Prey
(May 5 – PS4, Xbox One, PC)
There’s been quite a bit of horror in 2017, and there are a lot of shooters lined up to release throughout the year, too. But after playing the opening hour demo, it’s clear to see that when it comes to atmospheric tension and an interesting alien enemy, Prey may be in a space all on its own. You’ll find yourself trapped on Talos-I, a space station that was being used for scientific research. Unfortunately, a powerful enemy known simply as the Typhon has broken loose and turned this home among the stars into a living hell.
You’ll have to explore and survive, all while customizing and evolving your abilities, as you seek out just what’s going on here. With no real memories to trust, and aliens capable of becoming anything, you’re in for an intense experience when Prey drops on the first Friday in May.
Minecraft: Switch Edition
(May 11 – Switch)
Yes, we know that this game has released what feels like a hundred times already on just about every capable device you can shake a stick at. But console experiences and portable experiences have been… different. For the first time, Mojang will be creating a console game that can be taken on the go. So not only will you be able to build your worlds and share them with others, you can take them with you wherever you go, constantly expanding on them and making new discoveries.
If somehow, you’ve managed to avoid this game on all other platforms (you have some serious self-control), you may want to finally give it a glance on Nintendo’s latest and see if perhaps the Switch has what it takes to make this the game for you.
Farpoint
(May 16 – PSVR)
Most would agree that the PSVR is an impressive piece of technology. That same group would probably also agree that it’s been a bit too light on worthwhile experiences. Hopefully, that changes when Farpoint hits later this month, bringing a large, action-packed experience to the headset.
You’ll find yourself on an unknown world after heading towards Jupiter. Your mission? To rescue a group of stranded scientists, only things can never be that simple. The planet you find yourself on is hostile and full of alien hordes, but don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of different weapons you can use to blast through them as you fight to survive and escape.
Injustice 2
(May 16 – PS4, Xbox One, PC)
The first Injustice was quite the experience. After the less than stellar Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, the folks at NetherRealm figured out a way to give DC’s extensive roster an identity all of its own that borrowed some of the best elements of Mortal Kombat and created something new. The sequel, Injustice 2, aims to push things a bit further, offering a suite of RPG features that will allow players to customize their experience in ways not possible before.
There’s an entire gear system, with different sets of armor that are more than just cosmetic applications. They change your outward appearance, yes, but they also can alter your stats and even change your movesets, allowing you to create the perfect version of your favorite heroes (and villains). It still maintains the fast-paced, technical gameplay that fans of the first have come to appreciate, but with the added level of depth, this is sure to be one to keep on your radar later this month.
The Surge
(May 16 – PS4, Xbox One, PC)
For a while, there was a time where you couldn’t walk through a game shop or browse your preferred platform’s storefront without seeing numerous Souls-like experiences. After FromSoftware’s series became a huge success, there were tons of games full of knights, magic, and demonic forces waiting to punish you for not learning their intricacies. While some were good, you could tell that they were trying to capture that same lightning in a bottle, and that often left them feeling a bit… cheap.
The Surge is different. At first glance, you’d probably never even think of a Souls game or any other action RPG for that matter. Yet, it houses all of the same elements that made From’s series so special. Methodical gameplay, challenging encounters, a risk/reward system that has you test your limits while also making sure not to lose all the progress you’ve made. However, it brings all of this to the future, with towering robots, twisted machines, and your very own customizable exoskeleton. It looks like a different take on the Souls-like sub-genre, and one that may be worth some consideration.
Friday the 13th
(May 26 – PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Horror in video games has been on the rise in 2017, with several spooky titles already releasing (such as the incredible Resident Evil 7) and more on the way. One of the frightening experiences due out in the near future is based on the classic horror series Friday the 13th that sees a murderous ex-camp goer take out his rage on some young counselors. How will the game play? Well, that depends on what side you choose.
Friday the 13th is an asymmetric multiplayer game meaning there are two sides that don’t have the same amount of players. On one side, you have the camp counselors who must survive and escape the campgrounds by either working as a team, or going lone wolf as a mad killer eviscerates all of their friends. On the other is Jason, an unstoppable juggernaut who would love nothing more than to kill all the other players. It’s scary, and intense thanks to no AI to exploit. It’s mind against mind, killer against counselors.
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers
(May 26 – Switch)
While there have been literally hundreds of fighting video games in the last couple of decades, Super Street Fighter II Turbo has maintained its position as one of the best ever made ever since its 1994 release. Capcom is bringing that classic to the Switch all updated with new visuals, balances, and characters in the form of Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers.
On top of the amazing classic roster (which includes a now unlocked Akuma), two new fighters step into the fray: Evil Ryu and Violent Ken (who has never appeared in a Street Fighter before). You can also play with either the classic graphics or updated HD ones. Combo timing has been adjusted and there have been some balance tweaks to the fighters themselves to bring this classic to the modern era.
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