Summer vacation will soon be here, releasing hordes of school children, teenagers, and college students on the unprepared masses.  Ice cream vendors, community pools, malls, and beaches will be overrun with these self-absorbed and all too annoying subspecies of the human race.  You may be tempted to go to the movies or even take a vacation, but it's a trap.  They'll be there, ready and waiting to drive you to the very fringe of your own insanity and reduce you to a quivering mess of frustration and cowardice.  But fear not intrepid readers, there is still hope. The slew of high-quality releases heading our way over the next few months should be able to keep us indoors and away from the slavering mouths of the well-washed masses. With that in mind we here at GameXplain would like to present the five games we're most looking forward to during the summer months.

Micah Seff, Founder

5. APB - June 29

Having had the privilege to go hands-on with APB for a few minutes at PAX East, I've got to say that I didn't really understand what the big deal was. All it felt like to me was third-person shooter featuring a smattering of preposterously scantily clad female characters, hardly the innovation it was supposed to be. Jump forward a few months, and I'm already itching to get some time with the game again at E3. The incredibly robust character creation, non-competitive social gameplay modes, in-game micro-economies, and innovative payment plan have all caught my eyes. Everything about the game sounds pretty cool, but I'm just not 100% sold on the core shooting mechanics yet. If that side of the game can shape up to be all it's cracked up to be, we should have a serious winner on our hands.

4. Sin & Punishment 2 - June 27

I never got the chance to play the precursor to this game on the N64. Years later, when it came out on the Virtual Console, I snagged it, but was ultimately let down by the control set-up, which marred an otherwise great experience. Flash forward to GDC 2010 when I got to play the Wii-bound sequel for the first time, and you can say that I was a little more than impressed. This game seems to be the perfect 3D distillation of everything that Treasure does so well: Fast-paced action, precise controls, immaculate art design, and wave after beautiful wave of bullets to dodge. I've been foaming at the mouth for this one for a while now and my frothing demand is now increasing.

3. Puzzle Quest 2 - June 22

If you ran into me a few years back, you'd think that the only game I played was Puzzle Quest. I couldn't get enough of the addictive mixture of simplistic casual puzzle solving, and traditional RPG stat management. I'd spend hours sitting at my desk blasting gems with no thought of the outside world. I got the opportunity to try out this Xbox Live Arcade and DS sequel at PAX, but actually declined the offer. I wanted to watch my friend play instead so that I could focus on the publisher while he explained the ins and outs of this title. From what I could tell, the new classes, special items, Diablo-esque visual style, and Western dungeon-crawler vibe will all make for welcome additions to this title. It's gonna be amazing.

2. Metroid Other M - August 31

Metroid is my favorite game series. I just can't get enough of the somewhat open-ended, steadily ramping, exploratory gameplay that the series has to offer. I'd say that Metroid Prime is my second favorite game of all time. Even still, I've been getting fairly tired of Retro's approach to the franchise. Because of this, I was incredibly psyched when Nintendo announced last E3 that it would be teaming up with Team Ninja for the next entry in the series. I love the Ninja Gaiden games, and I've had a passing fancy for the Dead or Alive series every now and then. I am somewhat worried about the control schene for this game, especially since it would have made so much sense to just go Wiimote + Nunchuck on this one and let players actually blast their way through the environments. Still, I have faith that we're going to be getting possibly the most adrenaline-packed Metroid title yet, and it's something that I actually welcome. As long as I can still earn progressively more interesting powers that allow me to approach the environment in new ways while I explore abandoned alien planets I think I'll be happy.

1. Mean Girls - June 22

I haven't touched a DS game for almost two years now. After being unable to finish a DS game for the umpteenth time, I swore off the device and haven't looked back. That is, until I heard the news. Now that Cady Heron, Regina George, and the rest of The Plastics are making their way onto tthe DS, I think it's time for me to get reacquianted with the machine. Even though they snubbed Lindsay Lohan by copping her out of the boxart, I'll forgive them once I get my hands on this little gem. I'll be able to spend some quality time drinking mimosas with the girls, then get started trying to make "fetch" happen.

Andre Segers, Founder

5. Sorry, only four games I'm looking forward to this summer!

4. Sin & Punishment 2  - June 27

I was only able to watch Micah play this for a few minutes at this year's GDC, but I'm looking forward to playing a Wii-shooter designed from the ground-up with pointer controls in mind. It actually reminded me a bit of Star Fox 64, a game I adored, so if it comes anywhere close to matching that, I'll be very happy.

3. Hydro Thunder Hurricane - Summer TBA

I am a gigantic fan of the original arcade version Hydro Thunder, even going so far as to buy the Dreamcast version--even if the lack of rumbling seat and throttle took away some of the thrill. So I was stoked when I had the chance to play its sequel at PAX this year, this time with all new tracks and gameplay additions. My short time with the game left me wanting more, but unfortunately, they haven't nailed down a specific release date yet--here's hoping it comes out soon!

2. Crackdown 2  - July 6th

The first Crackdown was, if not a great game, surprisingly enjoyable. Sure, I generally have an ax to grind against open-world games, but Crackdown smartly decided to eschew story and narrative in favor of a pure gameplay experience that I rather enjoyed. And while Crackdown 2 may take place in the same city, and looks to be largely identically, I'm still curious to give it a shot!

1. Metroid: Other M - August 31

Believe it or not, I have never finished a 2D Metroid. I know, that's sacrilege in some sectors, but I never was able to get into them--even Super Metroid always bored me just a few hours in. But it wasn't for lack of trying--I really wanted to like those games. Despite this, I have played and loved all three of the Metroid Prime games. I replayed the first one recently and it's still brilliant, especially with the original control scheme. And they're probably among my favorite games I've ever played--the first one especially. So when Metroid: Other M was unveiled, with its mix of side-scrolling and first-person gameplay, I was instantly intrigued. The visuals look fantastic and the action fast-paced--in short, it looks like it might be near impossible to become bored while playing this game. Granted, it's very possible that the final product may still disappoint, but it's certainly the one I'm also most curious about.

Eduardo Vasconcellos, Managing Director & Publisher

5. Puzzle Quest 2 -June 22nd

I'm a big fan of the original Puzzle Quest and I can't wait for the second one. Granted, I didn't much care for Galactrix, but everything I love about Puzzle Quest is making a return for the proper sequel, and along with that, some interesting refinements have also been made, creating something I'm definitely keeping an eye on.

4. Mega Man Zero Collection - June 8th

I've always loved the Mega Man Zero series from the get-go. I just thought it was an interesting take on the series, starring one of my favorite game characters and allowed players to use a mix of sword and gunplay, it quickly became something I was sure to play. The fact that you can now simply buy the entire series for the DS in a convenient bundle is hugely appealing.

3. Transformers: War For Cybertron - June 22nd

Where to begin? The ability to transform from a giant robot into a vehicle is always something that captures my curiosity, and add the fact that a lot of these robots are extremely cool characters and the Transformers is a series that I've loved since I was just a boy, you'll find something that I'm extremely interested in. Say what you will about last year's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, but the multiplayer game was rock solid. If the minds behind War for Cybertron can get that sort of balance down, they'll have something special on their hands. The multiplayer is looking awesome for the new game, but when you look at the story mode, there seems to be a lot of interesting things going on. You'll get to duke it out on the transformer home world and get a new look at how and why these characters became who we're so familiar with.

2. Crackdown 2 - July 6th

Crackdown is one of my favorite games on the Xbox 360, period. Crackdown 2 has a lot to live up to. As a super-powered cop maintaining order in a corrupt city, we were treated to some absurd, over-the-top action making for an unabashedly fun experience. The guns, the explosions, the super powers, the Robocop-esque city and story line, and, of course, the power orbs, all meshed into one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences in years. For Crackdown 2, Ruffian Games is taking the reigns from Realtime Worlds, and that's a cause for concern in my eyes, but at the same time, I'm cautiously optimistic about what's in store.

1. StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty - July 27

Do I really need to explain this one? It's a Blizzard game ferchrissakes! It provides some of the best RTS gameplay in existence, and delivers a compelling story to boot. Hell, the story's so big that Blizzard decided to split the game into three volumes, and from what I've seen, this installment to the StarCraft series is going to be epic. Oh, right. I was just told there's a multiplayer mode on this game too? I think some people are interested in that as well.

Derrick Bitner, Contributor

5. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies - July 11

I've always been more of a Final Fantasy fan than a Dragon Quest one.  In fact, the first Dragon Quest I ever played was Dragon Quest VIII on the Playstation 2.  I enjoyed the game and how it stuck so closely to traditional Japanese RPGs.  Dragon Quest IX is all about change.  It's the first time a numbered sequel has premiered on a handheld and it's the first time multiplayer has ever been introduced to the main series.  Developed by the brilliant minds at Level-5 once again, everything about the game has been tailored toward multiplayer.  Every character in a player's party can be customized from their sex and hair color to their skin tone and battle class.  Dragon Quest IX is also supposed to be the hardest game in the series, which, if you've played any of the previous games, know that is saying something.  The story promises to be intriguing as the main character starts as an angel about to enter God's Land but falls to the earth below when everything is attacked by a mysterious force.  Now mortal, the protagonist has to find a way to stop the force and return to the angel land.  Though Dragon Quest IX lacks online multiplayer, I still can't wait to see how much the game has evolved this July.

4. Singularity - June 29

Singularity's concept holds enormous potential.  It's been done before but never with this much flair.  For those who are not familiar with it, Singularity is a first person shooter developed by Raven Software whose previous game was the surprisingly good X-Men Origins: Wolverine.  The player is equipped with a Time Manipulation Device that comes equipped with five different features and can be used for both puzzle solving and taking out enemies.  The main powers including stopping objects in time, aging them, or reverting them to a previous age.  More are promised to be included but just seeing those in action are impressive to watch and hold a wide variety of strategies.  Unlike most first person shooters, Singularity won't have recharging health opting instead for a life bar.  It's an interesting choice and one that will likely slow down players who love to rush ahead into battle.  The story centers around the island of Katorga-12 where Russian scientists conducted experiments on element E99 in the 1950s.  An event known as Singularity occurred causing the island to constantly shift between the past and present.  As Air Force pilot Nate Renko, players are tasked with escaping the island after crashing on it and preventing the Singularity from taking place.  I'm a sucker for a good time travel plot and the gameplay looks different enough from the typical FPS that I can't wait to play it.

 3. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor - June 27

I'm not the biggest fan of shooters but even  I recognize that the minds at Treasure are very special.  They have the unique talent of making consistently fun experiences while throwing everything and anything at players.  The first Sin & Punishment never came to the US until its release on the Virtual Console.  While the plot made no sense whatever, the game did a great job of gradually introducing more difficult stages.  I would get stuck and I would die a lot but I never grew frustrated.  The only thing I hated was the controls which were just plain awkward on the Classic Controller.  That promises to change with Star Successor as it comes loaded with multiple control options.  Two new characters are also available: Isa, who comes equipped with a jetpack and a smart bomb-styled charge shot, and Kachi, who rides a hoverboard and a lock-on charge shot.  The two also have a dodge maneuver and a melee attack.  It's unlikely that Star Successor will be a long game, but I honestly don't care as long it lives up to the standards that Treasure has set for itself.

2.  Dead Rising 2 - August 31

I never played the original Dead Rising, but I've always wanted to.  The massive hordes of zombies, the endless supply of weapons, and the tongue in cheek humor all seemed like fun.  I refuse to miss out on Dead Rising 2.  Though it features a brand new main character, the game seems like it will take the concept of the first to a whole new level.  Gone is the photography aspect of the original, replaced by the ability to build custom weapons.  Some include the Hail Mary, a hand grenade strapped to a football, the Paddlesaw, chainsaws duct taped to a kayak paddle, and the Freedom Bear, a giant stuffed bear with a machine gun that acts like a turret.  Dead Rising 2 is adding multiplayer as well.  In co-op mode, players fight together through the zombie horde but can divide and conquer at any time.  Details on the competitive multiplayer are slim but it's said that it will be like a zombie version of American Gladiators where players compete for kills.  I don't think Dead Rising 2 will be the best game ever, but I do think it will definitely provide some mindless action and creative fun when killing zombies.

1. Metroid: Other M - August 31

I absolutely love Metroid, but I'm not exactly the biggest fan of Team Ninja.  Because of that, I'm not sure how I feel about Other M.  I'm excited, there's no doubt about that; I'm just not sure of Team Ninja's influences.   From everything I've seen, it is Metroid through and through only with a larger emphasis on story which is something that I'm personally thrilled about.  The story is set between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion with Samus still haunted by the final battle against Mother Brain.  Despite this, she doesn't hesitate to answer a distress call from a dormant ship and soon runs into people she once knew from her time in the Galactic Federation Army.  Not much is known beyond that but the game is a return to the third person style of her original adventures.  She's controlled by holding the remote horizontally and at any time can switch to first person by pointing the remote at the sensor bar.  Samus cannot move in this state but is able to look around and fire her missiles.  Though everything shown so far has been focused on action sequences, the developers promise that there will be just as much exploration as previous games.  If everything comes together this could be an utterly fantastic game and, despite my misgivings on Team Ninja, I cannot wait to get my hands on it this summer.