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Try some cool games for a hot August

Not all of the hottest video games are reserved for the holiday season.

Though the summer is typically a slower time for new releases, the remaining days of August will see the debut of a few major titles — including something for football lovers, Nintendo Wii gamers and fans of first-person shooters.

Whether it’s to blow off steam after a long day at work, a night in with friends or to waste away a rainy Sunday afternoon, the following are three promising titles worth considering.

‘Madden NFL 10’

While the features will vary depending on what platform it’s played on, the next-generation versions (Xbox 360, PS3) of EA Sports’ latest pro pigskin game features tighter and more responsive controls, incredible fluid animation (including up to nine-man gang tackles), photorealistic players and broadcast-quality commentary. Truly, passers-by will do a double-take because “Madden NFL 10” looks like a televised football game.

Sure, you can boot up this disc, available Aug. 14, and play a quick solo match or with a friend beside you, but all-new Internet modes include an online co-op option (tackle the CPU together on the same team), as well as a deep franchise mode supporting up to 32 friends with real NFL scheduling and live drafts — all manageable from your console, on a PC or via a downloadable iPhone app.

• Platforms: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 2 and 3, and Nintendo Wii

• Rating: Everyone

• Price: $39.99 to $59.99

‘Wolfenstein’

Guten Tag! The classic 3-D shooter that ate away countless productivity hours in the early ‘90s, and then was resurrected on the iPhone earlier this year, is not only back but darker than ever before.

Due out Aug. 18, Activision’s “Wolfenstein” shines a light on the Nazis’ dark obsession with the occult, as you resurrect your role as B.J. Blazkowicz, a decorated member of the Office of Secret Actions (OSA).

Using brains and brawn, you need to stop the Germans from harnessing power from a parallel dimension to create a weapon of unprecedented mass destruction.

Step into battle with a diverse collection of Allied, Axis and experimental Nazi weapons, in both the story campaign and myriad multiplayer modes.

• Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

• Rating: Mature

• Price $49.99 to $59.99

‘Metroid Prime: Trilogy’

On Aug. 24, three classic Nintendo shooters will be available on one disc — 2002’s “Metroid Prime,” 2004’s “Metroid Prime 2: Echoes” and 2007’s “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” — all enhanced with full Wii remote control to aim with precision as the mysterious bounty hunter, Samus Aran.

This space-age action game is played from a first-person perspective while blasting baddies or solving puzzles, but switches to a third-person view when Aran rolls into a ball to navigate through tighter areas.

This collection also adds new features to the first two Nintendo GameCube titles including graphical enhancements (such as wide-screen presentation and improved lighting), faster load times, new control options and other trimmings.

• Platform: Wii

• Rating: Teen

• Price: $49.99