Season 4 is ending in Destiny 2, and that means that this is your last week to visit Xur before the Season of the Forge begins. As always with his weekend visits, Xur brings a batch of Year One Exotic weapons and armor that can help you fill out your collections--but it's possible his goods could change after November 27, so you best take advantage while you can.
You'll find Xur this week in the EDZ of Earth, in the area called Winding Cove. To get to him, spawn into the area, hop on your sparrow, and drive north. You'll soon find some Fallen enemies and a cliff ascending upward. Xur is at the top, hanging out beneath a crashed Fallen ship.
Xur's bag of Exotics, as usual, totes one weapon and one piece of armor for each of the three classes, specifically from Destiny 2's Year One collection. Your weapon selection this week is Suros Regime, an auto rifle that's all about sustained fire. Its Suros Legacy perk encourages you to hit enemies with an entire magazine rather than reload--you'll get bonus damage for hitting with bullets from the bottom half of the mag, and killing enemies with those bullets has a chance of returning health to you.
On the armor side, Warlocks get the Karnstein Armlets, gauntlets built for melee that give you health bursts on kills, plus a short period of health restoration. For Hunters, there's the Wormhusk Crown helmet, which gives you a little health and shield bump every time you pull off a dodge. Finally, there's Armamentarium for Titans, a chest piece that comes with a second grenade charge.
Suros Regime (Exotic auto rifle) -- 29 Legendary Shards
Alongside the items above, which you can purchase directly, you can also shell out Legendary shards for Xur's Fated Engram. This engram is guaranteed to decrypt into a Year One Exotic you don't already own, making it a good way to fill out your collection if you find Xur's offerings lacking--provided you can afford it. Make sure you buy it on the character whose class you want the Exotic to match.
As you finish up Season 4 and get ready for the Black Armory expansion, don't forget to track down another Exotic that's just been added to the game: Thunderlord. The three-week quest that came with the Festival of the Lost is at an end, and you can do all of it pretty quickly--check out our guide for more details.
Is it just me, or are the Black Friday video game deals better this year? Maybe it's just because the consoles are now a year older, so it makes sense that prices would be lower. In any case, Google Express (US only) is currently running a promotion that gets you some of the lowest prices we've ever seen on PS4 Pro, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One X and S consoles.
All you have to do is visit the Google Express Black Friday page and scroll down until you find the console you want. Click to add it to your cart and enter promo code BF18 at checkout. That gets you 20% off prices that, in many cases, are already deeply discounted.
And while we haven't seen many PS4 Pro discounts this Black Friday, you can use the promo code to knock 20% off the standard retailer price ($400) of a PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB, bringing it down to $320. The same goes for a Nintendo Switch; while most competing deals today will get you a Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $300, this deal gets you a Switch (with no pack-in game) for $240.
Just make sure you remember to use promo code BF18 at checkout, or you'll end up paying more than you have to. And who wants to do that?
GameStop is one of the biggest video game retailers in the US, but it isn't the only store selling games, consoles, and accessories at attractive discounts during Black Friday 2018. The annual shopping event is finally here, so shoppers are flocking to big retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy, or taking advantage of direct sales through platforms like PSN, Xbox Live, and the Switch Eshop. A lot of the deals are pretty competitive, but depending on what you're after, GameStop could have a deal or two for you consider first.
Members of GameStop's PowerUp Rewards program that purchase any item between Nov. 22 and Nov. 25 will also be treated to a buy-two-get-one-free coupon that goes live on Dec. 3. If you get one, act fast: it only lasts until Dec. 9.
If, however, you are looking for slightly older used games, you can take advantage of a similar deal between Nov. 22 and Nov. 25. During that time, all pre-owned Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, Wii U, and Vita games will qualify for a buy-two-get-one deal.
And lastly, a deal that no other retailer is close to matching: GameStop will mail a rebate in the form of a $70 pre-paid Visa card to anyone who purchases a used 4GB Xbox 360 Slim console from a retail GameStop location on Nov. 22 or 23, completely covering the sales price. This practically-free Xbox 360 deal is only good while supplies last!
$200 Console Bundles ($100 off!)
If you're in the market for a new console and don't feel that you need the added power of a PlayStation 4 Pro or an Xbox One X, GameStop has a good deal for interested PS4 Slim and Xbox One shoppers.
One of the best-received games this year was Marvel's Spider-Man. It's also exclusive to Sony's console, and is part of GameStop's $200 PlayStation 4 Slim bundle on Black Friday.
If you're after an Xbox One, you can pick up the S model with a copy of Minecraft, also for $200.
$50 - Gift Card With Any Xbox One, PS4, or Switch Purchase (Excluding $200 Bundles)
This deal is pretty straightforward, but be sure to read the fine print! For everyone who purchases an Xbox One, PS4, or Switch during Black Friday, except for the bundles on the previous slide, they will receive a $50 GameStop gift card that can be applied to future purchases.
Virtual-reality gaming is still a budding market, but if you're ready to take the plunge and are considering the PlayStation VR lineup, Black Friday may be the best time to pick up a PSVR headset. GameStop will be discounting $100 off of every new PSVR headset purchase, including the bundle with Superhot VR, Creed: Rise To Glory, and two PS Move controllers (down to $250).
Controllers are a fact of console-gaming life, and they just seem to get more and more expensive with each passing generation. So when you get the chance to pick up the DualShock 4 you've needed for a while for only $39, you get your butt out there and you buy that fancy controller!
The discount on DualShock controllers is nice and easy--it applies to every DualShock 4--but if you need a new Xbox One controller, your color-scheme preference will determine how much of a discount you get. The basic black and white models are being sold for $40 (down from $60), while specialized versions can be had for $10-$15 off the standard asking price.
Buy at GameStop: Only available in-store
Call of Duty is a hot commodity every year. Some people come for the single-player campaign, but Black Ops 4 is a purely multiplayer experience. In place of the over-the-top story mode--and adjacent to the traditional PvP and Zombies multiplayer modes--a new battle royale competition has been introduced. It's not surprising to see that happen, but it is reassuring to see how smoothly Call of Duty's tried-and-true DNA translated to the new style of play. At $38, GameStop will be the cheapest place to buy the game when it goes on sale this Black Friday--you'll just have to buy it at a physical retail location to get the discount.
Well, at this point, it looks like GameStop will be the only store selling Fallout 76 at a discount--and a hefty one at that. The game just came out, but you can already buy it later this week for only $40--$20 off retail. And if you're after the Tricentennial Edition, that is also discounted by $20, down to $60.
27 is an oddly specific number, but throw a dollar sign in front of it and that's what you can expect to see on the price tag of some of this year's biggest sports titles at GameStop during Black Friday. FIFA 19, Madden 19, NBA 2K19, and WWE 2K19 will all be on sale for $27 while supplies last.
There's never been a game quite like Horizon Zero Dawn, and to be able to pick it up with all of its DLC for only $10 is an awesome opportunity. With robotic dinosaurs and other types of monstrous creatures roaming a world on the verge of post-apocalyptic recovery, you have little more than primitive weapons, quick wits, and modest acrobatics with which to fight back. The odds will feel stacked against you, but that only makes victory over the vicious alloy beasts all the sweeter. If you were swept up with anticipation for Breath of the Wild and somehow missed Horizon Zero Dawn back then, consider giving it a shot now that its being sold at such a ridiculously low price.
While we're recommending PlayStation 4 exclusives on sale at GameStop this Black Friday, this year's excellent God of War reboot will be marked down to $17--another doorbuster deal worth considering. Santa Monica Studios took an aging series and revitalized it with a fresh spin on the lead character Kratos, and a new setting and set of gods to contend with. Beyond being a solid reboot, however, it's simply a remarkable game in general. The action is hard-hitting, sights from picturesque to grotesque are rendered in great detail, and the relationship between a father and son that forms the backbone of the moment-to-moment narrative successfully draws you into the plight that lies ahead of our heroes.
Take-Two teased a stealth spy game called Agent as far back as 2007, but after multiple delays and only the faintest hint of updates over the last decade it appeared the project was dead. Now a trademark update seems to confirm that Agent has been permanently taken out of the field.
A status update to the trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office marks the trademark as abandoned as of November 19, 2018. The status field states plainly, "Abandoned because no Statement of Use or Extension Request timely filed after Notice of Allowance was issued."
So after being alerted to the expiration, Take-Two chose to quietly let it go. That's as strong an indication as we've seen that the game is truly gone. However, it could also be that Take-Two is planning to rebrand with a different name, or implement some of its stealth-spy mechanics elsewhere. Based on the long period of silence we've had, it's likely the project is simply no longer in active production.
With Black Friday 2018 now finally upon us, some great discounts are starting to emerge on video games and consoles. One such deal has gone live at Amazon UK, though you'll have to be quick.
The retail giant is offering an Xbox One X bundle, including Fallout 76 and Red Dead Redemption 2, for just £380. Given the Xbox One X's RRP is £450 by itself, that's not a bad deal at all. Be quick, though: the deal is limited in stock. Alternatively, you can sub out RDR2 for Forza Horizon 4 and FIFA 19 for an added £20, though that bundle isn't back in stock until December 3.
If you're after the cheapest possible price for an Xbox One X, however, you're better off going elsewhere. The best price we've seen is at John Lewis, which is selling the powerful console in a bundle with Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Motorsport 7 for £360.
The Xbox One X is the latest console released by Microsoft, and the most powerful member of the Xbox One family of devices. For more, check out our comprehensive Xbox One X review, written upon the console's release in November 2017. If you're undecided which console to get, Sony has discounted PS4s heavily this Black Friday. Take a look at the best UK PS4 console deals for the best deals we've spotted.
For obvious reasons, most retailers have been focusing their advertising efforts on Black Friday in recent weeks. But don't let the big post-Thanksgiving shopping day overshadow the online shopping day that's coming right up. November 26 is Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year. To encourage customers to come back to retail websites with credit cards in hand, Walmart has announced several of its upcoming Cyber Monday deals already.
The deals will go live at 12 AM ET on November 26 (9 PM PT November 25). Walmart says it will have "thousands more deals" this year than it's had on Cyber Mondays in the past. It also promises stock will be more plentiful, so customers will be more likely to get the deals they want when they click on them.
Also new this year is Walmart.com's deal hub, which offers a curated list of the top discounted items across a number of product categories--including video games and media. We still don't know all of the deals Walmart will offer on Cyber Monday--we'll have to wait until the big day for that--but the company has released the following list of some of the best sale prices that will be on offer.
Black Friday is here, and the deals are raining down upon consumers. The annual day after Thanksgiving holiday offers up deep discounts on assorted items from numerous retailers. And if you're the type of person in the market for new movies, there are plenty of deals you'll want to check out.
The best part about most of these Black Friday movie deals is that the majority of the physical discs--primarily Blu-ray and 4K--come with digital copy codes. So you'll be buying these movies cheaper than you can get them through a service like Google Play, iTunes, or Vudu, and a physical copy comes with it.
There are quite a few sales to keep you eyes on, including Barnes and Noble's sale on 50% off of Criterion Collection Blu-rays. The only Criterion movies shown in the circular were Ingmar Bergman's Cinema, The Tree of Life, and The Princess Bride, but more will be on sale.
Best Buy has a long list of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K movies on sale during the event. You can pick up either of the Super Troopers movies on Blu-ray for $4 each or movies from this past year for cheap: Avengers: Infinity War ($7), Black Panther ($7), Sicario: Day of the Soldado ($6), or Game Night ($8). The best movie deals to come to Best Buy are Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes 1-6) for $20 and The Godfather Collection for $10.
Every store has different operating hours during Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the weekend following the holiday, so take a look at our store hours guide, and make sure to check with your local retailers as store hours may vary.
Below you'll find a list of all the movie sales from retailers during Black Friday. Many of these stores don't have all its discounted movies listed on the various sites, but more will be added to the Black Friday sales. However, don't expect any huge surprises as these retailers want to put its best deals in the circulars to get you in the stores.
Black Friday 2018 is finally upon us, bringing with it heaps of savings and eager consumers. For those looking to buy a PlayStation 4 this year, Sony potentially has some good news for you. The platform holder has discounted its PS4 consoles and bundles--as well as some of its games--meaning now could be a good time to pick one up.
Prices for the basic PS4 bundles--which contain the 500 GB Slim console plus your choice of FIFA 19, Red Dead Redemption 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, or Spider-Man--have dropped to £220 for Black Friday. Alternatively, you can get a 1 TB Slim plus FIFA 19 for £270. PS4 Pro consoles have also dropped in price to £330, including your choice of FIFA 19, Red Dead Redemption 2, or Spider-Man.
For those who already own a PS4, there are some decent discounts to be found on games and accessories around the high street. The official Platinum headset is down to £100, for example, while you can grab a DualShock 4 controller for just £35. Alternatively, grab a controller and FIFA 19 for £60.
All these price cuts are official promotions from Sony and will be reflected at participating retailers until December 2 at 11:59 PM or until stocks last. The deals are in addition to Sony's digital sale, which allows you to grab a bunch of different PS4 games for a lower-than-usual price. For example, football lovers can pick up FIFA 19 for just £34.19 on the PlayStation Store, while shooter fans can get Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 for £42. PlayStation Plus subscriptions are also discounted at £40 for 12 months--a saving of 20%. For more on UK price promotions, check out our coverage of Amazon UK or Game's Black Friday sales.
Black Friday 2018 is trucking along, and if you've had your eye on the recent God of War reboot for PlayStation 4, it has something good in store for you: Amazon is selling the game for just $17. Ordinarily, God of War would retail for $40, which means you're saving yourself a cool $23--enough to buy another game in a Black Friday sale. [Update] This deal at Amazon is no longer available. However, Walmart has the game for $25, which is still a hefty discount off the standard price.
Developed by Sony Santa Monica, God of War takes place many years after the original series that began on PlayStation 2. Serving as a reboot of sorts, it reconnects players with a Kratos that has changed in many profound ways. The Spartan warrior has put his god slaying days behind him and is now raising a son. However, the consequences of his past begin to catch up with him, and Kratos must deal with these while ensuring his son doesn't follow in his footsteps.
In GameSpot's God of War review, Peter Brown awarded the game a 9/10. "[God of War is] a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress," he said.
"What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come."
Naturally, God of War is a hot property this Black Friday, so numerous retailers are offering discounts on the title. While none come close to the price Amazon is currently offering it, there are options to save money at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and the PlayStation Store. Check out our full God of War Black Friday deals roundup for more on those. For a broader look at what's on offer during Black Friday, the list below is handy on zeroing in on the deals you're after.
There are a whole lot of deals on video games this Black Friday, and if you've been thinking about hopping on one of Ubisoft's newer games, now would be a good time. Uplay is having a site wide sale with the likes of Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Rainbow Six: Siege, Far Cry 5, and For Honor with deep discounts. The sale is going on right now and the deals are available across several platforms; PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 (two Nintendo Switch games are included).
It's Black Friday, which means retailers both digital and physical around the world are discounting their wares to entice people to spend some cash. Everyone is at it, from US outlets such as Walmart and Target, to UK ones like Argos and Game. Digital shopfronts including the PlayStation and Xbox Stores, as well as Nintendo's Eshop are also slashing prices. It makes sense then that Fortnite, the biggest game around right now, has something for fans to consider too.
Epic Games will be cutting 15 percent off cosmetic bundles all weekend, which means you'll be able to kit your in-game character out with outfits, Back Bling, Gliders, and Harvesting Tools for less V-Bucks than usual. Currently, the Wukong set is available for 4,080 V-Bucks, as opposed to its usual 4,800 V-Bucks asking price.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Fortnite in-game store, the selection of goods on offer refresh every day. This means that the Wukong bundle will be rotated out for a new bundle that'll also be 15 percent off. If you're keen to refresh your Fortnite wardrobe, it's worth keeping a close eye on the store. Or you can just wait for an update from us on what's new.
Of course, another good way to get yourself fresh cosmetics is to complete the weekly challenges. We're currently in Fortnite Season 6, Week 9, which means there's just one more week left to make the most of the season's Battle Pass and unlock all its goodies. Week 9's challenges have been revealed and among them there's one that takes a little extra time investment, but we've put together a guide on the Carnival Clown Board locations to speed up the process.
If you have outstanding challenges from previous weeks, time is running for you to complete them. We've got a comprehensive Fortnite Season 6 challenge guide that breaks down how to do all the difficult challenges from each week. Use that and you'll be done in no time. And when you are done, you'll have plenty of Battle Stars, an upgraded Battle Pass, and a good selection of cosmetics to your name.
Those looking for more Black Friday discounts have plenty of options. Below you'll find a list of our Black Friday guides, with some focusing on specific retailers, while others offer the best deals for particular platforms.
By Anonymous on Nov 23, 2018 02:30 pm (Presented by Battlefield V) Understanding Battlefield V's Combat Roles is only half of the battle. Let walking Battlefield encyclopedia Stodeh offer his recommendations for optimal weapon and gadget loadouts across the Assault and Medic classes to give you the edge in the theatre of war.
Total War Arena, a free-to-play, more accessible take on the RTS series that never left beta, is shutting down. In a forum post, developer Creative Assembly announced that the game is closing its servers on February 22, 2019 because the game's open beta didn't live up to expectations.
"Unfortunately the results of Arena open beta test did not meet all our expectations," Creative Assembly communications representative Joshua Williams said. "I would like to take a moment to thank the Arena Team, who have poured their heart and soul into this game's development and are just as disappointed by this as you."
Creative Assembly will continue to work on the Total War franchise, Williams confirmed, and those who worked on Arena will take the "experience and learnings" with the them. The "technical advancements" that Arena delivered will remain a part of the Total War series going forward.
"To you, the players and community, I have been inspired by your passion, your commitment and your continued valuable insight," Williams said. "Your input and encouragement have been instrumental to the game's development. I cannot emphasize enough how much we have enjoyed working and playing with you all, and I know that we will greatly miss speaking with you online, debating your feedback, and fighting alongside you on the battlefield."
Everyone who played Total War Arena through publisher Wargaming's Game Center platform can claim free DLC for a previous Total War game of their choosing. Your choices include:
Total War: Medieval II - Definitive Edition
Hannibal at the Gates (Total War: Rome II DLC)
Age of Charlemagne (Total War: Atilla DLC)
Grim and the Grave (Total War: Warhammer DLC)
Microtransactions for Total War: Arena and the ability to create a new account has now been disabled. Anyone who has spent money in Total War: Arena's premium shop or purchased the starter pack before the closed beta started will get the equivalent value of any remaining currency to apply to World of Tanks, World of Warplanes, or World of Warships when the Total War Arena servers go down. Additionally, everyone who played 100 or more matches of Total War: Arena will get 30 days of premium account time for those three games.
The upcoming closure of Total War: Arena is a bummer for those hoping to see the game eventually come to console, which was apparently potentially in the cards.
Nintendo has now finally launched its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale on the Eshop. The digital sale runs between now and November 28 at 9 AM PT (12 PM ET). And while you won't find as many titles on sale on the Eshop as you will on the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live, the deals that are available tend to be on particularly fantastic games.
We'll look at the highlights of the sale in the pages ahead, but check out the full list of discounted games for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 2/3DS for even more discounts. Buying many of these Eshop games will earn you My Nintendo Gold Points, which you can use to purchase eligible digital content from the Eshop (one Gold Point equals one cent) or redeem for various rewards.
If you don't find what you're looking for in the Eshop Black Friday sale, you have plenty of other discounts to consider at other retailers. You can check out our full rundown of all the best Nintendo Switch Black Friday deals, which covers games, accessories, and hardware. Or, if you're looking to buy a gift this holiday season for the Nintendo fan in your life, you can take a peek at our Switch game gift guide and our Switch accessory gift guide.
Also be sure to check out the rest of our Black Friday roundups. We have links to all the best deals on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, as well as on TVs, movies, and a whole lot more. Let's start saving some money.
Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.
Celeste
In our 9/10 Celeste review, Oscar Dayus wrote, "It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain."
In our 6/10 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy review, Peter Brown wrote, " It's easy to imagine how a dyed-in-the-wool Crash fan will fall in love all over again via the N. Sane Trilogy, but if you're experiencing Crash for the first time--or the first time in a while--it might pain you to realize that Crash's original adventures aren't as inventive or surprising as they were 20 years ago."
In our 9/10 Dead Cells review, Daniel Starkey wrote, "Dead Cells is a phenomenal effort to blend together some very disparate genres into a tight, cohesive whole. It's one of the better examples of how to remix ideas without losing their individual strengths."
In our 7/10 Doom review for Nintendo Switch Peter Brown wrote, "If you can stand to look at a lesser version of Doom's once captivating world, you'll find that the game plays well enough on Switch so long as you've got a TV in front of you and a Pro Controller in hand. There's nothing else like it on a portable system, but be prepared to face a handful of compromises, especially if you're used to playing on other platforms."
In our 8/10 Skyrim on Switch review, Kallie Plagge wrote, "The original version of Skyrim is still an immense, engrossing RPG, and the quality, number, and variety of its quests makes it as easy to become lost in its world as ever. With the addition of Zelda-themed gear that's actually useful--and the fact that you can play anywhere--the Switch version of Skyrim is a great excuse to revisit a much-loved RPG."
In our 5/10 FIFA 19 Switch review, Oscar Dayus wrote, "FIFA 19 [is] a playable, competent game of football encased in a package of outdated modes and lacking the controls and features you really want."
In our 7/10 Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD review, Justin Clark wrote, "All these things have been admirably translated, in a way far less intimidating to newcomers and logistically fascinating to veterans. You get the parts of that experience that count the most towards the narrative from Pocket Edition, and the gameplay, rudimentary it may be, has been as elegantly streamlined as possible to obtain that experience. This is still, ultimately, Final Fantasy XV, and while there's a lot of the game that you might want out of Pocket Edition, there's an argument to be made that this version of FFXV will serve you just fine."
In our 8/10 The Messenger review, Alexander Pan wrote, "The Messenger takes the best parts of the action-platformers it takes influence from and reinterprets them well. With clever writing, well-designed levels, and balanced difficulty curve, the game continuously hooks you with enticing skill-based challenges and satisfying payoffs. Your character might have an immediate imperative to delivering a world-saving scroll, but the journey there is definitely one to savor."
In our 7/10 NBA 2K19 review, Michael Higham wrote, "It's impressive that the game of basketball has translated to controllers and screens in the way it has. If you want to immerse yourself in the sport and culture, NBA 2K19 has you covered with a breadth of content. But even that has its limitations after several years of iterations. Although those willing to grind for everything will eventually get rewarded, the system of VC still comes off as exploitative. But there's a lot of fun to be had in NBA 2K19 despite its flaws, especially if you have a strong love for the sport."
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove includes the core game, plus three expansions, two of which are already available, with the third scheduled to release in 2019. In our 7/10 Shovel Knight review, Tom McShea wrote, "No matter which era it had been released in, Shovel Knight would have been embraced. Its inherent charms are timeless. Shovel Knight is a good reminder that game design does age but can never die and that simple mechanics can still be immensely satisfying."
In our 9/10 Sonic Mania review, Matt Espinelli wrote, "Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made."
In our 7/10 South Park: The Stick of Truth review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, "South Park: The Stick of Truth is not the second coming of role-playing games, so if you come seeking Jesus, you'll be disappointed by the veritable second-rate televangelist you find in His place. But it's as funny as the merry tune of Stratford, and more enjoyable than Butters' favorite game, Hello Kitty: Island Adventure."
In our 9/10 Thumper review, Peter Brown wrote, "It sounds odd to claim that a lack of consistently original music wouldn't be a major problem for a rhythm game, but music isn't the point. Thumper thrives due to the way it marries speed, simple controls, and mesmerizing atmosphere. It's far more convincing in VR, where you're enveloped in the game's space and free of distractions from the outside world, but it shouldn't be ignored by those without the appropriate hardware. Thumper, no matter how you play it, is too good to miss."
In our 9/10 Undertale review, Tyler Hicks wrote, "Without spoiling the many ways it will screw with your expectations, it isn't possible to truly capture how wonderful Undertale is. You wouldn't know it with a passing glance, but it's one of the most progressive and innovative RPGs to come in a long time, breaking down tradition for the sake of invention, with great success."
In our 8/10 Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus review, Kallie Plagge wrote, "As long as you're able to play the entire game in docked mode, The New Colossus is the same fantastic game it is on other platforms. It runs well and, despite some minor visual compromises, it still looks pretty good. Handheld mode is unfortunately far less optimized, and the Joy-Cons simply don't feel as good to use as the Pro Controller. If Switch is your only way to play it, The New Colossus is absolutely worth your time--just not on the go."
Best Steam "Autumn Sale" Black Friday 2018 Game Deals
It's not an official Black Friday sale, but who cares. Steam has launched its annual Autumn Sale, which serves as the equivalent of the digital storefront's sale for Black Friday. Steam operator Valve is known for offering games at a discount for most of the year round, so it takes the annual shopping event as an opportunity to dig even deeper than usual. As a result there are plenty of sales to be had.
The Autumn Sale lasts through November 27 at 10 AM PT. Alongside some of the software listed below, Steam is also offering discounts on its own hardware, like 30% off a Steam Controller, or the soon to be hard-to-find Steam Link for $2.50. In some cases you may be better off using a third-party that distributes Steam codes like Fanatical, so be sure to comparison shop even when the bargains look great.
Alongside the Steam Autumn Sale, the company is hosting the Steam Awards. These user-voted awards are giving accolades for some expected categories like Game of the Year and VR Game of the Year, along with more esoteric categories like The Labor of Love Award and the Best Alternate History Award. Participating by casting your ballot can earn you XP and badges on your Steam profile.
Check out below for a selection of some of our favorite games discounted in the Steam Autumn Sale, and plan your purchases accordingly.
Valkyria Chronicles has had its ups and downs as a series, but this latest entry is a return to form. The strategy series follows a loose retelling of World War 2 as a dreadful fascistic army ruthlessly takes over lands. This being an RPG, of course, the telling is supplemented by magical elements, but Valkyria Chronicles was first and foremost memorable for its strong characters and surprising themes. Valkyria Chronicles 4 takes the series to a new theater of war and adds some new mechanics, but it ultimately keeps all the systems in place that made the original a cult classic.
The long-running Yakuza series is known for its juxtaposition of a serious story and wacky side activity hijinks, and Yakuza 0 makes for a perfect entry point. Set years before previous entries, this serves as a fine introduction to Kiryu and company. While its combat system is fairly basic, it's still satisfying to beat fools down with a giant motorcycle in between karaoke sessions.
You're a fragile beetle when you first start Hollow Knight and begin your descent into its massive subterranean world. As you explore, you'll find many powerful enemies, including intimidating bosses that can overtake you in just a few swipes. But if you stick with it, you'll gain all sorts of new powers and abilities, unlocking new areas, and unraveling the many mysteries of this gorgeous underground world. It's an adventure worth taking.
Crystal Dynamics' reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise has been met with quite a bit of acclaim. While Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the third post-reboot entry, stumbled a bit with fans and critics, there's still a lot to like about the game--especially at half off. An even stronger focus on exploring tombs and an emphasis on the dark and spooky dangers within means there are lots of cool depths into which to delve. New stealth mechanics make Lara Croft even deadlier and encourage new strategies. And new DLC through the season pass introduces cooperative play through some puzzle-heavy levels that shift the dynamic of the game. If you're a Tomb Raider fan, this is a great price at which to check out Shadow.
Sega's output of games starring its iconic blue hedgehog certainly hasn't slowed down in the mascot's 27-year history. Sonic has had some serious ups and downs in that time, but if you're a hardcore series fan, you're likely in it for the long haul. Luckily for you, many of the blue blur's most iconic adventures and spin-offs are on sale, so if you've been holding off on grabbing certain entries you might've missed, now's your chance.
If you've yet to play any Sonic games, the original Sega Genesis trilogy and the Sonic Adventure games are each priced below $5. You can also pick up the wonderful Sonic Generations for $5, as well as both his kart racing spin-offs together for under $10. But let's face it, the game you should really be playing is Sonic Mania, an astounding throwback adventure that showcases why Sonic games were so fun, while also expanding its fast-paced 2D platforming in new and exciting ways. It'll be the best $6.79 you spend in a long time.
Traditionally, Far Cry games find Americans traveling to faraway lands that are overtaken by enemy groups you can kill on sight. This year's installment takes place in Hope County Montana, a swath of land that's been seized by an apocalyptic murder cult. Your job is to run, drive, fly, and wingsuit your way into the many enemy compounds dotting the landscape, bringing them down with as much or as little firepower as you see fit. In short, it's a whole lot of dumb fun.
The Final Fantasy series has been around for decades, making big-budget games in the not-always-popular JRPG genre. And unlike some other series--ahem, Dragon Quest--each installment brings new ideas (and usually entirely new worlds) to the table. Most Final Fantasy games are half off on Steam right now, making it a perfect time to fill out your game library with any that are missing. And if you're new to the series, you can try the latest one, Final Fantasy XV, or one of the time-tested classics, like Final Fantasy VII.
Nier Automata is much more than the hack-and-slash action RPG you see at first glance. Gameplay-wise, you'll be tasked to fight from different perspectives and occasionally take control of a mech that transforms the game into a top-down shooter. Being effective in traditional combat means you'll be dodging at the precise moment and firing off your pod, and you'll be configuring a chipset that acts as a set of abilities to cater to your playstyle.
However, that's not what makes Nier Automata the tremendous game it is. Series producer Yoko Taro has a knack for unconventional storytelling, and he pulls out all the stops here. There are many layers to this tale of android existentialism with multiple playthroughs, alternate endings, and ambiguous story elements all contributing its overall impact. Its soundtrack has a significant role, too, as it communicates tone as strongly as any line of dialogue. You'll be thinking about this game well after you've completed all its story paths.
The granddaddy of the survival horror genre has gone through so many iterations, reboots, alterations, and retcons that there's something for just about anyone to enjoy. The series has been hugely influential through the years, setting the stage for survival horror games of the 1990s with Resident Evil, then upending the formula and redefining third-person shooters with Resident Evil 4. You can get zombie-blasting co-op play in Resident Evil 5 and 6, dial back to a more story-focused experience with the Revelations series, or watch RE simultaneously cover new ground and return to its roots with the excellent Resident Evil 7. If you're a horror fan, there are plenty of Resident Evil games you shouldn't miss, and Steam has them all at deep discounts.
The core of Dead Cells is a hack-'n-slash rogue-lite that sees you fighting your way through a satisfying cycle of killing, dying, learning, and repeating. The game keeps things interesting by interspersing a few minor moments of Metroidvania-inspired exploration, allowing you to find abilities that permanently unlock certain areas. New enemies pop up in every level, and each one proves more challenging than the last. However, Dead Cells' responsive controls and easy-to-grasp mechanics means you're never at a complete disadvantage. Even when you do die, the quick respawn time has you itching to get back into the fight and try out a different strategy or weapon combination against whatever killed you.
The murder-mystery series of Danganronpa games are all well worth a look for visual novel fans. Each game's cast of distinct, eccentric characters makes the story well worth seeing through, and the class trials where you determine who carried out a murder are almost always full of fun twists. The entire core series can be had for $45 right now, or you can pick up just the first game (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, pictured above) for a mere $10 if you'd prefer to just try a taste. Just be sure to start from the beginning rather than jumping right to the most recent game, Danganronpa V3.
Even in a year rife with marquee releases, the latest chapter in Square Enix's illustrious RPG franchise, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, stands as one of the best games of 2018. Featuring a touching tale, a charming cast of characters, and traditional turn-based combat (accentuated by new mechanics like the pep system), Dragon Quest XI is a must-play for RPG fans. And as one of the more recent releases on this list, Dragon Quest XI hasn't been on the receiving end of too many discounts, making this a good opportunity to pick the game up if you haven't yet.
One of the year's best new strategy games, Into the Breach hasn't seen many discounts, so hacking $5 off an already reasonable price makes this one of the most irresistible deals in Steam's sale. From the same developer as the excellent FTL, Into the Breach puts you in command of a group of mechs on a tile-based map and tasks you with defending buildings from invading monsters. What distinguishes it is the level of transparency it provides: You know exactly what enemies will do on their turn and what effect your actions will have, making it into a game of chess that does away with the guesswork. It's immensely satisfying, particularly when manipulating enemies' positioning to make them attack each other rather than their intended targets.
The classic action platforming hero Mega Man just had a return to form with the recent Mega Man 11, and it's on sale along with other games from the blue bomber's back catalog in case you need to catch up. Mega Man 11 can be had for $24, while the Mega Man Legacy Collection Combo Pack is $15 and the Mega Man X Legacy Collection Bundle is $30. If you just need a tiny taste of the classic platformer, your cheapest option is the first piece of the Legacy Collection for just $6.
Teamwork makes the dream work in Full Metal Furies, a challenging game that features strategic brawler combat and puzzling riddles. You can either go it alone as two of the four women who compose the Furies, or team up with three others in co-op play. The Furies' quest across their war-torn world to kill the monstrous Titans is not without its drama, but it's mostly a humorous collection of tongue-in-cheek skits. When Triss, Alex, Erin, and Meg aren't goofing off or killing monsters, they're trying to solve the collection of riddles marked on mysterious stones hidden throughout their world. Figuring out each riddle is key to unlocking Full Metal Furies' extended ending, but you'll have to think outside the box--and sometimes even look to resources outside the game itself--to figure them all out.
In the fictional kingdom of Victusia, Brigadiers protect the land by killing monsters and cooking them into delicious dishes for the hungry population. In Battle Chef Brigade, you play as Mina, an aspiring Brigadier, who runs away from home to pursue her dream. To prove her skill, you'll control Mina through several cooking competitions where you'll have to hunt down specific monsters for the correct ingredients and then play through an intuitive, yet challenging puzzle game in order to cook your dishes to perfection--all while keeping an eye on how much time you have left. It's satisfying to pull off perfect last second combinations in the kitchen, and the well-written story will leave you smiling ear-to-ear from start to finish.
Capcom's long-running Monster Hunter series has cultivated a passionate following thanks to its deep loot and crafting systems, but the franchise has traditionally struggled to attract a wide audience. That all changed with the release of Monster Hunter World, which makes some smart tweaks to the series' formula in order to to open it up to newer players, all without sacrificing any of the depth that has made it so beloved among fans. With a regular stream of updates and seasonal events, there is plenty to see and do in the New World, whether you're a new hunter or a seasoned veteran.
No comments:
Post a Comment