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It's around this time of year that the new releases well starts to dry up. Don't panic, though, because while May's list of anticipated titles might look slim, it's packed with more than a few surprises, including radical DLC for Far Cry 3, Metro: Last light's debut, Donkey Kong's first 3DS remake, and loads of potential cult hits. See what hidden gems await in our May 2013 new release rundown below.
May 1
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Return to an era where cyber-men were cyber-men, neon was the new black, and laser-spewing dragons roamed the land in this totally radical stand-alone expansion for Far Cry 3. Forget what you remember about Rook Island. Blood Dragon re-imagines Far Cry 3's topical locale as a 1980s sci-fi Hellscape, complete with evil robot armies, blood-red skies, and alien wildlife. Weapons, vehicles, and main characters also receive the retro treatment. Players can enjoy a brand new storyline starring uber-soldier Sgt. Rex Power Colt (played by Michael Bean of Terminator fame). Check our review right here: this isn't your grandpa's Far Cry 3, kiddies. This is Far Cry 3... to the Xtreme!
Fez
Platform: PC
Phil Fish's trippy, formerly 360-exclusive puzzle-platformer is opening a portal to PCs this month. Fez stars a 2D creature called Gomez who acquires the ability to expand his world into the third dimension after accepting a mystic fez hat from a sentient cube called Hexahedron. Throughout the game, players must travel a myriad of strange lands by shifting environments on their axis and using the different perspectives to collect 32 cubes that, when combined, will save Gomez's world. Fez is packed with inside jokes and homages to gaming history, and its gamplay rewards exhaustive exploration and keen puzzle solving skills. You can watch Phil Fish nearly lose his mind developing Fez in Indie Game: The Movie, or read our own mind-bending experience in our FEZ review.
May 14
Metro: Last Light
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
EU: May 17
4A Games' long awaited sequel to Metro 2033 is ready to emerge this month. Set in a post-apocalyptic Moscow, Metro: Last Light (formerly Metro 2034) will cast players as Artyom, a lone hero who must brave mutants, madmen, and a civil war to save the last remnants of humanity. The story will be based on the Metro 2033 universe created by author Dmitry Glukhovsky, with gameplay that sticks closely to the series' gritty and realistic FPS roots.
Originally slated for a mid-2012 release, Metro: Last Light was delayed to Q1 2013 after the closure of its original publisher, THQ, and its subsequent purchase by Deep Silver. We'll see soon if this sequel was worth the wait. In the meantime, read what we've gleaned over the years in Metro: Last Light – 12 Things You Need to Know.
May 15
Wrecking Balls Arena
Platform: OUYA
If you own one of the pre-release OUYAs, get ready to receive this exclusive treat from the developers at Team Kakumei. Described as an arcade-style RTS, Wrecking Balls Arena will let up four players pilot self-aware wrecking balls in arena styled combat. Each ball will enter the field of battle with basic attack and defend capabilities, as well as the ability to wield power-ups across the seven lanned maps. Wrecking Balls Arena is an exclusive title for OUYA, and if you missed out on the Kickstarter, the console officially launches next month.
May 21
Capcom Arcade Cabinet: All-In-One Pack
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
EU: May 22
Ghosts 'n Goblins, 1942, Commando, and Side Arms headline Capcom's arcade gaming bundle. The all-in-one download will feature all 17 games in the Capcom Arcade Cabinet collection, which have also been available as separate downloads throughout the past months. In addition to the retro gaming goodness, Capcom's collection sports full HD optimization, online and co-op multiplayer functionality, leaderboard support, Achievements/Trohpies, social media integration, and game bonuses. The bundle will also ship with a music player and virtual dip switch that will grant players the power to fiddle with in-game mechanics.
Capcom Arcade Cabinet: All-In-One Pack's full list of games is as follows: Black Tiger, 1943: Battle of Midway, Avenger, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Gun Smoke, Section Z, Side Arms, Legendary Wings, Trojan, Commando, The Speed Rumbler, Exed Exes (Savage Bees), 1942, SonSon, Pirate Ship Higemaru, and two bonus games to be announced at a later date.
Fast & Furious: Showdown
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, 3DS, PC
Fans of the Paul Walker and Vin Diesel racing franchise will soon get a chance to steer their favorite anti-heroes in this video game tie in to 2013's upcoming Fast and the Furious 6. The game will speed players through 31 missions of fast-paced, daredevil action―all of which will depict the events between the last film and its upcoming sequel. The game will also feature two-player co-op and a challenge mode that will pit players against each other in tests of skill, speed, and leaderboard ranking. Of course, gearheads should have more than enough car customization options to keep them busy as well.
Fast & Furious: Showdown is being developed by Firebrand Games, maker of other notable racing titles such as Need for Speed: The Run, NASCAR Unleashed, and Cars 2.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Platform: Wii U
Experience the LEGO Batman sequel in exhilarating Wii U-O-Vision with this GamePad-enhanced version of 2012's Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. It's been nearly a year since Batman and his ragtag group of superhero friends appeared in this pseudo open-world Lego game. Now, the sequel is arriving onto the scene with a slew of new Wii U features. This version will allow superheroes-in-training to use the GamePad screen for a more separate co-op experience, as well as let them manage player selection and some abilities with touchscreen controls. Off-TV play will also be available. See what we thought of the original console release in our LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes review.
