Opinion: Summer- A Five Game Survival Guide

Our top picks for the video games that will make this Summer a (bearable) hit!
As per usual, where the movie industry booms with the Summer Of Film in the next season, the realm of video gaming is going to be left somewhat for want in the Summer months. All's not lost, though, because in this writer's opinion there are still a few cracking releases on their way to stores between now and July. Once we reach August, the big days of the Autumn Of Gaming get underway with titles such as Disney Infinity, Grand Theft Auto V, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Call Of Duty: Ghosts and Watch Dogs for starters coming in the end of the year, but until then, avid gamers will want to keep a watch on these five releases...
BIOSHOCK- What, I hear you ask? Blasphemy! How can a video game that's not due for release in the next few months make this list? Well, quite frankly, in the next seven days you'll have the chance to realise BioShock: Infinite is one of 2013's greatest games, but you can't do better than learning where the whole franchise started. BioShock revolutioned the FPS genre back in 2007, and having only played it for the first time myself recently, I can confirm that its literary-rivalling narrative and diverse innovative gameplay demand your time no matter what period of the year it is. (Out Now)

INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US- In essence, April's only big video gaming release, Injustice: Gods Among Us is looking like an incredibly hot prospect. Its storyline focuses on a DC Universe in absolute anarchy, where Superman has accidentally killed Lois Lane and his own child, Batman has sent The Joker into total insanity and Metropolis stands on the brink of ruin. The solution? Choose your favourite DC heroes and take the battle to the streets and skies in what could be 2013's best fighter! (April 19th)

STAR TREK- Just thirteen days before Star Trek Into Darkness launches into the UK, this tie-in game from Namco Bandai bridges the events of the 2009 reboot with this Summer's enticing follow-up. With the Gorn returning to the realms of the ordinary universe, the crew of the Enterprise must fight for the safety of their entire galaxy via innovative shooter and vehicular gameplay...(April 26th)

DEADPOOL- We haven't got a concrete date for this one, yet Marvel's latest adaptation of the Deadpool graphic novel saga into video game form looks like an absolute must-have. Nolan North's version of the character is just as much of a wise-cracker and fourth wall-breaker as the comic book character ever has been, and the shooting and platforming mechanics look a bunch of fun to play with. (June TBC)

THE LAST OF US- Perhaps Sony's biggest exclusive of 2013 before Infamous: Second Son and Killzone: Shadow Fall arrive on the PlayStation 4, The Last Of Us is the latest instalment from hit Uncharted developer Naughty Dog. Perhaps it could be a Game Of The Year contender, perhaps not- either way, discovering the truth on the matter should be one of the most exhilarating experiences of this year in gaming. (June 14th)