As school winds to a close, blockbusters hit the locale megaplex, and poeple exchange jackets for swimsuits, it has become apparent that summer has arrived. Normally, the nice weather and outdoor fun suggests a decline in number and pedigree for video game releases, however this summer holds some of the biggest releases of the year. Grab a pen and a calendar (or your smartphone), and get ready to mark down the biggest upcoming games.
Metro: Last Light– May 14th
A sequel to the game Metro 2033, based on a novel of the same name by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro: Last Light follows the journey of Artyom as he seeks to find the mystery behind the Dark Ones in a post-apocalyptic world. While the original game received decent reviews, a cult fan-base developed around the game, leading to its sequel. Continue the fight for humanity’s survival in a dark, atmospheric world. Metro: Last Light promises to a be a first person shooter that will chill you to your bones.
Hype Meter: 7
Resident Evil: Revelations — May 21st
While most recently Resident Evil releases have left players disappointed and wary of the franchise, Revelations has been a lone bright spot. The game brings back original heroine, Jill Valentine, on a mission to find Chris Redfield. Revelations strays from the action first, style of the recent Resident Evil games, giving players limited ammunition and puzzles to solve. While Capcom mulls over the future of the Raccoon City Incident survivors, pick up this game to remember how Resident Evil was meant to be played.
Hype Meter: 6
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger — May 22nd
Changing up the modern setting of The Cartel for a wild west more akin to Red Dead Redemption, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger looks to put a new spin on the tales of such legends as Billy the Kid and Jesse James as they are hunted down by bounty hunter Silas Greave. With different shooting skills to develop, Gunslinger looks to focus on the shoot-first style of the dusty west. A download only title, Call of Juarez may not be the best cowboy tale on consoles, but it should come relatively cheap.
Hype Meter: 4
Fuse –May 28th
Between Ratchet and Clank and Resistance, Insomniac Games has long been known for their inventive guns that set their shooters apart from the mold. The inventive developer will look to continue this trend with their latest release, Fuse. When humans get a hold of alien technology, a special team called Overstrike 9 is formed to protect the secrets of the technology known as Fuse, They will battle an evil corporation called Raven, ran by a man named Fable. Fuse is the self-described “sleeper hit” of the summer, as Insomniac makes the move from a PlayStation second party to cross platform, published by EA.
Hype Meter: 6
Remember Me — June 4th
Dontnod Entertainment brings a new title to consoles this summer with their science-fiction action/adventure game Remember Me. Players control the character Nillin who works for as a memory hunter, altering and changing memories for the Memoreyes Corporation. That is until she learns that Memoreyes altered her own memory. Now she hunts through a dystopian Paris, searching for the answers to the mystery of her lost memory. Remember Me has shown off promising trailers, but continues to get mixed reviews from critics. Regardless, this is definitely a game to keep on your radar.
Hype Meter: 8
The Last of Us — June 14th
Naughty Dog’s first current-gen game to star someone other than Nathan Drake is set in the not-too-distant future where civilization has dwindled to small quarantine zones to protect humans from the infected “clickers” that terrorize the wild. Players must guide their young companion Ellie through this dangerous world, avoiding clickers and humans alike. Creating a world where ammo is a luxury and the violence is brutal, The Last of Us looks to give the survival horror genre a shot in the arm, while telling an emotionally compelling story.
Hype Meter: 10
Deadpool– June 25th
Recently dismantled High Moon Studios is done playing with Transformers for a while and has instead enlisted the “Merc With a Mouth” as a new protagonist. Deadpool has long been one of the more off-beat superheroes, breaking the fourth wall, talking to disembodied voices, and generally being strange. A recent trailer shows the wacky comedy hard at work, but Wade Wilson has always had trouble gaining mainstream approval due to his chaotic and sometimes unlikable nature. Maybe High Moon Studios can crack this code.
Hype Meter: 6
Company of Heroes 2 — June 25th
One of the larger acquisitions in the THQ bankruptcy auction was Relic Entertainment and their sequel to the widely treasured Company of Heroes. Relic has moved the location from the western front of World War II to the Soviet Eastern Front. Featuring a new Essence 3.0 game engine, Relic puts an emphasis on line-of-sight and weather. Snow, frostbite, and bonfires will all be integral parts of the new weather system that should simulate the miserable conditions suffered on the Soviet Front. There’s a lot of expectations for Company of Heroes 2, hopefully it can live up to the hype.
Hype Meter: 9
Ouya–June 25th
The second highest Kickstarter in history unveils its final product in a massive end of June. The Android-based console suffered middling reviews of the product’s early version from the press. A lack of games and awkward interface has been the target of the speculation, however the Ouya developers have taken a few weeks to perfect their product before shipping it out. The Ouya promised a new platform for independent developers to have their voices heard, but it will have to attract buyers from both the production and consumer side of the industry to have its desired impact.
Hype Meter: 5
State of Decay — June
In case you haven’t gotten enough zombies, State of Decay will be giving you an open world experience unlike any currently available in the genre. Focusing on stealth and base-building, State of Decay forgoes the gun happy nature of the modern zombie game. Players will encounter world changing-plots points as they make decisions to determine the future of their game. The zombie game may be overstaying its welcome, but at least there are some efforts to change up the flavor of the bloated genre.
Hype Meter: 6
NCAA Football 14 — July 9th
Last year’s iteration of EA Sport’s beloved NCAA Football franchise took a large step in getting out from under that Madden shadow that has loomed over the college series for so long. NCAA Football 14 looks to continue that trend with improved physics and Force Impact system. The running game has always been unique in college football with the option and spread offense being integral to many offenses. A reinvented running game should be a nice addition to NCAA.
Hype Meter: 7
Dynasty Warriors 8 — July 16th
The Chinese Dynasty Era beat ‘em up returns to Xbox and PlayStation consoles this summer after a spring release in Japan. Instead of players having characters pre-selected, they will be able to choose their own warrior and make decisions that influence the story. Free mode returns from Dynasty Warriors 6 and a new mode called Commander Mode will be introduced. Despite a mixed critical reception for its last two titles, Dynasty Warriors continue to be released almost like a misunderstood tradition.
Hype Meter: 5
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs — Summer 2013
The long awaited sequel to the highly touted survival horror game Amnesia: Dark Descent is currently scheduled for release this summer. Much like the first game, A Machine for Pigs will have multiple interlocking stories over the course of its narrative. As development has transitioned from Frictional Games to thechineseroom, there is some worry about maintaining the amazing formula cooked up in the original. However, for those who have seen the trailer, it looks like good (and terrifying) things are on the way.
Hype Meter: 9
Divekick–Summer 2013
This parody fighting game made quite the splash at PAX East, gathering a massive crowd that was consistently bursting into uproar. Divekick uses only two buttons, a “Dive” button and a “Kick” button. Players use these the limited moves to attack, dodge, and move. The game’s energy is amplified by the one-hit kill nature of the combat. Parodying fightings games, Divekick already has its sights on cult status and could quickly become a fighting game staple.
Hype Meter: 8
What games are you most excited for this summer? Let us know what games you are planning to pick up in the comments below.
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