Devil May Cry 3

Devil May Cry 4 has now been announced for PC, so this could be a good time for you to check out the last third-person action-adventure featuring the dual-gun-wielding devilish anti-hero Dante. This is simple but satisfying console-y fun, as you thrash through the post-apocalyptic gothic environments, hacking, slashing and shooting every hell-beast that lurches into existence. Red orbs can be collected that, when traded, give you access to upgraded weapons and combos. What's more, the Devil Trigger ability that's unleashed in later levels gives you some heavenly monster-twatting power-ups.

This is a typically unkempt console conversion from Capcom (who recently released a very poor version of Resident Evil 4), so you'll have to negotiate some fiddly joypad setting up and a lack of quick-saves. Yet despite its faults, Devil May Cry 3 provides a few hours of joyful ultra-violent nonsense - just prepare for much gnashing of teeth when you have to restart a level all over again when a boss battle goes awry.