Summer Games Preview

Sure, it’s an activity that can be enjoyed all year long but when this summer’s line up is as scorching as it is, you’d rather be cooped up indoors instead of going outside for you know, real exercise. Read on to find out which games you should be playing this summer.

Titanfall

Respawn Entertainment

Xbox One, PC

Expected Release Date: March 14

Titanfall is what happens when the team behind the smash hit first person shooter franchise Call of Duty decide to go ahead and make well… Call of Duty but with giant robots and parkour. It’s fastpaced, brutal and gorgeous, after all, how many games let you trample your friends while piloting a giant robot? If you’re expecting a deep single-player experience, look elsewhere, this is an online multiplayer game only.

And while it’s on the yet-to-be-released Xbox One in India, there’s a PC version to look forward to. After a fantastic beta, we can’t wait to get our hands on the full game.

Daylight

Zombie Studios

PS4, PC

Expected Release Date: April 8

This digital only survival horror game is distinctively cutting edge what with being exclusive to the PS4 and PC as well as using the latest Unreal Engine. But that doesn’t make it a glorified tech demo. Or so we hope. Created by the company behind several entries in the Spec Ops and Delta Force series as well as the Blacklight series of free-to-play, multiplayer first person shooters, Daylight looks like it comes from fine pedigree. However, we’re interested for other reasons altogether. The premise sounds promising what with taking place in an abandoned hospital, armed with nothing but your cellphone and your wits as you explore a host of different environments and seek to escape the horrors that surround you.

 

Child of Light

Ubisoft Montreal

PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Wii U

Expected Release Date: April 30

From all the games on this list, there’s one that’s coming out on every platform. And surprisingly it’s a role-playing game made with the same tech that brought us the fantastic Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends games. While it might look cutesy, sporting an art style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films, it’s made by the same folk behind the rather mature-themed Far Cry 3. As the name suggests, Child of Light is an adventure that has you as Aurora finding the sun (as well as the moon and stars) that have been stolen by the aptly named Black Queen. There’s a combat system similar to Japanese role-playing games like Final Fantasy VIII, platforming inspired from Limbo and Rayman, and there’s co-operative multiplayer to boot. In spite of the extremely obvious inspirations, Child of Light still manages to invoke a smile or 20.

 

The Elder Scrolls Online

ZeniMax Online Studios

PC, PS4, Xbox One

Expected Release Date: April 4 (PC), June (PS4, Xbox One)

While the earlier entries in The Elder Scroll series were purely single-player affairs, that didn’t make them any less awesome. Even now, 2010’s Skyrim is still one of the most played games on PC. The sheer depth and believability in gameplay coupled with gorgeous high fantasy trappings made them a dream to play. Now in a post-Game of Thrones and The Hobbit world, every player and his grandmother seem to have an interest in elves, dragons and political intrigue. Which makes the latest Elder Scrolls entry rather apt, what with being a massively multiplayer role-playing game that let’s you play as a Templar, Sorcerer, Dragon Knight or a Nightblade as you explore the depths of Tamriel, join warring factions or simply spend your time online collecting f lowers and making potions. Look forward to this in April or June, depending on your platform of  choice.

 

Don Bradman Cricket 14

Big Ant Studios

PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Expected Release Date: March (PS3, Xbox 360), May (PC)

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a decent cricket game available for a platform that wasn’t Android or iOS. If the previews are an indicator of the final product, we’re in for a treat. Don Bradman Cricket 14 sports deep player customization, semi-decent graphics and gameplay that takes a little bit of getting used to, but ends up being rather satisfying. And while there’s no concrete release date or distributor for India at the time of writing this, we’re hoping that this issue resolves itself soon enough. After all, one can play Stick Cricket only so many times right?

 

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Machinegames

PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Expected Release Date: May 20

The latest entry to the seminal Wolfenstein series has been a long time coming what with the last game out back in 2009. Forsaking the occult trappings of its predecessor, The New Order takes place in a world where the Nazis won the war. You’ll be reprising the role of series protagonist, William Blazkowicz as you look to end the Nazi war machine once and for all.  Early previews seem promising what with a chain of events reminiscent of Inglorious Basterds, complete with a bloodthirsty crew seeking revenge and a gory interrogation or two. But all that pales in comparison to the thrill of being able to wield two sniper rifles, yes, sniper rifles at once in this over-the-top shooter.

 

This article appeared in the April 2014 issue of ROLLING STONE India.