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• Top 5 video games of the summer

Granted, there are a plethora of other activities you could be engaging in during these summer months (working on that internship, for example), many ultimately more beneficial that sitting in front of the TV mashing buttons. But let's face it, sitting in a cramped cubicle entering data into spreadsheets isn't half as much fun as reclining on your sofa, nice cold drink in hand, playing the latest and greatest in video games. There are a ton of titles coming out this summer, but don't waste your time (or money) on the ones that are going to end up sucking. Here are the Top Five games you'll want to make sure you check out before school starts again.

Don Kings's Prizefighter

Ever since EA Chicago (developers of the awesome “Fight Night: Round 3”) shut down earlier last year, unless you count “Wii Boxing,” there really hasn't been a good boxing game to fill the void. “Don King's Prizefighter,” developed by Venom Games and published by 2K sports, is looking to give boxing fans something worth playing after the sports hiatus from the video gaming world. Featuring an impressive roster of forty licensed fighters (including some oldies like Joe Louis), a career single player mode which lets you progress from underground brawls to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and of course, an intense multiplayer mode, “Don King's Prizefighter” has all the trappings of a good boxing game. Additionally, the graphics are solid and realistic looking. However, with “Fight Night 4” coming out later this year, and EA Sport's “Facebreaker” releasing in September, while everything looks good from the videos, this might be worth more of a casual rental first to determine whether “Don King's Prizefighter” is really the real deal.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Chances are if you haven't gotten bored of “Guitar Hero” (or switched over to Rock Band) you're going to want to check out the latest iteration in the “Guitar Hero” series. “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” has you playing as Aerosmith band member, Joe Perry, as you follow Aerosmith's career from garage band to rock and roll stardom. You start off playing gigs in local high schools, but as your fame continues to grow with each successful performance, you'll eventually be playing during the Super Bowl's half time show. If you like Aerosmith, and if you're a fan of Guitar Hero's infamous incredibly fast paced, rhythmic gameplay, you owe it to yourself to stay indoors, pick up your guitar shaped controller, and rock out to songs like “Dream On” from the comfort of your living room.

Battlefield: Bad Company

It's been a little over two years since “Battlefield: Modern Combat” debuted on next generation consoles, and while Digital Illusion CE's initial venture into home consoles was met with mixed success, there's still a very legitimate reason to be excited about their latest entry into the Battlefield franchise, “Battlefield: Bad Company.” In the past, Battlefield games have been infamous for doing little to cater to fans of single player modes. In “Battlefield: Bad Company”, however, there will be a full length, single player campaign that puts you in control of a group of wise cracking, disgruntled, renegade soldiers. Your objective: sneak behind enemy lines and find a cache of gold, killing and blowing up anything that might get in your way. Think of it as the video game adaptation of the movie “Three Kings,” only with more intense shootouts and less Mark Walberg. With a real single player option, terrific graphics and addicting gameplay, and online multiplayer that supports twenty four players simultaneously, “Battlefield: Bad Company” is shaping up to be the fix for all your lagging needs this summer.

Metal Gear Solid 4

The epic finale of the “Metal Gear” saga that started way back on the Nintendo in 1989, “Metal Gear Solid 4” puts you back in control of the legendary Solid Snake. Only this time, Snake is old. Like geriatric old. However, ageist jokes aside, developer Konami has outfitted Solid Snake with some new tricks and plenty of new times. It may very well be worth checking out if only to see what the fuss is about.

Soul Calibur IV

Developed by Bandai Namco, “Soul Calibur IV” is shaping up to top even the original on the Dreamcast, and if you're a big fan of the franchise like me, you'll know that's no small statement. Packed to the brims with a broad roster of fighters including cameo appearances by Yoda and Darth Vader, customizable create-a-character, and for the first time, online multiplayer, everything about “Soul Calibur IV” looks bigger and better than ever. The detailed graphics look gorgeous and as realistic as anything that has appeared thus far, and the character animations are incredibly lifelike and smooth.