PTOM loves shooters, but lately we’ve been yearning for games that go beyond the standard battlefield blastfest. From its unique cel-shaded look to its insane weapons customization to its RPG-esque gameplay elements, our cover-story game, Borderlands 2, looks set to deliver that “next step” experience in spades. Join us as we visit developer Gearbox Software for the inside scoop on the game that’s aiming to redefine shooter-genre expectations.

Our second game feature this month may, perhaps, be even more revolutionary. Dust 514 brings PlayStation players into the immersive world of PC MMO EVE Online. It’s a fascinating concept that has PS3 gamers doing the fighting for, and interacting with, PC gamers as they go about their machinations in their perpetual online universe.

We’ve also got early info on Lost Planet 3 and the coming-to-PS3 franchise debut of Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. Our big previews include The Amazing Spider-Man and Aliens: Colonial Marines, with updates on Far Cry 3 and the ever more compelling Dishonored. Personally, I’m pretty excited about LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes and its new open-world Gotham City—it’s just the shot in the arm that the franchise needs. And finally, on the portable front, we break down the next 22 PS Vita games that will shape the handheld’s future.

PS Vita also makes its presence felt in this month’s reviews with JRPG Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention, MLB 12: The Show, and extreme brawler Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted, while standout PSN reviews include 2D fighter Skullgirls and survival adventure I Am Alive. And while it’s a slow month for boxed PS3 games, don’t miss our final verdicts on Yakuza: Dead Souls, Birds of Steel, and Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat.

It’s all in the June issue of PTOM, now available on newsstands.