STEAM SALE Day 9 {Jingle, Jangle, Jingle!} Edition

STEAM SALE DAY 9

I’VE GOT SPUUUURS THAT JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE…

–Resident Evil 5 (6.80) This is the last great Resident Evil game, just like I wrote about in my article for this site! Resident Evil evolved a lot since it’s first iteration and become more action that survival, more coop than singular, but it didn’t falter till RE6. RE5 held true and delivers coop fun in spades. Lots of action, light puzzles (no brain busters here), a BRILLIANT endgame mode called “The Mercenaries” (which is half the reason I play the game to begin with). And they just put it on Steamworks so you can actually enjoy it online!

–Resident Evil HD (15) Another Resident Evil?! But this was the FIRST, and still probably the best (besides maybe RE2). The HD update adds a slick graphical update and hours more gameplay. It doesn’t take a single iota of terror away from the experience at all. Harder puzzles, extremely lethal enemies, and some of the more signature moments from the game that took the crown as King of Survival Horror for many, many years.

–The Stanley Parable (3.75) Not too much game here, but the narration and the moment to moment wonder will have you hooked. It’s a FPS story all about choices we make and their ramifications that met glowing reviews, from this reviewer as well. It’s a great game and an unforgettable experience.

–Stranded Deep (9.90) This is a tale about survival in the tropics. A lot of games send you to snow covered tundras, or have you float out in space, but Stranded Deep is more like the Robinson Crusoe of games. A simple and engaging crafting system lets players fend for their basic needs while exploring a small set of islands in a non-descript and very sunny part of the world. Weather effects add depth to the experience, and keep a browser window open for crafting recipes!

–Kerbal Space Program (30) A bit pricey, but VERY worth it. Kerbal is a science nerd’s wet dream game. Build rockets (or space planes!) and launch them with a highly accurate physics model. Complete missions and research new parts to build better and better ships, and send your Kerbins to the far reaches of the solar system. Kerbal should be taught in schools. It’s charming, accessible, well supported and loved by all who play it.

–Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition (6.80) New Vegas was “my” Fallout game, the one that really gripped me. It’s not about a Vault Dweller…this time you’re just a courier in the wrong place at the right time. But after a brief personal tragedy, it’s up to you what to do with your life in the desert wastes. The music is spectacular, the setting is full of rich characters and tons of quests to do, the DLC is very well received as well! You can get just the base game for 2.50 if the DLC isn’t your bag, but if Fallout 3 turned you off or you haven’t given the series a spin yet, join me in the Mojave, won’t you?

AS I GO RIDING MERRILY ALONG

–Saints Row 4 Game of the Century Edition (7.50) Saints Row may not seem like it, but the series has become one of the best 3rd person superhero game series of all time. My only beef is they let you drive a car in this game…as if you’d ever need to. Leap hundreds of feet into the sky, blast enemies with special abilities, and go on one of the wildest, open world romps gaming has to over. It was very, very well made and it shows. I wasn’t the biggest Saints Row fan at first but SR4 (and SR3 too) totally turned that opinion around.

–Dragonball Xenoverse (25) There’s a dearth of Dragonball games out there, when other anime series are getting successively better video game adaptations. Dragonball Xenoverse is probably the most accessible fighting game I’ve played in a long time despite still having a challenging edge. Most of the game is focused around a totally new story (and a good one) that sends you through time to aid the Z Fighters. TONS of character customization really make this title shine though, so if you have any Saiyan blood in your body this game might be just the outlet you need.

–Goat Simulator (2.50) It’s a joke game that’s no joke. Incredibly fun for a few minutes here and there, 2.50 is the perfect price for it too. Run your goat all around town and cause insane amounts of havoc in a sandbox designed to entertain. Not much else too it, a handful of player characters and a very clever MMO mode.

–One Finger Death Punch (1.50) This is a two button game that will have you gritting your teeth with focus almost right off the bat. As enemies approach from the edges of the screen, click the mouse buttons/arrows/gamepad to attack left or right with perfect timing. That’s all! The result is a MADHOUSE though. Destroy the environment, deflect arrows, steal weapons and beat down foes with combos, special attacks, and a TON of levels to beat.

–Max Payne 3 (5) Rockstar always knows how to write a good story, and Max Payne 3 balances a professionally written story mode with a competitive and enjoyable online mode. The engine was adapted for GTA V on PC and it runs great. If you’ve played the other Max Payne’s this is a must own, if you haven’t this is still a great game that can be enjoyed by action fans all over.

–Grim Dawn (12.50) An ARPG that feels a lot like the Neocore Van Helsing games. To be honest though there’s not much that grips me very tightly about Grim Dawn aside from its overall look and feel. It feels good to play, and with multiplayer coop it adds more to that soup but the broth is still thin. Don’t expect too too much from it…and better yet maybe wait till it’s going for a tenner, or even a fiver. But if you REALLY need an ARPG that isn’t Van Helsing, Diablo III, or Torchlight II…then by all means!

!-Ultimate General Gettysburg (3.75) My pal Collin turned me on to this Civil War battle game. Only taking place during the few days of the Battle of Gettysburg this game was designed by a Total War modder. It’s got great looking sprites for a purely 2D game, and the attention to detail in the crafting of the look of the game is evident. Move whole platoons with simple mouse gestures, and watch the battle unfold from a holistic point of view as your units fire artillery, mount charges, get routed by the enemy and capture towns. Play alone or against a friend for more fun! I really do HIGHLY suggest this game for military sim/RTS fans everywhere.

–Interstellar Marines (4.75) This game has been in production for many years, and the small team making it has a lot of passion. It’s a “training simulator” like no other, with hyper immersive everything. Work with your team or die as you navigate maps that change as you play on them and take down waves of either AI enemies or other players in a Counter Strike meets Aliens battle. The sound and light design is especially on par with this one. Soooo much fun and plenty of players online to meet and shoot at.

–Awesomenauts (1) ONE DOLLAR for a platforming MOBA? Yep! Awesomenauts is a great MOBA, a unique twist on the format that pits the two teams against each other on a 2D scale, complete with creeps and bases and everything! Pick a character from a wacky cast, build them out before the match, then jump into a very easy to enjoy MOBA experience. Awesomenauts has a lot of developer support as well so this title isn’t dying/going anywhere soon. A great alternative to DOTA or any more traditional MOBAs.

–Orcs Must Die 2 (3.75) I have this game around for the coop mostly, cause it’s so good for it. Two players (or one if you’re lonely) lay down traps and pitfalls to discourage orcs and other beasties from advancing. The game has lots of DLC, the maps are challenging, and the playable characters each have their own style. It’s a 3D, 3rd person tower defense game that should be used as a ruler for other devs going for the same experience. I talked briefly about Sanctum 2? This is better. I mentioned Deathtrap? This is better too.

–Windward (9.75) Collin suggested this one to me too, and he was right on the money again! It’s Sid Meier’s pirates, minus the sword fighting, and all online in big multiplayer lobbies! Sail around in your ship, take on little jobs, battle AI and other players and conquer the map! The drop in-drop out style of multiplayer intrigues me as your ship has a persistent level. There’s going to be more goodies from this one since it’s only in Early Access right now but what is there is a lot of damn fun.

–Just Cause 2 (3) The story sucks. There, now that that’s out of the way, Just Cause 2 was a record breaker when it came out. It had the largest continuous in-game map of all time. You still get that sense of scale playing it when you’re flying in a jet, then parachute out, then grapple onto a helicopter, blow up a fuel depot, jump out the helicopter, hijack a car, leave the car and parachute into the jungle…all to do it over again. You can even attach two things together to create violent, often hilarious results. Try two soldiers, a soldier and a fuel tank, a truck and a soldier…lots to do! There’s even a FREE multiplayer upgrade that turns the game into an absolute storm of chaos as well. If destruction and big explosions are what you need, Just Cause 2 has the sauce. And hey, there’s a sequel on the way.

The weekend is here! What are you playing? Buy anything good?! Arkham Knight comes out next week so save your dough!