CAG's rocksolidaudio & shipwreck preview the new releases for the week of March 6th, 2007. There's a slew of deals for new games this week too. That's right, a slew.
Burnout Dominator Dev. EA UK Pub. EA Systems: PS2, PSP MSRP: $39.99
For those who have yet to make the next gen jump and are still enjoying the verdant pastures of the PS2 (or PSP), Dominator should sate any temporary craving for the newest and shiniest. EA took the reigns themselves for this installment (usual developer Criterion are busting their asses on the undoubtedly sublime Burnout 5), creating a Burnout "greatest hits" of sorts, though curiously leaving out some of the niceties we've come to expect from the series. It's great that they've brought back the "chaining" mechanic of the earlier games (whereby you chain together subsequent boosts into one long ludicrously fast combo), but it's a damn shame to see them completely drop the crash mode and online multiplayer in the process (traffic attack is gone too, but no one is crying about that). Lots of new tracks will probably be the biggest draw for series fans, while newcomers will surely be taken aback at the brilliantly tuned gameplay that they've taken a half dozen installments to notice. If you're already invested in next gen gameplay you're better off waiting for the true successor this fall, but if PS2 is your main time sink there are few more visceral ways to spend $40.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Burnout Dominator, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $39.99
Purchase at Amazon $39.99
Def Jam Icon Dev. EA Chicago Pub. EA Systems: 360, PS3 MSRP: $59.99
Curious beast, this. The departure of wrestling master developer Aki from the series (which is rap and hip-hop industry icons fighting each other, for those out of the loop) will surely alienate some fans of the first two games, but it's new more accessible fighting approach is still a bit too complex for casual armchair brawlers. It's a damn stylish experience though, and almost worth checking out regardless of what camp you fall into simply for a taste an aesthetic you haven't seen in a game before. Character models are strikingly realistic (not that anyone was dying for a convincing Anthony Anderson in their video game, besides Anthony Anderson), the environments are hugely destructible, and best of all, everything around you bounces and pops in time to whatever music is playing - from the game soundtrack or your 360 drive (sorry PS3 version). This synesthetic take on the audio in the game is taken a step further, as you remix songs on the fly with the analog sticks incorporating it into the fighting in a way that's more easily experienced than described. All of these interesting elements don't cohere as well as you'd hope, especially when the fighting is less fundamentally sound than it's predecessor, but it's probably still worth a rent for those whose sole desire in life is to hit Fat Joe is the face with a tire iron.
Cheapest Price:
You've got several deal options for Def Jam Icon this week. EB/Gamestop is offering a coupon for 10% off your next purchase at PhatFarm.com if you nead some new threads. Target is offering a free $10 gift card with your purchase. Family Video is offering the game for $54.99 with 99 cent shipping, which is also not a bad deal. Additionally, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer at select stores. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at EB Games $59.99 w/ 10% off your next purchase at PhatFarm.com
Purchase at EB Games $59.99 w/ 10% off your next purchase at PhatFarm.com
Target is selling the Def Jam Icon for $59.99 with a free $10 gift card. Details in speedy1961's thread here.
Purchase at Family Video $54.99
Purchase at Family Video $54.99
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Dev. Rockstar Leeds/North Pub. Rockstar Systems: PS2 MSRP: $19.99
Rockstar swore they wouldn't port this PS2 to PSP remake of everybody's favorite GTA city back to PS2 as they did with Liberty City Stories, but then the game mysteriously bombed and recouping cost became a bit of an issue. Their loss is our game though (see what I did there?), as you can bask yet again in a neon-basked 80's mobster masterpiece, and for a twenty spot. The visuals are becoming exponentially less palatable as father time marches on, but you probably won't care when you're on the beach dismembering a roller skater with a scythe. There's a new story and characters, but ultimately it's the same freeform chaos you've come to expect. A pretty decent way to kill time until the 29th, when the GTA4 trailer will no doubt make you scowl in disgust at the piteous scope of all previous installments. So enjoy it while you can.
Cheapest Price:
You've got a couple of deals to choose from on GTA: Vice City Stories. If you live near a Fry's, they are selling the game for $13.99. Circuit City is offering it for a buck more at $14.99 and if they don't have it available by 2PM on Wednesday, they'll give you a $20 gift card as well. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $19.99
Circuit City is selling GTA: Vice City Stories for $14.99. Details in speedy1961's thread here. Plus if they don't have it by 2PM on Wednesday they'll give you a $20 gift card.
Fry's is selling GTA Liberty City Stories for $13.99. Details in fidodido's thread here.
MotorStorm Dev. Evolution Studios Pub. SCE Systems: PS3 MSRP: $59.99
MotorStorm is the game that will sell PS3s to casual gamers with disposable incomes. On the right TV, it's absolutely stunning. They may not have hit the target video from two E3s ago, but the fact that they made it as close as they have is an astonishing accomplishment. And only a few months into the systems lifespan - the future is bright, friends. Anyhow, enough gushing about the graphics. Gameplay, as you might have sampled by now via demo download or Best Buy kiosk, it precise, unforgiving, visceral and fairly open-ended. Considering the minimalism game mechanics, having the entire game rely on track design and vehicle choice, it still feels fresh even if that freshness is best experienced in small doses. Online play is seemingly where it's at, as the minimal course selection and singular gameplay mode wouldn't satisfy on its own for a whole game's worth. Somewhat reminiscent of the first Jet Moto or Twisted Metal games, MotorStorm is a good start that everyone who invested in the system should check out, and will no doubt spawn sequels which could either make good on the potential or throw it to the wind. Most importantly, it's a solid new exclusive PS3 title, and an experience that the 360 hasn't delivered yet regardless of whether or not it can.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for MotorStorm, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $59.99
Purchase at Family Video $57.68
NBA Street Homecourt Dev. EA Canada Pub. EA Systems: PS3 MSRP: $59.99
(As featured in CAG Foreplay 2/20/07) While the third iteration of the series was a bit of a sidestep that tried too many small tweaks and didn't really succeed at any of them, this fourth Street installment is refreshingly back on track for it's next-gen debut. The game feels more organic than before, as Gamebreakers and trick remixing have become significantly more reflexive; even the aesthetic and general urban vibe is more mature and doesn't really feel forced for a change. It's smoother than ever, with slightly cartoony characters models that translate to a silky 60fps (while still looking realistic in all the right ways thanks to fantastic animation). All that said, while it looks great and is as fun as ever to play, there's ultimately a limited amount of fun to be had once you've conquered the solo career and explored the online realm. It's good fun while it lasts, but there's still not enough depth for a truly classic gaming experience. It would have been nice to see a Knockout Kings -> Fight Night level evolution for the series, but at least enough time has passed since the last one for it to feel refreshing.
Cheapest Price:
Target is offering a free $10 gift card with the purchase of NBA Street Homecourt. Family Video is also offering up the game for $53.99 plus 99 cents if you want to purchase online. You also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $59.74
Target is selling the NBA Street Homecourt for $59.99 with a free $10 gift card. Details in speedy1961's thread here.
Purchase at Family Video $53.99
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 Dev. Red Storm Pub. Ubisoft Systems: 360, PC MSRP: $59.99
It's not like we NEEDED another installment of GRAW less than a year after it's well-regarded debut, especially when it's still ripe for the DLC expanding. Ah well, Clancy needs to feed his family, and you no doubt need to execute a few hundred respawning mexicans. GRAW2 seems more a refinement than a true sequel, but GRAW didn't have a ton that needed massive improvement (besides being frustrating and boring if you don't like "realistic" games, which ain't gonna change). It's beautiful and chock full of cutthroat political innuendo, with methodically-paced, strategic team-based gameplay. Hopefully your teammate AI no longer rides on the short bus to basic training (I have yet to play the final game), as that was by far the biggest issues with the original campaign. Multiplayer is still a wonderfully strategic orgy of modes and methods of attack, with the coolest addition being a proper real-time crisp camera in the drone, the all-seeing controllable hovering eye that makes camping an inevitable death wish. There are certainly more purely "fun" games to play, but if you crave unforgiving realistic intensity and strategic cat-and-mouse battles you'll love it.
Cheapest Price:
It's not often that a next-gen game is offered up at a discount at launch, but Circuit City is selling GRAW 2 for $49.99 and it's guaranteed in stock by 2PM on Wednesday or you'll receive a $20 gift card. Amazon also is offering this game at a slight discount for $54.99. Online, you also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $54.99
Circuit City is selling GRAW 2 for $49.99. Details in speedy1961's thread here. Plus if they don't have it by 2PM on Wednesday they'll give you a $20 gift card.
Shipwreck takes a look at the rest of this week's releases:
Carol Vorderman's Sudoku Dev. Eidos Pub. Eidos Systems: PSP, PS2 MSRP: $29.99
Making Blair Morgan seem like a household name, here comes Carol Vorderman's take on Sudoku. Somehow I feel the publisher's money could have been spent on a little more influential celebrity, like say, David Abrams. As for gameplay, I'm sure these Sudoku titles due a suitable job of giving you boxes for your numbers. With much cheaper Sudoku games already on the market though, only Carol Vorderman fans need apply.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Carol Vorderman's Sudoku, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at EB Games $29.99
Purchase at EB Games $29.99
Medal Of Honor Collection Dev. Electronic Arts Pub. Electronic Arts Systems: PS2 MSRP: $29.99
EA throws Frontline, Rising Sun, and European Assault in a box and calls it a day. We've seen at least one of these collections so far in the Need For Speed series. If you are really looking to buy these games though, it seems like you could get them cheaper than $30 without the extra cardboard box.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Medal of Honor Collection, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Amazon offers the collection up for a modest discount at $27.99. Online, you also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $27.99
Rayman Raving Rabbids Dev. Ubisoft Pub. Ubisoft Systems: DS MSRP: $29.99
Unlike the mini-game infested Wii version by the same name, this game appears to go back to Rayman's platforming roots. Whether that is a good thing or not is hard to tell as there has been very little press on this game.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Rayman Raving Rabbids, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $29.82
Risk/Clue/Perfection/Aggravation Dev. Destination Software Pub. Destination Software Systems: DS MSRP: $19.99
You might not want to risk passing on this compilation of classic board games at a bargain price. Most of us had no clue that the Monopoly compilation was going to get so hard to find so quickly and while it is probably unlikely that this one will be as rare, if you are a fan of these games it might not be a bad idea to go ahead a pick this up to avoid future aggravation. The lameness in this preview is absolute perfection.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Risk/Clue/Perfection/Aggravation, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Amazon is offering a modest discount and is selling the game for $17.99. Online, you also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $17.99
Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing Dev. Activision Pub. Activision Systems: DS, GC, GBA, PSP MSRP: $19.99, $29.99
Perhaps one of the most overused licenses in recent history adds another game to its growing list of irrelevancy. Weep for the youth that pick this over Mario Kart.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $29.82
Purchase at Amazon $19.82
Purchase at Amazon $19.82
Purchase at Amazon $29.82
Uno 52 Dev. Destination Software Pub. Destination Software Systems: DS MSRP: $19.99
Amazingly enough, as I was in Buffalo Wild Wings writing up these previews, I looked up from my boneless wings to see something called Uno 52 on one of those table-top touchscreen machines. From the looks of it, this is kind of a solitaire Uno game. Then the MegaTouch screen changed and I had to find all the differences between two pictures (hey, that's a DS game too!). And I need more Mr. Pibb.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Uno 52, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $19.99
Uno Free Fall Dev. Destination Software Pub. Destination Software Systems: GBA MSRP: $14.99
An Uno puzzle game that was already part of a DS collection comes to the GBA. Yep.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Uno Free Fall, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $14.99
Wario: Master of Disguise Dev. Suzak Pub. Nintendo Systems: DS MSRP: $29.99
Nintendo's anti-hero stars in his first platforming game on the DS and from all early reviews, this ain't no WarioLand. The malady inflicted "power-ups" of yesteryear are gone and have been replaced with disguises which give Wario different attributes. Unfortunately, these disguises are activated by a forced implementation of the touch screen. Players must draw specific gestures that correspond to the different costumes and these aren't always recognized properly by the DS. Add in the odd control scheme where you must press up on the d-pad to jump, and this can quickly lead to a lot of unnecessary frustration. This one might only be for the Nintendo faithful once they've finished all of the other good platformers for the system. The rest of us will be waiting for a true WarioLand.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Wario: Master of Disguise, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $29.99
General Deals that could be applied to save you some money:
(Please note that you must have already signed up for both of these deals, but the purchase periods are still active.)
Paypal is currently offering a $15 rebate on qualifying $30 purchases. Check out all the details here.
Google Checkout is still running their $10 off any $10 or more purchase for new users. Check out the details here.
Feedback:
Did we miss a good sale on a game? Did we miss previewing a game completely? Well, the only way that everyone can know a better deal is out there is to let us know about it. Post deals you've found or games that we missed in the thread so that CAGs can make sure they are getting the absolute best prices on new releases.
Burnout Dominator Dev. EA UK Pub. EA Systems: PS2, PSP MSRP: $39.99
For those who have yet to make the next gen jump and are still enjoying the verdant pastures of the PS2 (or PSP), Dominator should sate any temporary craving for the newest and shiniest. EA took the reigns themselves for this installment (usual developer Criterion are busting their asses on the undoubtedly sublime Burnout 5), creating a Burnout "greatest hits" of sorts, though curiously leaving out some of the niceties we've come to expect from the series. It's great that they've brought back the "chaining" mechanic of the earlier games (whereby you chain together subsequent boosts into one long ludicrously fast combo), but it's a damn shame to see them completely drop the crash mode and online multiplayer in the process (traffic attack is gone too, but no one is crying about that). Lots of new tracks will probably be the biggest draw for series fans, while newcomers will surely be taken aback at the brilliantly tuned gameplay that they've taken a half dozen installments to notice. If you're already invested in next gen gameplay you're better off waiting for the true successor this fall, but if PS2 is your main time sink there are few more visceral ways to spend $40.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Burnout Dominator, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $39.99 Purchase at Amazon $39.99Def Jam Icon Dev. EA Chicago Pub. EA Systems: 360, PS3 MSRP: $59.99
Curious beast, this. The departure of wrestling master developer Aki from the series (which is rap and hip-hop industry icons fighting each other, for those out of the loop) will surely alienate some fans of the first two games, but it's new more accessible fighting approach is still a bit too complex for casual armchair brawlers. It's a damn stylish experience though, and almost worth checking out regardless of what camp you fall into simply for a taste an aesthetic you haven't seen in a game before. Character models are strikingly realistic (not that anyone was dying for a convincing Anthony Anderson in their video game, besides Anthony Anderson), the environments are hugely destructible, and best of all, everything around you bounces and pops in time to whatever music is playing - from the game soundtrack or your 360 drive (sorry PS3 version). This synesthetic take on the audio in the game is taken a step further, as you remix songs on the fly with the analog sticks incorporating it into the fighting in a way that's more easily experienced than described. All of these interesting elements don't cohere as well as you'd hope, especially when the fighting is less fundamentally sound than it's predecessor, but it's probably still worth a rent for those whose sole desire in life is to hit Fat Joe is the face with a tire iron.
Cheapest Price:
You've got several deal options for Def Jam Icon this week. EB/Gamestop is offering a coupon for 10% off your next purchase at PhatFarm.com if you nead some new threads. Target is offering a free $10 gift card with your purchase. Family Video is offering the game for $54.99 with 99 cent shipping, which is also not a bad deal. Additionally, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer at select stores. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at EB Games $59.99 w/ 10% off your next purchase at PhatFarm.com Purchase at EB Games $59.99 w/ 10% off your next purchase at PhatFarm.com Target is selling the Def Jam Icon for $59.99 with a free $10 gift card. Details in speedy1961's thread here. Purchase at Family Video $54.99 Purchase at Family Video $54.99Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Dev. Rockstar Leeds/North Pub. Rockstar Systems: PS2 MSRP: $19.99
Rockstar swore they wouldn't port this PS2 to PSP remake of everybody's favorite GTA city back to PS2 as they did with Liberty City Stories, but then the game mysteriously bombed and recouping cost became a bit of an issue. Their loss is our game though (see what I did there?), as you can bask yet again in a neon-basked 80's mobster masterpiece, and for a twenty spot. The visuals are becoming exponentially less palatable as father time marches on, but you probably won't care when you're on the beach dismembering a roller skater with a scythe. There's a new story and characters, but ultimately it's the same freeform chaos you've come to expect. A pretty decent way to kill time until the 29th, when the GTA4 trailer will no doubt make you scowl in disgust at the piteous scope of all previous installments. So enjoy it while you can.
Cheapest Price:
You've got a couple of deals to choose from on GTA: Vice City Stories. If you live near a Fry's, they are selling the game for $13.99. Circuit City is offering it for a buck more at $14.99 and if they don't have it available by 2PM on Wednesday, they'll give you a $20 gift card as well. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $19.99 Circuit City is selling GTA: Vice City Stories for $14.99. Details in speedy1961's thread here. Plus if they don't have it by 2PM on Wednesday they'll give you a $20 gift card. Fry's is selling GTA Liberty City Stories for $13.99. Details in fidodido's thread here.MotorStorm Dev. Evolution Studios Pub. SCE Systems: PS3 MSRP: $59.99
MotorStorm is the game that will sell PS3s to casual gamers with disposable incomes. On the right TV, it's absolutely stunning. They may not have hit the target video from two E3s ago, but the fact that they made it as close as they have is an astonishing accomplishment. And only a few months into the systems lifespan - the future is bright, friends. Anyhow, enough gushing about the graphics. Gameplay, as you might have sampled by now via demo download or Best Buy kiosk, it precise, unforgiving, visceral and fairly open-ended. Considering the minimalism game mechanics, having the entire game rely on track design and vehicle choice, it still feels fresh even if that freshness is best experienced in small doses. Online play is seemingly where it's at, as the minimal course selection and singular gameplay mode wouldn't satisfy on its own for a whole game's worth. Somewhat reminiscent of the first Jet Moto or Twisted Metal games, MotorStorm is a good start that everyone who invested in the system should check out, and will no doubt spawn sequels which could either make good on the potential or throw it to the wind. Most importantly, it's a solid new exclusive PS3 title, and an experience that the 360 hasn't delivered yet regardless of whether or not it can.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for MotorStorm, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $59.99 Purchase at Family Video $57.68NBA Street Homecourt Dev. EA Canada Pub. EA Systems: PS3 MSRP: $59.99
(As featured in CAG Foreplay 2/20/07) While the third iteration of the series was a bit of a sidestep that tried too many small tweaks and didn't really succeed at any of them, this fourth Street installment is refreshingly back on track for it's next-gen debut. The game feels more organic than before, as Gamebreakers and trick remixing have become significantly more reflexive; even the aesthetic and general urban vibe is more mature and doesn't really feel forced for a change. It's smoother than ever, with slightly cartoony characters models that translate to a silky 60fps (while still looking realistic in all the right ways thanks to fantastic animation). All that said, while it looks great and is as fun as ever to play, there's ultimately a limited amount of fun to be had once you've conquered the solo career and explored the online realm. It's good fun while it lasts, but there's still not enough depth for a truly classic gaming experience. It would have been nice to see a Knockout Kings -> Fight Night level evolution for the series, but at least enough time has passed since the last one for it to feel refreshing.
Cheapest Price:
Target is offering a free $10 gift card with the purchase of NBA Street Homecourt. Family Video is also offering up the game for $53.99 plus 99 cents if you want to purchase online. You also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $59.74 Target is selling the NBA Street Homecourt for $59.99 with a free $10 gift card. Details in speedy1961's thread here. Purchase at Family Video $53.99Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 Dev. Red Storm Pub. Ubisoft Systems: 360, PC MSRP: $59.99
It's not like we NEEDED another installment of GRAW less than a year after it's well-regarded debut, especially when it's still ripe for the DLC expanding. Ah well, Clancy needs to feed his family, and you no doubt need to execute a few hundred respawning mexicans. GRAW2 seems more a refinement than a true sequel, but GRAW didn't have a ton that needed massive improvement (besides being frustrating and boring if you don't like "realistic" games, which ain't gonna change). It's beautiful and chock full of cutthroat political innuendo, with methodically-paced, strategic team-based gameplay. Hopefully your teammate AI no longer rides on the short bus to basic training (I have yet to play the final game), as that was by far the biggest issues with the original campaign. Multiplayer is still a wonderfully strategic orgy of modes and methods of attack, with the coolest addition being a proper real-time crisp camera in the drone, the all-seeing controllable hovering eye that makes camping an inevitable death wish. There are certainly more purely "fun" games to play, but if you crave unforgiving realistic intensity and strategic cat-and-mouse battles you'll love it.
Cheapest Price:
It's not often that a next-gen game is offered up at a discount at launch, but Circuit City is selling GRAW 2 for $49.99 and it's guaranteed in stock by 2PM on Wednesday or you'll receive a $20 gift card. Amazon also is offering this game at a slight discount for $54.99. Online, you also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $54.99 Circuit City is selling GRAW 2 for $49.99. Details in speedy1961's thread here. Plus if they don't have it by 2PM on Wednesday they'll give you a $20 gift card.Shipwreck takes a look at the rest of this week's releases:
Carol Vorderman's Sudoku Dev. Eidos Pub. Eidos Systems: PSP, PS2 MSRP: $29.99
Making Blair Morgan seem like a household name, here comes Carol Vorderman's take on Sudoku. Somehow I feel the publisher's money could have been spent on a little more influential celebrity, like say, David Abrams. As for gameplay, I'm sure these Sudoku titles due a suitable job of giving you boxes for your numbers. With much cheaper Sudoku games already on the market though, only Carol Vorderman fans need apply.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Carol Vorderman's Sudoku, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at EB Games $29.99 Purchase at EB Games $29.99Medal Of Honor Collection Dev. Electronic Arts Pub. Electronic Arts Systems: PS2 MSRP: $29.99
EA throws Frontline, Rising Sun, and European Assault in a box and calls it a day. We've seen at least one of these collections so far in the Need For Speed series. If you are really looking to buy these games though, it seems like you could get them cheaper than $30 without the extra cardboard box.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Medal of Honor Collection, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Amazon offers the collection up for a modest discount at $27.99. Online, you also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $27.99Rayman Raving Rabbids Dev. Ubisoft Pub. Ubisoft Systems: DS MSRP: $29.99
Unlike the mini-game infested Wii version by the same name, this game appears to go back to Rayman's platforming roots. Whether that is a good thing or not is hard to tell as there has been very little press on this game.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Rayman Raving Rabbids, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $29.82Risk/Clue/Perfection/Aggravation Dev. Destination Software Pub. Destination Software Systems: DS MSRP: $19.99
You might not want to risk passing on this compilation of classic board games at a bargain price. Most of us had no clue that the Monopoly compilation was going to get so hard to find so quickly and while it is probably unlikely that this one will be as rare, if you are a fan of these games it might not be a bad idea to go ahead a pick this up to avoid future aggravation. The lameness in this preview is absolute perfection.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Risk/Clue/Perfection/Aggravation, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Amazon is offering a modest discount and is selling the game for $17.99. Online, you also have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $17.99Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing Dev. Activision Pub. Activision Systems: DS, GC, GBA, PSP MSRP: $19.99, $29.99
Perhaps one of the most overused licenses in recent history adds another game to its growing list of irrelevancy. Weep for the youth that pick this over Mario Kart.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $29.82 Purchase at Amazon $19.82 Purchase at Amazon $19.82 Purchase at Amazon $29.82Uno 52 Dev. Destination Software Pub. Destination Software Systems: DS MSRP: $19.99
Amazingly enough, as I was in Buffalo Wild Wings writing up these previews, I looked up from my boneless wings to see something called Uno 52 on one of those table-top touchscreen machines. From the looks of it, this is kind of a solitaire Uno game. Then the MegaTouch screen changed and I had to find all the differences between two pictures (hey, that's a DS game too!). And I need more Mr. Pibb.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Uno 52, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $19.99Uno Free Fall Dev. Destination Software Pub. Destination Software Systems: GBA MSRP: $14.99
An Uno puzzle game that was already part of a DS collection comes to the GBA. Yep.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Uno Free Fall, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $14.99Wario: Master of Disguise Dev. Suzak Pub. Nintendo Systems: DS MSRP: $29.99
Nintendo's anti-hero stars in his first platforming game on the DS and from all early reviews, this ain't no WarioLand. The malady inflicted "power-ups" of yesteryear are gone and have been replaced with disguises which give Wario different attributes. Unfortunately, these disguises are activated by a forced implementation of the touch screen. Players must draw specific gestures that correspond to the different costumes and these aren't always recognized properly by the DS. Add in the odd control scheme where you must press up on the d-pad to jump, and this can quickly lead to a lot of unnecessary frustration. This one might only be for the Nintendo faithful once they've finished all of the other good platformers for the system. The rest of us will be waiting for a true WarioLand.
Cheapest Price:
There don’t appear to be any specific deals for Wario: Master of Disguise, so your best bet in-store is a Best Buy Gamer Gift Card $5 off coupon or any other in-store coupons you may have. Online, you have the potential to use the Paypal rebate offer or Google Checkout offer. See the bottom of the post for details.
Purchase at Amazon $29.99General Deals that could be applied to save you some money:
(Please note that you must have already signed up for both of these deals, but the purchase periods are still active.)
Paypal is currently offering a $15 rebate on qualifying $30 purchases. Check out all the details here.
Google Checkout is still running their $10 off any $10 or more purchase for new users. Check out the details here.
Feedback:
Did we miss a good sale on a game? Did we miss previewing a game completely? Well, the only way that everyone can know a better deal is out there is to let us know about it. Post deals you've found or games that we missed in the thread so that CAGs can make sure they are getting the absolute best prices on new releases.
