Superman was further immortalized as a superhero after Electronic Arts announced that a videogame based from this year's box office hit film Superman Returns. The game is already being developed by EA Tiburon for Xbox 360, PSP and Nintendo DS. Featuring a virtual Metropolis, this single player game allows its players to have a first-hand experience of Superman's kyptonian abilities. Players must need to master these superhuman skills in order to combat an array of enemies like Metallo, Mongul and Bizarro, and save the lives of Metropolis' citizens.

Players are free to roam the 80 square miles expanse of Metropolis, with over 10,000 buildings. Having a large area for gameplay, players won't run out of missions to accomplish as changes in the city also affect Superman's progress in the game. The game is slated to be released November 20 this year so while waiting, check out these cool artworks for Superman Returns:

  
 

Electronic Arts has officially announced the release date for their upcoming cross-format title for portable, next-generation and current-generation consoles, Superman Returns: The Videogame. The game will span across the PSP, DS, Xbox 360, PS2 and original Xbox leaving you spoilt for choice as to which console to buy it for. The game features a Hollywood-style storyline from Warner Bros entertainment which won't disappoint, coupled with a free roaming 80 square miles Metropolis for you to fly around and complete your superhero missions on.

The 80-square mile city isn't small in height either as it stretches from the street right up into the clouds allowing you to make the most out of your flying ability. The game features some 'revolutionary' new flight mechanics that has been aimed towards giving the player full command of all possible aerial maneuvers in an almost acrobatic fashion. As Superman, the player must protect Metropolis from the most well-known villains in the 60 years of young DC Comics universe and conquer more than 100 missions.

The question is: Will it fly or flop? We'll see when this game is released and when we have more details on the features for the different console versions of the game. If you're really eager to get behind the scenes of this game, check out our Superman Returns: The Videogame E3 preview.

Getting a boost from the success of the "Superman Returns" movie, The Superman Returns: The Videogame is set to soar to retail shops this fall. David Craddock of comics2film.com had a chat with Executive Producer Chris Gray, hoping to change the way gamers view superhero movie-based games. Let's face it, these breed of games don't do too well on the charts for the simple reason that they fail to duplicate all the good things from the movies they are based on.

What will perhaps set the game apart from others movie-based games is that the storyline will not be limited to that of the movie. It'll be joined by characters and storylines from the Superman of yesteryears. Expect 50% movie and 50% original elements. It sure is an interesting fusion, but how'd the development team incorporate 60 years of Superman with the new movie's plot?  That's where the villains come into the picture. They bridge the gap between the the movie and the history of Superman.

With virtual Metropolis spanning 80 sq. miles, it's where all the action is. Objectives come randomly in the game. So if there's some strange events brewing, you can fly down to investigate. The team has recently squeezed in playable Bizarro levels, so you know that means - you can wreak havoc in the city.

As Superman, you'd have access to several "powers" including heat vision, Freeze Breath, Super Breath, Super Strength, etc. You can also unlock brawling combos as you gain experience.

When asked how will Superman Returns prove game critics wrong on their notion that movie games don't quite live up to the hype, Gray said, "From day one we knew we needed to make more than a movie game, and that helps tremendously. Superman’s history is so rich with moments, why wouldn’t we want to include them in the game? The additional content allows us to deliver an action-packed experience that never lets up. For example, the movie only shows you a taste of Metropolis, whereas, we allow you to get completely immersed within and interact with it."

Superman Returns: The Videogame will ship later in 2006 for PS2, Xbox, GameCube, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PSP, and PC.

Have you checked EA's website lately? If not, we've got great news for all you fanboys out there. Developer and publisher Electronic Arts isn't spending this summer with a peep. In fact, it just roared! The company revealed its 2006 holiday line-up consisting of 20 game titles on 11 different platforms (including mobile). The basket of goodies is a mish-mash of hard-core action, high-flying adventure, sports thrillers and mach-breaking racing games. In short, there's something for everyone in there. If you could only have them all! Here are just a few of those titles:

Need For Speed Carbon (PSP/Nintendo DS/XbOX 360/PS3/Nintendo Wii). NFS Carbon is world's most dangerous form of street racing. A race not to finish first but to win the city. The game delivers next-gen customization giving gamers the power to design and tweak their war chariots in every way using the ground-breaking new Autosculpt technology.



Superman Returns: The Videogame (Xbox 360). You've seen the movie, now its time to play it. The game features 80sqm of city under assault by various forces of evil including villain for all season, Luthor. Have no fear citizens of Metropolis, your  resident supercitizen is there to protect you. Brandon Routh (Superman/Clark Kent), Kevin Spacey (Lex Luthor) Kate Bosworth (Lois Lane) reprise their roles for the videogame version of director Bryan Singer's film.


The Godfather Mob Wars (PSP). Go deep into America’s most powerful criminal organization—the Corleone Family. Choose your path to power in the wide-open criminal underworld by taking on a variety of action-packed missions: mob hits, bank heists, extortion, cut off horses' heads. Your goal to be the next Don of NYC.



The Godfather: The Game (Xbox 360). The highly-anticipated open-world videogame takes you to the center of one of the most revered families in fictional history. As a young man just entering the Corleone family, you create your own mob character and work your way to the top. Welcome to New York City circa 1940s. Welcome to the mafia.


More EA titles after the jump!