Games of June 2020 – The Best Upcoming Releases
The two biggest premieres of the month are definitely The Last of Us 2 and Valorant. In June, we will also play new Desperaros, returning after many years, a remasters of Command and Conquer series and a handful of interesting independent games.
Table of Contents
After probably the leanest quarter in terms of releases in years, June will finally bring some joy to PlayStation 4 owners – The Last of Us 2 is enough to make this an exciting month. And then, users of other platforms will also have something to play. Valorant from Riot Games releases on PC, fans of classics will get the remaster of Command and Conquer and a sequel to the third part of the rusty Desperados. Then, fans of The Sims and indie games will also get a few treats.
The Last of Us 2
Release date: June 19, 2020
INFORMATION
- Genre: adventure, action
- Platform: PS4
- Estimated price: approx. $60
What is The Last of Us 2?
The last of Us: Part II is the follow-up to the Naughty Dog's 2013 smash hit, considered by many to be the greatest game by the creators of Uncharted and Crash Bandicoot, and the ultimate PlayStation 3 game. This game is created by the same team, led by Neil Druckmann, director and screenwriter of the original. The game is expected to be one of the last big hits prepared by Sony for the PlayStation 4, which has been on the market for more than six years.
What's the story in The Last of Us 2?
The action of The Last of Us: Part II revolves around Ellie, a young woman whom we protected in the original playing as Joel. The world is still in ruin as a result of the actions of a parasitic fungus that turns humans into murderous "clickers." Ellie finds refuge in a small community in Wyoming, but dramatic events drag the girl into a conflict with a deadly sect.
What's gameplay like in The Last of Us 2?
The game will follow the exact same formula as the original. This will be an action-adventure game strongly emphasizing the mature narrative. Much of the game takes place in intricate, cutting-edge cut-scenes, the locations will be elaborate, and there will be simple, logical and environmental puzzles, sneaking, and gunplay. The crafting system will return, enabling players to create and modify weapons and ammunition, using items found in the game world. When it comes to novelties, the game will feature a character progression system, and we'll be able to increase Ellie's survival prowess, stealth skills, and crafting abilities.
OUR EXPECTATIONS
A strong contestant for the game of the year. The original was phenomenal, and Naughty Dog literally haven't failed to deliver for two decades; the previews warrant no big concerns. In addition, judging by the reported content of the leaks, the game, just like the original, won't shy away from uncomfortable problems, and enacting Ellie won't always be nice. Some of the best games we've played in the past decade were those, who weren't afraid of making a statement. If The Last of Us 2 is going to be that game as well, all the better.
Mike Grygorcewicz
In preparation for this premiere, I recently played the Left Behind DLC to the first part... and I started worrying about Part II again. Oh, don't get me wrong – it's a great expansion to a great game. But it reminded me that there are things in the Last of Us that make me concerned.
Most of all, it's the "kill everyone to move on" sequences. That was something that could really rub me the wrong way in the original. First there's all the senseless killing – I know it's a brutal universe, but so was the universe of the Dishonored series, yet those games proved that even in a completely bleak reality, you do have a choice. Would it not be possible to design levels in such a way as to enable players to outmaneuver enemies, or even sneak through?
Does a strong "cinematic" experience in the conventions of action adventure really require the player to become completely genocidal? Red Dead Redemption 2 also had this issue, although – precisely because the game allowed some choice – it wasn't as flagrant. Meanwhile, there's inconspicuous games like A Way Out and A Plague Tale: Innocence, who exemplified that emphasizing "adventure" doesn't have to come at the expense of neither the action, nor the emotions.
I wish The Last of Us: Part II would follow a similar path. I have no doubt this will be one of the strongest contenders for the game of the year title. So for now, I remain mildly concerned, but I do cross my fingers for Naughty Dog's game to really be as ambitious as the creators herald. In fact, all this game has to do is avoid clichés and all sorts of dissonances (primarily the ludonarrative one), and it's probably going to set a new standard of telling stories action in video games.
Chris Mysiak
