E3 '10: Tom Cruise Twofer

This year, Paramount is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Days of Thunder and the 25th anniversary of Top Gun by releasing arcade-style videogame adaptations of both movies. Days of Thunder will bring the characters from the movie together with this year's NASCAR stars in a special edition of the game to be released on the PlayStation Network this September. Another version will be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade around the same time, but without the NASCAR portion. Along with Quick Race and Career Modes, there is 12 player online multiplayer with the usual Time Trials and leaderboards, and an unlockable Derby Mode that gives bonus points for bumping into cars. Michael Rooker reprises his role of Rowdy Burns to act as your pit chief. While there is the ability to fine tune your car with different parts and decorate it with the logos of the sponsors you attract, Days of Thunder is much more of an arcade racer than a sim. A Focus meter is built up by rubbing and scraping against the other cars, and can be activated to slow down time, allowing you to recover from otherwise devastating crashes. And a Hammer meter is built up by drafting, and grants a speed boost. During a pit stop, a button mashing mini-game is used to repair your car, making sure you get right back out on the track before you get bored. And I have to say, during my brief taste of the game, the Focus ability was super helpful!

Top Gun retells the film's storyline, but adding more detail, and is actually written by Jack Epps, Jr., who co-wrote the movie. There are six planes, two of each kind, and four skins for each. There are two controller layouts provided, and a third if you want to use the Mad Catz flight stick. There's a tutorial to give you the basics, and a campaign mode to take you through the film, and a Horde Mode which pits you against wave after wave of endless enemies to see how long you can last. Online leaderboards will grant bragging rights to the truly gifted. You'll have wingmen on hand to offer helpful suggestions — just don't get them killed! There's also five different multiplayer modes that allow up to 16 pilots at a time. As with Days, Top Gun is shooting for a more arcade-y feel, and goes for nostalgia by including the "Top Gun Anthem" and "Danger Zone" in its soundtrack. Top Gun is due out in early July as a PSN exclusive. (Sorry, no shirtless volleyball mini-game, although I was told that they were considering doing Home Avatars from that scene!)