The month of May had some very high-profile video games releasing. I wish I could say that there is something for everyone on this list, but the biggest titles released in May are mostly shooters.
But if you like intense action, political intrigue — and rampaging demons from hell — then there are sure to be some video games for you to play.
Uncharted 4
Release Date: May 10
Uncharted 4 is the finale of the long-running series from PlayStation. The story follows Nathan Drake – a treasure hunter – as he is reconnected with his long lost brother. Together, the two siblings hunt down a forgotten treasure, which results in plenty of action and drama. The franchise has received a lot of praise for its likable characters, beautiful visuals and addicting gameplay loop of climbing up forgotten ruins and shooting hordes of baddies. It is the video game equivalent of a summer blockbuster. This digestible approach to storytelling has shown that games can be forms of art in the same way that movies are.
Doom
Release Date: May 13
Doom is one of the original first-person shooters, and after many years, the series is finally returning. The gameplay is all about quick, bloody combat with the denizens of Hell. You wield a deadly arsenal of guns and melee weapons and tear your enemies to shreds in the most gruesome ways possible. While many modern shooters have urged players to take cover from gunfire and play it safe, Doom encourages a ‘balls to the wall' approach. Running straight at an enemy, firing a shotgun is often a safe way to stay alive. It isn't for the faint of heart, but if you are looking for a well-made shooter with tons of style, then Doom is the game for you!
Homefront: The Revolution
Release Date: May 17
This is the second game in the Homefront franchise. The first was praised for its story, which revolved around a unified Korea taking over the western world. The long awaited sequel sees players take control of a soldier as they — along with their fellow freedom fighters — try and drive back the Korean forces. It's a first-person shooter set in an open world, which means that you can choose how to approach any given situation. The number of tools at your disposal can be a little overwhelming, but it also lets you decide how you want to tackle every scenario. Want to go in guns blazing? You can do that. Want to sneak behind enemy lines and pick them off one by one? You can do that, too. Not much has been heard about this title in the past year — not always a good thing — but hopefully, it can build upon the good foundation set by the first game.
Overwatch
Release Date: May 24
Have you ever heard of World of Warcraft? What about Star Craft? Diablo? These three games all come from acclaimed developer Blizzard Studios, who have built up quite the reputation for releasing stellar games. Overwatch is their first new series in more 10 years, and it is switching things up quite a bit. It's an online, multiplayer first-person shooter. What differentiates Overwatch from other shooters like Halo or Call of Duty is that you don't just choose a gun and run onto the battlefield. You choose from a selection of heroes – each one with their own abilities, weapons, and tactics. This adds a layer of strategy to the proceedings. Teams need to build a balanced team with characters who support each other's strengths and weaknesses. The gameplay is supported by beautiful graphics that make the game look like Pixar animated it. The diverse array of character also ensures that every player is bound to find one hero who they connect with.
These four titles represent the biggest releases this month. This is determined largely by production budget, franchise reputation, and general interest. The summer months are typically home to many action games, and so far 2016 is living up to that.
Matthew Herst is a Carleton University communications student, video game journalist and Sudbury.com’s resident geek writer. Yeah, this guy love’s video games. Besides Sudbury.com, you can also find his work on TheNerdStash.com. Follow him on Twitter @supergurst.
