave Foley ("Kids in the Hall"), Seymour Cassel ("Rushmore"), and Verne Troyer ("Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"). Boll has also said he'd stop directing movies if a million people sign a petition asking him to quit. So get cracking.


Get a preview of the upcoming "Wall-E" game from executive producer Lyle Hall.

Check out images from the new "Hulk" game.