We don’t know how things are across the pond right now, but over here in good ‘ol Blighty, it’s been the wettest June on record, flash floods are sweeping the region, and if you have a butcher’s outside your window the sky is coated in a perpetual grey blanket. Ah, the British Summer is officially underway then. Still, all the more reason to stay inside and get some quality gaming time under your belt, eh? Fortunately, that’s just what we’ve been doing this past month or so, although to be fair the line-up of games is starting to thin slightly as we inexorably approach the traditional summer lull. Still, that’s no reason to get down in the dumps; PS3 still has a decent offering of new titles worth your time, so take a moment with us now as PSU.com reflects on the latest batch from June 2012.
In what is undoubtedly one of the most idiosyncratic offerings of the month, Grasshopper Manufacture’s barmy zombie-cheerleader romp Lollipop Chainsaw is exactly what you would expect from the creative (and admittedly, slightly scary) mind of Goichi Suda – aka Suda 51. As voluptuous pom-pom queen Julie, players arm themselves with a chainsaw in the middle of a zombie high-school outbreak and slice up the local undead population while your boyfriend’s decapitated head sits neatly tied around your waist. Welcome to the world of Suda 51. Elsewhere, retro-fused bundle Ratchet & Clank Trilogy proved that PS2’s dynamic duo have lost none of their charm over the years as the original three games receive a lush high-definition makeover, while Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown augments an already incredibly deep, complex brawler with extra characters and game modes.
Yet another FPS graced shelves this month in the form of Spec Ops: The Line. Developed by Yager, The Line looks to differentiate itself from shooter stable mates such as Call of Duty and Battlefield by marrying an incredibly deep narrative with superb level design and eyeball-popping locations. Oh, and it’s got Nolan North in it too. Rounding out the rest of the highlights this past month include Q Games’ dazzling PixelJunk 4am and long-delayed gravity defying blaster Inversion. All in all quite a varied bunch, and while not exactly the triple-A showcase we’ve become accustomed to from previous months, there’s more than enough here to burn through your hard-earned cash. The question is what game deserves the accolade for Game of the Month?
After much chin-wagging over at PSU Towers, the staff ultimately plumped for Spec Ops: The Line, which stood out among the pack for its gripping storyline and stellar level design. Check out a snippet of Adam Dolge’s review below, and then be sure to have a gander at the full article here.
“Spec Ops: The Line is one of the most interesting military shooters we’ve played. It’s heavily story-driven and it’ll engage you through the 6-8 hour campaign. You’ll question everything at the end, including your own judgments, and you’ll no doubt feel compelled to play again—that’s always a complement for a shooter. If you go in expecting an interesting story, and lower your expectations about much of the gameplay, you’ll walk away impressed. Spec Ops: The Line deserves a top spot on your summer play list and hopefully you’ll find it just as engaging as we did.”
Don’t agree with our choice? Be sure to let us know what title you think deserved the award for PS3 Game of the Month (June 2012) in the comments section below.