PSN Weekly Deals - 12/24: Holiday Sale Wk 4 (Proteus, DuckTales, Hotline Miami, Castle of Illusion)! Walking Dead S2 Season Pass $15!

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FriskyTanuki

FriskyTanuki

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Edit: Since Cheapy hasn't updated the PSN Deals banner on the homepage to the new thread, please head here if you were hoping to see the newest deals on PSN. Thanks.

Welcome to the best thread for all of the deals on games, add-ons, and other stuff in the PlayStation Store both on and off of PSN.
 
Index

Current Deals (Full Update Here) - Store Updates Every Tuesday, Usually Around 2 PM PT/5 PM ET
 
Visit The Web PS Store Here

Key:
N - New This Week
X - Expires With Next Update
P - Permanent Price Drop
C - Cross Buy (Vita/PS3)
D - Demo or Full Game Trial Available

Pre-orders
Assassin's Creed Liberation HD - $19.99 - Out 1/14 @ 12:01 AM ET [customspoiler=Bonuses]Voodoo Pack and Exclusive Theme[/customspoiler]
The Last of Us - Left Behind - $14.99 - Out Early 2014 [customspoiler=Bonuses]Exclusive Theme[/customspoiler]
Watch Dogs - $59.99 - Out TBA [customspoiler=Bonuses]R33B Gun and Exclusive Theme[/customspoiler]
 
Bundles
Alien Breed Trilogy - $7.89 - 66% Off D [customspoiler='Includes']Alien Breed: Impact, Alien Breed 2: Assault, and Alien Breed 3: Descent.[/customspoiler]

Battlefield 4 Bonus Holiday Edition - $49.99 [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + China Rising[/customspoiler]
Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut Ultimate Edition - $29.99 - Move Compatible [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + All DLC + Five Avatars[/customspoiler]
Doki Doki Universe Limited Edition Bundle - $24.99 CD [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + Starter Pack, 2 Personality Quiz Packs, 2 Story Packs, 9 Deko Mail Packs, and an exclusive PS3 Dynamic Theme[/customspoiler]

Dragon Fantasy Book I & II Bundle - $13.99 - 30% Off NXC

Dust 514 Tactical Edition - $4.99 - 50% Off [customspoiler='Includes']The Free-to-Play game with 450 dropsuits and vehicles, 7-Day Active Skill Booster, and 2,500 Aurum (in-game currency).[/customspoiler]

FIFA 14 Bonus Holiday Edition - $49.99 D [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + 2200 FIFA Points[/customspoiler]

Foosball 2012 Ultimate Foosball Bundle - $2.99 CD [customspoiler='Includes']Full Game + All DLC[/customspoiler]

Grip Games Indie Bundle - $3.99 CD [customspoiler='Includes']Atomic Ninjas + Foosball 2012[/customspoiler]

Madden NFL 25 Bonus Holiday Edition - $49.99 D [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + 2200 FIFA Points[/customspoiler]
NBA 2K14 Super Fan Pack - PS3/PS4 - $99.99 - 17% Off -  Ends 3/31/14 [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game for PS3 and PS4[/customspoiler]
NCAA Football 14 Bonus Holiday Edition - $49.99 D [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + 14 unopened All-American Packs for NCAA UT.[/customspoiler]
Need for Speed Rivals Bonus Holiday Edition - $49.99 [customspoiler=Includes]Full Game + Premium Livery Pack & Timesaver Pack[/customspoiler]
Rain Holiday Bundle - $14.99 - Ends 1/6/14 [customspoiler='Includes']Rain, Rain Original Soundtrack, and Rain Holiday Theme[/customspoiler]

Rainbow Moon Cross-Save Bundle - PS3/Vita - $22.49 - 25% Off D [customspoiler=Includes]Both the PS3 and Vita versions[/customspoiler]

Record of Agarest War Series Bundle - $49.99 [customspoiler='Includes]Record of Agarest Zero, One, and Two[/customspoiler]
[URL="https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-us/games/addons/the-walking-dead-season-two-season-pass/cid=UP2026-NPUB31404_00-TWD2SN0000000000"]The Walking Dead Season Two - Season Pass[/URL] - $14.99 - 25% Off [COLOR=rgb(0,128,0)]N[/COLOR]
[URL="https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-us/games/worms2-armageddon-game-of-the-year/cid=UP4064-NPUB30230_00-W2ARMAGOTY000000"]Worms 2: Armageddon Game Of The Year[/URL] - $9.35 - 66% Off [COLOR=rgb(255,140,0)]D[/COLOR][COLOR=rgb(0,128,0)] [/COLOR][customspoiler='Includes']Full Game, Battle Pack, Forts Pack, Mayhem Pack, Puzzle Pack, Retro Pack, and Attack Pack [/customspoiler]
Zombie Driver HD + Soundtrack - $6.49 - 50% Off D
 
PS3
Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers - $9.99 - 50% Off

Alien Breed - $4.99 - 50% Off C

Alien Breed: Impact - $3.49 - 65% Off D
Alien Breed 2: Assault - $3.49 - 65% Off D
Alien Breed 3: Descent - $3.49 - 65% Off D
Atomic Ninjas - $2.99 - 70% Off CD

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse - $7.49 - 50% Off NXD
Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut - $24.99 - 38% Off - Move Compatible

Diablo III - $43.99 - 27% Off NXD
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two - $19.99 - 50% Off NXD
Doki Doki Universe - $9.99 - 33% Off NCD
Dragon Fantasy Book I - $4.99 - 50% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book II - $10.49 - 30% Off NXC
Droplitz - $0.99 - 80% Off

DuckTales Remastered - $8.99 - 52% Off NX

Ethan: Meteor Hunter - $7.99 - 47% Off
Foosball 2012 - $2.99 - 75% Off - Move Compatible CD
Girl Fight - $4.99 - 50% Off D
God Mode - $4.99 - 50% Off D
Grand Theft Auto IV - $9.99 - 50% Off ND
Grand Theft Auto V - $39.99 - 33% Off N
Hotline Miami - $2.49 - 75% Off NXC
Kick-Ass - $4.99 - 38% Off
Magic 2014: Duels Of The Planeswalkers - $4.99 - 50% Off D

Papo & Yo - $4.99 - 66% Off ND
Proteus - $8.49 - 39% Off NXC





Superfrog HD - $4.99 - 50% Off C

The Testament Of Sherlock Holmes - $14.99 - 50% Off
Time and Eternity - $19.99 - 60% Off
Worms - $3.29 - 75% Off D
Worms 2: Armageddon - $5.19 - 65% Off D
Worms Crazy Golf - $2.59 - 74% Off
Worms Revolution - $7.59 - 49% Off
Worms Ultimate Mayhem - $5.19 - 65% Off
Zombie Driver HD - $4.99 - 50% Off D


Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge - $4.99 - 50% Off C

PS4
Doki Doki Universe - $9.99 - 33% Off NCD

Pinball Arcade - Free [customspoiler='Includes']Tales of the Arabian Nights table[/customspoiler]

Zen Pinball 2 - Free NC

PS2 Classics

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas - $7.49 - 50% Off N

Raiden III - $5.99 - 40% Off
 
PS3 Add-ons
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Drake's Deception Map Pack - Free - 100% Off P

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Flashback Map Pack 1 - Free - 100% Off P
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Flashback Map Pack 2 - Free - 100% Off P

Worms 2: Armageddon - Battle Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off

Worms 2: Armageddon - Forts Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Worms 2: Armageddon - Puzzle Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Worms 2: Armageddon - Retro Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Worms 2: Armageddon - Time Attack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Worms Revolution - Funfair Pack - $2.59 - 48% Off

Worms Revolution - Mars Pack - $2.59 - 48% Off
Worms Revolution - Medieval Tales - $2.59 - 48% Off
Worms Ultimate Mayhem - Customization Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Worms Ultimate Mayhem - Multi-Player Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Worms Ultimate Mayhem - Single-Player Pack - $1.79 - 64% Off
Zombie Driver HD - Apocalypse Pack - $1.49 - 50% Off
Zombie Driver HD - Burning Garden Of Slaughter - $1.49 - 75% Off
Zombie Driver HD - Tropical Race Rage - $1.49 - 50% Off
 

PS4 Add-ons
Blacklight: Retribution - 500 Zcoin - $3.74 N

Blacklight: Retribution - 1,000 + 50 Zcoin - $7.49 N

Blacklight: Retribution - 2,500 + 250 Zcoins - $18.74 N

Blacklight: Retribution - 5,000 + 750 Zcoins - $34.99 N

Blacklight: Retribution - 10,000 + 2,000 Zcoin - $64.99 N

Pinball Arcade - Season One Bundle - $14.99 - 50% Off [customspoiler='Qualifier']Half-Off for those that own all Season One tables for PS3/Vita.[/customspoiler]

Pinball Arcade - Season One Pro Bundle - $19.99 - 50% Off [customspoiler='Qualifier']Half-Off for those that own all Season One Pro tables for PS3/Vita.[/customspoiler]
The Playroom - My Alien Buddy - Free N
The Playroom - Toy Maker - Free

Warframe - 75 Platinum - $3.74 - 25% Off
Warframe - 170 Platinum - $7.49 - 25% Off
Warframe - 370 Platinum - $14.99 - 25% Off
Warframe - 1000 Platinum + Mod - $37.49 - 25% Off
Warframe - 2100 Platinum + Mod - $74.99 - 25% Off
Warframe - 3210 Platinum + Mod - $112.49 - 25% Off
Zen Pinball 2 - Sorcerer's Lair - Free
 
PS1 Classics
N/A
 
Minis
5-In-1 Arcade Hits - $0.99 - 50% Off

9-in-1 Mega Pack - $2.99 [customspoiler='Includes']5-in-1 Arcade Hits, Blimp: The Flying Adventures, The Impossible Game, MiniSquadron, and One Epic Game[/customspoiler]
Blimp: The Flying Adventures - $0.99 - 33% Off

The Impossible Game - $0.99 - 50% Of

MiniSquadron - $0.99 - 50% Off

One Epic Game - $0.99 - 50% Off
The Ultimate Runner Game Bundle - $1.99 [customspoiler=Includes]The Impossible Game and One Epic Game[/customspoiler]
Young Thor - $2.49 - 50% Off
Zombie Tycoon - $2.49 - 50% Off
 
PSP Games

DJ Max Portable 3 - $19.99 - 50% Off

The Ikemen Bundle - $24.99 [customspoiler='Includes']Cho Aniki Zero, Mimana Iyar Chronicle, and Ragnarok Tactics[/customspoiler]
Strikers 1945 - $2.99 - 40% Off

Vita Games
Alien Breed - $4.99 - 50% Off C

Atomic Ninjas - $2.99 - 70% Off C
Doki Doki Universe - $9.99 - 33% Off NXCD
Dragon Fantasy Book I - $4.99 - 50% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book II - $10.49 - 30% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book I & II Bundle - $13.99 - 30% Off NXC
Draw Slasher - $4.99 - 17% Off

Escape Plan - $9.99 - 33% Off NC

Eufloria HD - $9.99 - 33% Off 
Foosball 2012 - $2.99 - 75% Off - Move Compatible C
Foosball 2012 Ultimate Foosball Bundle - $2.99 C [customspoiler='Includes']Full Game + All DLC[/customspoiler]
Grip Games Indie Bundle - $3.99 C [customspoiler='Includes']Atomic Ninjas + Foosball 2012[/customspoiler]
Hotline Miami - $2.49 - 75% Off NXC
Knytt Underground - $4.99 - 50% Off C

Nun Attack - $1.49 - 50% Off
Proteus - $8.49 - 39% Off NXC

Rainbow Moon Cross-Save Bundle - $22.49 - 25% Off D [customspoiler=Includes]Both the PS3 and Vita versions[/customspoiler]
Rainbow Moon (PS3 Player Special Offer) - $7.49 - 25% Off D [customspoiler=Qualifier]Special Discount for owners of the PS3 version[/customspoiler]

Superfrog HD - $4.99 - 50% Off C

Worms Revolution Extreme - $7.49 - 50% Off
Zombie Tycoon II: Brainhov's Revenge - $4.99 - 50% Off C

Music

Zombie Driver HD Soundtrack - $2.49 - 50% Off

Avatars

Zombie Driver HD Avatar 10-Pack - $1.49 - 50% Off
 
PlayStation Plus
 
PS3 Deals

Atomic Ninjas - $2.09 - 79% Off CD

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse - $3.75 - 75% Off NXD

Diablo III - $35.19 - 41% Off NXD
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two - $10.00 - 75% Off - Move Compatible NXD
Dragon Fantasy Book I - $2.50 - 75% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book II - $7.34 - 51% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book I & II Bundle - $8.39 - 58% Off NXC
Ducktales Remastered - $7.19 - 52% Off NX
Ethan: Meteor Hunter - $6.39 - 36% Off 

Foosball 2012 - $2.09 - 79% Off CD


Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds Complete Collection - $19.99 - 20% Off - Move Compatible


Hotline Miami - $1.49 - 85% Off NXC
Proteus - $5.94 - 58% Off NXC

Toki Tori - $3.99 - 20% Off - Move Compatible
Zombie Driver HD - $2.50 - 75% Off D
Zombie Driver HD + Soundtrack - $3.25 - 75% Off D


Vita Deals
Angry Birds Star Wars - $32.39 - 19% Off

Atomic Ninjas - $2.09 - 79% Off C
Bit.Trip Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien - $7.99 - 20% Off
Dragon Fantasy Book I - $2.50 - 75% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book II - $7.34 - 51% Off NXC
Dragon Fantasy Book I & II Bundle - $8.39 - 58% Off NXC
Draw Slasher - $2.99 - 50% Off

Eufloria HD - $7.99 - 47% Off 

Foosball 2012 - $2.09 - 79% Off C

Guacamelee! - $3.75 - 75% Off C
Hotline Miami - $1.49 - 85% Off NXC
Knytt Underground - $2.50 - 75% Off C
PixelJunk Monsters: Ultimate HD - $11.99 - 20% Off

Proteus - $5.94 - 58% Off NXC

Terraria - $13.49 - 10% Off

Minis Deals

5-in-1 Arcade Hits - $0.74 - 63% Off

Blimp: The Flying Adventures - $0.74 - 63% Off

The Impossible Game - $0.74 - 75% Off
MiniSquadron - $0.74 - 63% Off
One Epic Game - $0.74 - 63% Off
PS3 Add-on Deals
Zombie Driver HD - Apocalypse Pack - $0.75 - 75% Off

Zombie Driver HD - Burning Garden of Slaughter - $0.75 - 62% Off
Zombie Driver HD - Tropical Race Rage - $0.75 - 75% Off
 
Music Deals
Zombie Driver HD Soundtrack - $1.25 - 75% Off
 
Avatar Deals
Zombie Driver HD Avatar Bundle - $0.75 - 75% Off
 
Free Games (Don't Argue About This, Please)
Binary Domain - 11 GB
Borderlands 2 - 5.3 GB
Dyad - 1337 MB

Galaga Legions DX - 134 MB
Gravity Rush - Vita - 1.4 GB
Grid 2 - 5.8 GB
ibb & obb - 1 GB
Ico - 1.7 GB
LittleBigPlanet Karting - 7 GB
LittleBigPlanet Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves - Requires Move
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath - Vita - 1.4 GB
Poker Night 2 - 455 MB
Shadow of the Colossus - 6 GB

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed - Vita - 1.4 GB N
Soul Sacrifice - Vita - 1.7 GB X
Uncharted: Golden Abyss - Vita - 2.9 GB
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - 30 GB
Wipeout 2048 - Vita - 1.6 GB
XCOM: Enemy Unknown - 7.6 GB
 
Themes
[customspoiler="PS+ Themes"]Abstract Art - Dynamic
Assassin's Creed Revelations - Dynamic
Cuckoo - Dynamic
Daytona USA
Double Dragon Neon - Dynamic
Dragon - Dynamic
Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit - Dynamic
The House of the Dead III - Dynamic
The House of the Dead 4 - Dynamic
I Am Alive - Dynamic
Infamous Festival of Blood - Dynamic
Jet Set Radio - Dynamic
Leap Year - Dynamic
Mesh - Dynamic
Mexican Skulls - Dynamic
PlayStation Plus - Dynamic
Robot - Dynamic
Samurai - Dynamic
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 - Dynamic
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II - Dynamic
Stripe Shift Part 2 - Dynamic
Tales from Space: About a Blob
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown - Dynamic[/customspoiler]
 
Avatars
[customspoiler="PS+ Avatars"]Armageddon Riders (3)
Cool Cat
Daytona USA (5)
Dead Cloud
Double Dragon Neon (7)
Draw Slasher
Fat Princess (2)
God of War: Ascension
Green Hamster
Hell Yeah! (4)
The House of the Dead III (3)
The House of the Dead 4 (3)
Jet Set Radio (6)
LittleBigPlanet (2)
Mutant Skull
Pink Hamster
PlayStation B-boy (1, 2, 3)
Resident Evil 5
Section 8: Prejudice Bundle
Squirrel
Stick Up Kid
Street Fighter X Tekken
Street Fighter 2
Tank Commander
Top Dawg
Under Siege
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown (20)[/customspoiler]
 
Feel free to provide feedback for ways to improve this thread. Thanks.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
beard_of_zeus said:
This is what my gut tells me to be the truth. I can't help but be cynical about this stuff, I guess.
Click to expand...
oddly, as soon as it was announced to be missing stuff i assumed 'free dlc update' because they'd gone out of their way to detail the vita contents previously. missing such a strange set of levels struck me more as a 'we ran out of time' issue than anything else - it's not like they're too demanding or take up a lot of space.

i think that's why i wasn't outraged like some, i wanted to give ubisoft a couple days to set it straight. now, they -should- have announced this last week. then again, sending out a press release the week before release talking about delays and dlc isn't exactly a marketer's dream, either.

 
affa said:
oddly, as soon as it was announced to be missing stuff i assumed 'free dlc update' because they'd gone out of their way to detail the vita contents previously. missing such a strange set of levels struck me more as a 'we ran out of time' issue than anything else - it's not like they're too demanding or take up a lot of space.

i think that's why i wasn't outraged like some, i wanted to give ubisoft a couple days to set it straight. now, they -should- have announced this last week. then again, sending out a press release the week before release talking about delays and dlc isn't exactly a marketer's dream, either.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think this was more of the problem that a lot of these publishers have of trying to sneak things by thinking that people won't notice if they don't say anything about it.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's a slow news day so I'll bring up the fact that Polygon gave Killzone Mercenary a 6/10, the 2nd lowest score of any review on Metacritic.

I don't like Polygon very much anymore.

Here's the review below, in case you want to read it without, ya know, going to their website:

Killzone: Mercenary is the fulfillment of a dream Sony has promised since the launch of the original PSP.
Sony has always sold its handheld hardware on the idea of creating games that perfectly emulate what's possible on a dedicated console. Arguably the first game to truly deliver on that vision, Mercenary has all the bullet points you'd expect from a AAA PlayStation 3 game: gorgeous visuals, sophisticated gameplay, a deep multiplayer mode.
 
For as much as it effectively imitates a console game, Mercenary's Killzone-styled deliberate gunplay doesn't gain anything in the transition to handheld ... and it loses just enough to make it a questionable move.
 
Killzone: Mercenary is set alongside the events of the console Killzone games, following mute protagonist Danner as he navigates the murky sidelines of the ISA war against the Helghast. Rather than another adventure from the perspective of an ISA grunt, Danner is a gun for hire, happily serving whatever side will pay the most money. Throughout the single-player campaign's five or six hours, various twists place Danner at many different angles in the war.
 
Against all odds and despite the need for some serious suspension of disbelief, Mercenary's plot managed to hold my attention. Not much time is devoted to the story, but the few cutscenes and scattered moments of dialogue are used wisely to build a plot that's recognizable but still entertaining. The characters are recognizable archetypes — the grizzled veteran; the general who's gone too far; the innocent young boy — but they're well-drawn and keep the game moving.
 
Mercenary uses its freewheeling main characters as an excuse to jump between a lot of locales, with about as much variety as could be hoped for from Killzone's bleak worlds. But whether you're raiding an embassy to rescue hostages or shutting down a refinery powering a giant Helghast weapon, the gameplay rarely expands beyond point and shoot. Mercenary also takes away player control during some of the coolest moments, leading to a frustrating feeling that you're watching an action movie unfold as often as you're actually playing.
 
When you do have control, Killzone: Mercenary's shooting is almost identical to its console counterparts, but there are tiny issues with the controls that become more bothersome as the game goes on. Since the Vita has less buttons at its disposal than a PlayStation 3 controller, the series' traditional control layout has been flattened in an awkward way. Most notably, sprinting and taking cover are mapped to the same button depending on whether you're in motion when you press it and how long you hold it. This led to many situations where I intended to duck behind a barrier and instead jogged into it while an enemy across the map continued shooting me in the head.
 
Mercenary also incorporates stealth, but it's marred by an obligatory, annoying use of the Vita's touchscreen capabilities. Sneaking up on an enemy and pressing the melee button will activate a special kill animation, prompting you to swipe across the screen in various directions. Some special opponents require multiple swipes, allowing you to interrogate them for bonus intelligence before you kill them. The touchscreen stuff is off-putting in general, but it was especially painful in tense situations when I tried to navigate an area with multiple enemies. Taking my hands off of the primary controls, however briefly, left me flustered and often screwed up otherwise perfect stealth runs.
 
Mercenary's one major disconnect from the console Killzone games comes in the form of Blackjack, a shady black market arms dealer who allows you to purchase weapons and ammo and customize your loadout between levels. Every headshot, stealth kill or bonus objective completed earns you "valor," the game's jingoistic currency. This system encourages skilled play, but Blackjack has such an overabundance of options that I often found myself sticking to whatever he had on sale, afraid to potentially waste my money on an experimental purchase that I might dislike.


Blackjack purchases also carry over to online multiplayer, which is where serious Killzone fans will probably want to spend most of their time in Mercenary. The online multiplayer includes deathmatch, team deathmatch and the series' popular Warzone mode (a team-based mode where objectives rotate as the match progresses). Players rank up and unlock extra loadouts as they progress, and skilled play also earns cards that showcase your improved performance.
 
It's a full multiplayer suite of the kind we've come to expect from console shooters, but it remains to be seen whether the much smaller Vita audience will be able to keep a large pool of players engaged long enough for that to be meaningful. In my brief time with the multiplayer prior to and immediately following the European release, it's been difficult to pull together a full eight-player game. More concerning, many of the multiplayer matches I've made it into have been suddenly cut short when I've been booted from the game due to "latency issues." A giant day-one patch provides "stability fixes" that may lessen this problem, but it hasn't disappeared altogether.
 
Even during those rare full games, Mercenary's maps don't seem particularly well-designed. Multiple floors are often stacked on top of each other and walkways loop around in byzantine patterns that can make finding other players or objectives confusing. The game does a good job of herding players to specific chokepoints by way of airdropped special weapons that need to be picked up, but I can't imagine memorizing any of these maps the way I have with my favorite shooters.
 
WRAP UP:
Killzone: Mercenary suffers from a sense of anti-climax. This is the game Sony has been trying to sell the Vita and PSP on for nearly a decade. Occasionally awkward controls and convoluted map design aside, it accomplishes the goal of seeming like a big, fun, explosion-packed, AAA shooter. But that's it.
 
As a mercenary, it becomes clear that Danner's goal is not to help end the war one way or another but rather to perpetuate it endlessly, guaranteeing that he always has work. That's what Killzone: Mercenary feels like: business as usual.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm not sure if it's what was intended, but you can delete your posts in a sense by clicking hide on the bottom right (next to the report and quote buttons).



Tapatalk doesn't have the option, or at least I can't find it

Thanks
 
tylerh1701 said:
It's a slow news day so I'll bring up the fact that Polygon gave Killzone Mercenary a 6/10, the 2nd lowest score of any review on Metacritic.

I don't like Polygon very much anymore.

Here's the review below, in case you want to read it without, ya know, going to their website:
Click to expand...
I never really cared for them in the first place. But unlike some people, won't name any names lol, I don't go out of my way to not click on a link to one of their articles.

Having said that, i'm not surprised in the least at their review.

 
It's a slow news day so I'll bring up the fact that Polygon gave Killzone Mercenary a 6/10, the 2nd lowest score of any review on Metacritic.

I don't like Polygon very much anymore.
Here's the review below, in case you want to read it without, ya know, going to their website:

Killzone: Mercenary is the fulfillment of a dream Sony has promised since the launch of the original PSP.
Sony has always sold its handheld hardware on the idea of creating games that perfectly emulate what's possible on a dedicated console. Arguably the first game to truly deliver on that vision, Mercenary has all the bullet points you'd expect from a AAA PlayStation 3 game: gorgeous visuals, sophisticated gameplay, a deep multiplayer mode.

For as much as it effectively imitates a console game, Mercenary's Killzone-styled deliberate gunplay doesn't gain anything in the transition to handheld ... and it loses just enough to make it a questionable move.

Killzone: Mercenary is set alongside the events of the console Killzone games, following mute protagonist Danner as he navigates the murky sidelines of the ISA war against the Helghast. Rather than another adventure from the perspective of an ISA grunt, Danner is a gun for hire, happily serving whatever side will pay the most money. Throughout the single-player campaign's five or six hours, various twists place Danner at many different angles in the war.


Against all odds and despite the need for some serious suspension of disbelief, Mercenary's plot managed to hold my attention. Not much time is devoted to the story, but the few cutscenes and scattered moments of dialogue are used wisely to build a plot that's recognizable but still entertaining. The characters are recognizable archetypes — the grizzled veteran; the general who's gone too far; the innocent young boy — but they're well-drawn and keep the game moving.

Mercenary uses its freewheeling main characters as an excuse to jump between a lot of locales, with about as much variety as could be hoped for from Killzone's bleak worlds. But whether you're raiding an embassy to rescue hostages or shutting down a refinery powering a giant Helghast weapon, the gameplay rarely expands beyond point and shoot. Mercenary also takes away player control during some of the coolest moments, leading to a frustrating feeling that you're watching an action movie unfold as often as you're actually playing.

When you do have control, Killzone: Mercenary's shooting is almost identical to its console counterparts, but there are tiny issues with the controls that become more bothersome as the game goes on. Since the Vita has less buttons at its disposal than a PlayStation 3 controller, the series' traditional control layout has been flattened in an awkward way. Most notably, sprinting and taking cover are mapped to the same button depending on whether you're in motion when you press it and how long you hold it. This led to many situations where I intended to duck behind a barrier and instead jogged into it while an enemy across the map continued shooting me in the head.

Mercenary also incorporates stealth, but it's marred by an obligatory, annoying use of the Vita's touchscreen capabilities. Sneaking up on an enemy and pressing the melee button will activate a special kill animation, prompting you to swipe across the screen in various directions. Some special opponents require multiple swipes, allowing you to interrogate them for bonus intelligence before you kill them. The touchscreen stuff is off-putting in general, but it was especially painful in tense situations when I tried to navigate an area with multiple enemies. Taking my hands off of the primary controls, however briefly, left me flustered and often screwed up otherwise perfect stealth runs.

Mercenary's one major disconnect from the console Killzone games comes in the form of Blackjack, a shady black market arms dealer who allows you to purchase weapons and ammo and customize your loadout between levels. Every headshot, stealth kill or bonus objective completed earns you "valor," the game's jingoistic currency. This system encourages skilled play, but Blackjack has such an overabundance of options that I often found myself sticking to whatever he had on sale, afraid to potentially waste my money on an experimental purchase that I might dislike.

Blackjack purchases also carry over to online multiplayer, which is where serious Killzone fans will probably want to spend most of their time in Mercenary. The online multiplayer includes deathmatch, team deathmatch and the series' popular Warzone mode (a team-based mode where objectives rotate as the match progresses). Players rank up and unlock extra loadouts as they progress, and skilled play also earns cards that showcase your improved performance.

It's a full multiplayer suite of the kind we've come to expect from console shooters, but it remains to be seen whether the much smaller Vita audience will be able to keep a large pool of players engaged long enough for that to be meaningful. In my brief time with the multiplayer prior to and immediately following the European release, it's been difficult to pull together a full eight-player game. More concerning, many of the multiplayer matches I've made it into have been suddenly cut short when I've been booted from the game due to "latency issues." A giant day-one patch provides "stability fixes" that may lessen this problem, but it hasn't disappeared altogether.

Even during those rare full games, Mercenary's maps don't seem particularly well-designed. Multiple floors are often stacked on top of each other and walkways loop around in byzantine patterns that can make finding other players or objectives confusing. The game does a good job of herding players to specific chokepoints by way of airdropped special weapons that need to be picked up, but I can't imagine memorizing any of these maps the way I have with my favorite shooters.

WRAP UP:
Killzone: Mercenary suffers from a sense of anti-climax. This is the game Sony has been trying to sell the Vita and PSP on for nearly a decade. Occasionally awkward controls and convoluted map design aside, it accomplishes the goal of seeming like a big, fun, explosion-packed, AAA shooter. But that's it.

As a mercenary, it becomes clear that Danner's goal is not to help end the war one way or another but rather to perpetuate it endlessly, guaranteeing that he always has work. That's what Killzone: Mercenary feels like: business as usual.



Did you not like the review because of the score or did you not agree with the points they made? From playing the MP beta I can agree with quite a few of those multiplayer comments. I'm not trying to argue, just curious.


Looking forward to the Beyond demo.
 
Cleaner7 said:
Did you not like the review because of the score or did you not agree with the points they made? From playing the MP beta I can agree with quite a few of those multiplayer comments. I'm not trying to argue, just curious.
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I have pretty much the same view. Only have the beta to compare it against but their complaints were the exact same issues I had with the beta. The controls while fine were awkward at times and that level was not really screaming timeless level design. In the standard review narrative where a 7.5 is fairly mediocre and a 6.5 is verging on a bad game the score might have been a little harsh based on the content of the review.

 
Cleaner7 said:
Did you not like the review because of the score or did you not agree with the points they made? From playing the MP beta I can agree with quite a few of those multiplayer comments. I'm not trying to argue, just curious.


Looking forward to the Beyond demo.
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I felt like there was some bias in the review. Like the bit about the touchscreen controls making stealth tense... Isnt that the point of stealth...to be tense and to make a wrong move mean failure. In the beta it was always better to get stealth kills, but riskier than shooting them in the back. Makes sense. Anyway, sounds like they enjoyed the story and characters, but felt there were to many things to buy? And te maps had to many layers... So 6/10. Idk... I enjoyed the multiplayer enough to buy the game so im at least expecting better from the other maps in game and this just insured to me that the single player is worth my time lol.

Edit: also at the end they flat out said that they were upset it didnt live up to the hype so it got scored low. So cuz it disnt have everything perfect it gets a 6..
 
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One of the problems with number scales is that each site can define it differently.  This is why i'm not a big fan of numbered scores.  According to Polygon's review scale and the tone and content of the review, it sure seems like it should have been a 7 or 7.5 or possibly even an 8.

This is Polygon's definition for review scores for 6,7,and 8:

Eights are great games, and easily recommendable with caveats in mind. They're examples of consistently sound design, or a novel concept well-developed around a functional core. A game that executes well enough to be remembered, even if there are better contemporaries.

Sevens are good games that may even have some great parts, but they also have some big "buts." They often don't do much with their concepts, or they have interesting concepts but don't do much with their mechanics. They can be recommended with several caveats.

Games with a score of six have good parts, but uneven overall execution. Prospective players should know what they’re getting into before they dedicate time and commitment.

 
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Cleaner7 said:
Did you not like the review because of the score or did you not agree with the points they made? From playing the MP beta I can agree with quite a few of those multiplayer comments. I'm not trying to argue, just curious.


Looking forward to the Beyond demo.
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I haven't played the game so I can't judge it 100%. It sounds like I enjoyed my time with the MP beta a lot more than the reviewer did with the actual MP portion of the game. I didn't love the touch screen implementation but didn't really have many problems with circle being both crouch and run.

This just happens to be another game Sony exclusive game that falls short of Polygon's standards. They're starting to add up. And it's not that Polygon scores all that low, they give out lots of 8s and 9s if you check their reviews.

 
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Please lets not get into a number based review score argument again on here lol. Seems to happen once a month. Like PMS!

To set the record straight for me, I don't care for either their actual written reviews or the scores at the end usually. So there we go :p

 
Joker13z said:
Please lets not get into a number based review score argument again on here lol. Seems to happen once a month. Like PMS!

To set the record straight for me, I don't care for either their actual written reviews or the scores at the end usually. So there we go :p
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Haha well let's see, Dragon's Crown came out August 6, Killzone Vita Sept. 10, and Beyond: Two Souls comes out October 8, so yup, the one month timeframe fits pretty perfectly. When Polygon gives Beyond a 4.5 we'll see if it comes up again.

(Haha I'm kidding. I'm personally not sold on Beyond so if it got low scores I wouldn't be too surprised. I am interested to see Polygon's review of it though.)

 
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Well to be fair, have you guys seen the metacritic round up of KZ: M? It seems like the reviewers are totally split on liking the game. Half gave high remarks and the others not so much. KZ: M seems like a more glorified version of CoD: D from the beta, and judging from the way the campaign works as well. I just feel like KZ: M plays a little better and looks a lot smoother and not much else. 

 
tylerh1701 said:
Haha well let's see, Dragon's Crown came out August 6, Killzone Vita Sept. 10, and Beyond: Two Souls comes out October 8, so yup, the one month timeframe fits pretty perfectly. When Polygon gives Beyond a 4.5 we'll see if it comes up again.

(Haha I'm kidding. I'm personally not sold on Beyond so if it got low scores I wouldn't be too surprised. I am interested to see Polygon's review of it though.)
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Watch everyone else hate on Beyond and Polygon gives it a 10 to attract even more attention haha.

 
and this is why the vita can't have a 'system seller' game.  because even though KZ:M looks beautiful, even the bad reviews acknowledge this is the best FPS ever to see a handheld... but it loses points for being on the Vita, which makes no sense since it's not like 3ds games lose points for being on a 3ds.   ridiculous.

 
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Lol polygon aka the special olympics of journalism. Can't believe people even bother to click on that click bait garbage. Same site that couldn't even review dragons crown properly cause omg bewbz!.

 
renique46 said:
Lol polygon aka the special olympics of journalism. Can't believe people even bother to click on that click bait garbage. Same site that couldn't even review dragons crown properly cause omg bewbz!.
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I seem to remember you and the words "click bait" awhile back where you refused to believe polygon, kotaku etc. would post anything true and required further proof when all it was was a video confirming a title was coming out that had the actual developer in it...or was that someone else?

And people can't click a link to see something and laugh about how retarded it is? I don't think I ever met someone more worried about clinking on a link for reasons other than it may be a virus in my life. This is of course if you're that same individual full of cheer and happiness. ;)

 
I played the KZ:M beta once and then deleted it several days later, but I'm not a big FPS guy, so that doesn't say much. The one thing that did bug me about it was that there was no kill cam. Yeah, maps are small, yeah, but still I think it's a fun addition to a FPS and it helps out a newb like me. Gives me something to look at, at least, when I die over and over. LOL. I could see picking the game up when it goes cheap. < $20. Definitely not something I'd buy full price.

 
affa said:
and this is why the vita can't have a 'system seller' game. because even though KZ:M looks beautiful, even the bad reviews acknowledge this is the best FPS ever to see a handheld... but it loses points for being on the Vita, which makes no sense since it's not like 3ds games lose points for being on a 3ds. ridiculous.
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Pretty much. Vita games get compared to PS3/360 games while 3DS games get compared to 3DS games.

I guess it's Sony's fault for marketing it as a handheld as powerful as a console but I don't think that's what they intended.
 
investor said:
Tell us more. I love that game.
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I like playing it while I'm playing it, but it's hard for me to play it when I'm not playing it. Also, when things go wrong, I get pissed. I played one MP game and got my ass handed to me but I should probably read the codex to learn more about the zombie types.
 
Perhaps the consistently tepid reviews have less to do with Polygon being a "shill for Microsoft" and more to do with the nature of the games. If you consider the exclusives in question, they share many of the same qualities, most notably high production value and refined mechanics. Where they seem to falter (at least in Polygon's view) are around questionable design choices and trite narratives. You might not agree with that rubric, but there's nothing conspiratorial about it. The 3DS's biggest release this year, Luigi's Mansion, was subjected to the same ridicule. The KZ review is not only consistent with complaints I've read in this very thread, but other professional reviews, lol. I'm still going to eventually buy it, but yeahhhh.

 
I know I'm gonna be made fun of for this, but because I am bored at work, I did some wannabe investigative journalism.

I went through Polygon's last 37 reviews and compared their scores to the Metacritic score for each game (the game had to have at least 20 reviews on Metacritic for me to count it).  There were 8 games where the Polygon score was 10 points or more below the average Metacritic score, 26 games where they were within a 10 point threshold one way or the other, and 3 games where they were 10 points or more above the Metacritic average.  Here are the 8 lower games:

MHnEwob.png


Just thought I'd share the info because I found it interesting.  4 of the top 6 are Sony exclusives, and one more was a timed Sony exclusive.

 
tylerh1701 said:
I know I'm gonna be made fun of for this, but because I am bored at work, I did some wannabe investigative journalism.

I went through Polygon's last 37 reviews and compared their scores to the Metacritic score for each game (the game had to have at least 20 reviews on Metacritic for me to count it). There were 8 games where the Polygon score was 10 points or more below the average Metacritic score, 26 games where they were within a 10 point threshold one way or the other, and 3 games where they were 10 points or more above the Metacritic average. Here are the 8 lower games:

MHnEwob.png


Just thought I'd share the info because I found it interesting. 4 of the top 6 are Sony exclusives, and one more was a timed Sony exclusive.
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people read hipstergon reviews?

 
Joker13z said:
I seem to remember you and the words "click bait" awhile back where you refused to believe polygon, kotaku etc. would post anything true and required further proof when all it was was a video confirming a title was coming out that had the actual developer in it...or was that someone else?

And people can't click a link to see something and laugh about how retarded it is? I don't think I ever met someone more worried about clinking on a link for reasons other than it may be a virus in my life. This is of course if you're that same individual full of cheer and happiness. ;)
Click to expand...

wrong person buddy

gettinmoney662 said:
Pretty much. Vita games get compared to PS3/360 games while 3DS games get compared to 3DS games.

I guess it's Sony's fault for marketing it as a handheld as powerful as a console but I don't think that's what they intended.
Click to expand...

Nailed it.

 
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tylerh1701 said:
I know I'm gonna be made fun of for this, but because I am bored at work, I did some wannabe investigative journalism.

I went through Polygon's last 37 reviews and compared their scores to the Metacritic score for each game (the game had to have at least 20 reviews on Metacritic for me to count it). There were 8 games where the Polygon score was 10 points or more below the average Metacritic score, 26 games where they were within a 10 point threshold one way or the other, and 3 games where they were 10 points or more above the Metacritic average. Here are the 8 lower games:

MHnEwob.png


Just thought I'd share the info because I found it interesting. 4 of the top 6 are Sony exclusives, and one more was a timed Sony exclusive.
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A 30 for Time and Eternity?! They have lost all credibility in my book. I'm playing it now and this game is a solid 9/10.

But seriously, this game isn't as bad as everyone made it seem. If you can just ignore the fact that the story (not that story matters in JRPGs!) is completely, incredibly stupid on so many levels, it's a pretty fun game. Talking baby dragons, FTW!

 
tylerh1701 said:
I know I'm gonna be made fun of for this, but because I am bored at work, I did some wannabe investigative journalism.

I went through Polygon's last 37 reviews and compared their scores to the Metacritic score for each game (the game had to have at least 20 reviews on Metacritic for me to count it). There were 8 games where the Polygon score was 10 points or more below the average Metacritic score, 26 games where they were within a 10 point threshold one way or the other, and 3 games where they were 10 points or more above the Metacritic average. Here are the 8 lower games:

MHnEwob.png


Just thought I'd share the info because I found it interesting. 4 of the top 6 are Sony exclusives, and one more was a timed Sony exclusive.
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Weak. What are we supposed to extrapolate from that? You used a sample of 8, all of which (coincidentally, of course :wave: ) support your original theory. What about games like Remember Me with scores greater than the metacritic composite? How many of their scores don't deviate from the average? Again, this means very little.

captaintek3304 said:
A 30 for Time and Eternity?! They have lost all credibility in my book.
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The average is 42.

 
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breakfuss said:
Weak. What are we supposed to extrapolate from that? You used a sample of 8, all of which (coincidentally, of course :wave: ) support your original theory. What about games like Remember Me with scores greater than the metacritic composite? How many of their scores don't deviate from the average? Again, this means very little.
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Like I said, I reviewed their 37 most recent reviews.

Full data set here. Certainly just a small sample size of their 250 or so reviews, but a much better sample size than just the 8 I posted.

Remember Me wasn't part of their most recent 37 reviews (though I'm sure I was getting close to it). I stopped at 37 because 37 was The Last of Us. That part was a total bias on my part, but it doesn't mean I can't keep going and do more. Ni No Kuni is still further down the line and I know that's another one that follows this trend.

 
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tylerh1701 said:
Like I said, I reviewed their 37 most recent reviews.

Full data set here. Certainly just a small sample size of their 250 or so reviews, but a much better sample size than just the 8 I posted.

Remember Me wasn't part of their most recent 37 reviews (though I'm sure I was getting close to it). I stopped at 37 because 37 was The Last of Us. That part was a total bias on my part, but it doesn't mean I can't keep going and do more. Ni No Kuni is still further down the line and I know that's another one that follows this trend.
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It's an interesting data set for the 37 you used. The trend of lower scores for Playstation is not the only thing that stands out. A seemingly unusual amount of AAA games that got universally low scores did above the metacritic average. I am looking at The Bureau, Lost Planet 3, and Remember Me (not listed). It seems odd that they would be more forgiving on those games but then have so many Playstation titles that they are less forgiving on. None of this data is conclusive enough, but it is interesting. I'm sure that if you look at most review sites, the numbers will show some sort of anomaly, but Polygon seems to have a good amount of smoke for there not to be some sort of fire.

 
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WNYX585AM said:
It's an interesting data set for the 37 you used. The trend of lower scores for Playstation is not the only thing that stands out. A seemingly unusual amount of AAA games that got universally low scores did above the metacritic average. I am looking at The Bureau, Lost Planet 3, and Remember Me (not listed). It seems odd that they would be more forgiving on those games but then have so many Playstation titles that they are less forgiving on. None of this data is conclusive enough, but it is interesting. I'm sure that if you look at most review sites, the numbers will show some sort of anomaly, but Polygon seems to have a good amount of smoke for there not to be some sort of fire.
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Yeah, I only posted it because it's interesting. Certainly not definitive, and I don't want anyone to think that I'm saying it is. But many people on varying websites noticed a trend of lower scoring Sony games after the Dragon's Crown review came out, and now the Killzone score continues the trend. When a trend like that is easily visible to the naked eye, I think it's worth a deeper look.

Plus stats/numbers/trends/analysis are kind of my thing, so I actually have fun making spreadsheets like these. There's another one in my signature about sales on XBLA games that took a couple hours to put together but has been rather useful.

 
I beat Killer Is Dead and it pretty much sucks, worst Suda 51 game so far. Lost Planet 3 is ok, its a solid sci-fi shooter with a decent storyline and its pretty long too.  I kinda liked The Bureau, not a bad game, just pretty average.

 
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tylerh1701 said:
Like I said, I reviewed their 37 most recent reviews.

Full data set here. Certainly just a small sample size of their 250 or so reviews, but a much better sample size than just the 8 I posted.

Remember Me wasn't part of their most recent 37 reviews (though I'm sure I was getting close to it). I stopped at 37 because 37 was The Last of Us. That part was a total bias on my part, but it doesn't mean I can't keep going and do more. Ni No Kuni is still further down the line and I know that's another one that follows this trend.
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My bad. 37, then. Still way too small of a sample to draw any conclusions. I'm not seeing the Sony bias. With all the reviews compiled, maybe we can draw some sort of conclusion about how they treat Japanese games, or AAA games or franchise games. Who knows -- maybe something is there. As of now, nothing supports that claim, and certainly nothing supports the notion that it's deliberate.

WNYX585AM said:
I am looking at The Bureau, Lost Planet 3, and Remember Me (not listed). It seems odd that they would be more forgiving on those games but then have so many Playstation titles that they are less forgiving on.
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The Bureau and Lost Planet 3 pretty much fall within the average, though.

 
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breakfuss said:
The Bureau and Lost Planet 3 pretty much fall within the average, though.
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The point was that if Polygon is going to be harsh on Sony games why not be just as harsh on other non-Sony games - especially games that are bigger titles that are generally reviewed poorly and get more attention.

Again, these numbers are far from conclusive, but they are interesting. Also, to be fair, Polygon may have a good reason for being above average on those particular games.

 
Just got an email saying you can receive a 5$ SEN/PSN Credit for signing up to the free trial of music unlimited?

Just curious, can you just instantly cancel it like you would PS+'s auto renewal or something? Or is it more complicated

 
SgtWiggles said:
Just got an email saying you can receive a 5$ SEN/PSN Credit for signing up to the free trial of music unlimited?

Just curious, can you just instantly cancel it like you would PS+'s auto renewal or something? Or is it more complicated
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I did it a while back and IIRC it's handled in exactly the same way as PS+, so yeah that should be how it is unless they changed it recently.

 
Random question:  has anyone seen Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky go on sale on PSN ?  Just wondering if picking it up for $20 would be a resonable move.

 
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