Digital distribution platforms feature regular special offers to lure in new customers. These exceptional deals can be used to your advantage as a means to quickly assemble a vast collection of great PC games at very low cost. But that requires regularly checking in on each and every digital download service for their latest deals, which can be a tiresome affair.
That’s where my weekly Discount Drone feature comes in. In Discount Drone I take a weekly look at everything that is on offer and extract the best deals for your perusal. These are formatted by genre and accompanied by short and accurate descriptions, so that you can decide whether a game might be worth having. This includes special offers on: Direct2Drive, GamersGate, Get Games, Good Old Games, Green Man Gaming, Impulse and Steam.
This is the second week of the new genre-based format that I hope brings the games to the forefront instead of the distribution platforms. This week sees some interesting offers as the summer deals continue. Some interesting newcomers are the Apogee Pack, which offers a bundle of classic first person shooters and Mount and Blade: Warband, which is an excellent medieval life simulator/RPG. And some interesting deals from last week remain active, as can be seen with Get Games’ excellent strategic offerings of Commandos Complete, King’s Bounty: Armored Princess and Space Rangers 2: Reboot amongst many others.
And there are many more games to be had this week, so head on down for the full story. And be sure to subscribe to GameDrone for weekly coverage of the best digital download offers!
Deals of the Week
- Apogee Pack on Good Old Games – Save 50% Weekend Deal – 11,78 EUR
These are truly old games, with classic titles like Duke Nukem 3D and Rise of the Triad. These are two cheesy old shooters with one seeing a kick-ass hero tear into an alien invasion and the other a team of five operatives investigating a cult… with guns. These two are accompanied by the more modern side-scrolling platformer Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project and the even older Blake Stone FPS games. A package good for a nice nostalgic trip to the days of old, along with some solid shooting gameplay. - Commandos Complete on Get Games - Save 50% Summer Deal - 7,49 EUR
This package includes all Commandos games, from the excellent and ridiculously difficult squad-based strategy games of Behind Enemy Lines & Commandos 2, to the sub-par shooter Strike Force. An awesome bundle at a great price – definitely worth a look. - King’s Bounty: Armored Princess on Get Games - Save 80% Summer Deal – 4,99 EUR
This stand-alone expansion pack offers an even better take on King’s Bounty’s excellent turn-based strategy gameplay, with the introduction of flight, a dragon pet, new hero abilities, etc. Be sure to get this if you’re into fantasy turn-based strategy games with heavy RPG influences similar to Heroes of Might and Magic. - Mount and Blade: Warband on Steam – Save 66% Weekend Deal – 10,20 EUR
Take an excellent medieval life simulator with directly controlled combat, a wide open world and near endless possibilities. Then add in 64-player multiplayer, newly improved combat mechanics, enhanced graphics and animations, new factional rulership gameplay and loads of other improvements. Now you’ve got Mount & Blade: Warband, an excellent sort-of Role-playing Game that can last for hours on end… and then some more with epic medieval multiplayer clashes. - Space Rangers 2: Reboot on Get Games - Save 85% Summer Deal - 3,24 EUR
Space Rangers 2 improves upon the original in ever regard. It’s a hugely varied game, which makes it a tad hard to describe, but its over-the-top yet in-depth space exploration mixture makes for an awesome experience. This reboot version also includes an expansion that adds new game modes, missions, equipment, etc.
Action
- Beat Hazard on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal – 2,79 EUR
An arcade space shooter similar to Geometry Wars but with a neat twist: everything is based around your music. Enemy wave spawns, firing rates and visual effects are all based on the musical track you’ve selected, much like the racing tracks Audiosurf forms around your MP3s. It’s fun and intense. - Plain Sight on GamersGate – Save 80% Weekend Deal – 1,79 EUR
A fast-paced third-person multiplayer action game starring ninja robots. It features crazy disjointed maps that force players to jump between floating objects in space and make clever use of gravity. More importantly, the objective is to hack other ninja robots to pieces and then blow yourself up to score points. Oh, and anyone caught in the blast adds to your multiplier! Add in numerous unlockable powers, various over-the-top game modes, many different maps and high octane multiplayer and you’ve got a winner. - Swarm Arena on Steam – Save 10% Launch Deal – 7,19 EUR
At first glance an arcade space shooter in the vein of Geometry Wars, it soon becomes apparent that Swarm Arena is quite a different beast despite the similar looks. It’s a more tactical approach to the genre where the player gathers his ‘ammunition’ and faces less numerous but more capable opponents. The problem is that there’s so little content that it lasts for an hour or two at most and without multiplayer and more variety there’s little reason to return to it afterwards. - Zombie Driver on GamersGate – Save 75% Weekend Deal – 2,24 EUR
Drive in a variety of different, upgradeable cars and annihilate the local zombies with mounted flamethrowers, miniguns and more. It’s short and more than a bit repetitive, but if driving around town killing zombies sounds like your thing then you’ll probably like it.
Adventure
- Bob Came in Pieces on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal – 2,79 EUR
Bob has crash landed on a planet and needs to find missing parts to fix his ship and escape. In this colorful puzzle-adventure game, you’ll need to rebuild Bob’s ship into different shapes and sizes in order to solve the puzzles. - Machinarium on GamersGate – Save 66% Weekend Deal – 5,09 EUR
An independently developed adventure game with a very unique art style. It stars a little robot who find himself trapped inside a prison of sorts and features fairly standard point-and-click gameplay mixed with very non-standard story exposition: there’s not a single word of dialogue. It’s a bit short and can be quite difficult at times, but otherwise comes highly recommended for anyone who digs point-and-click adventure games set in strange and interesting worlds. - The Path on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal - 2,79 EUR
A very dark and unusual horror adventure game featuring little red ridinghood. It challenges you to ignore what the game tells you and features some disturbing scenes.
First Person Shooter
- Aliens vs Predator on Get Games – Save 50% Summer Deal – 17,49 EUR
Become a marine, alien or predator in this futuristic first person shooter. It’s a solid shooter with three enjoyable singleplayer campaigns, a very intense atmosphere and a decent, but not outstanding, three-way multiplayer component. - Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal – 2,49 EUR
A first person survival horror game set on an old nuclear icebreaker on the North Pole. - NecroVisioN: Lost Company on Green Man Gaming – Save 87% Weekend Deal – 3,62 EUR
The latest title in the NecroVisioN franchise is actually a prequel that puts you in the shoes of a German soldier fighting off hordes of monsters during World War I. A good deal if you’re into arcade first person shooters with hordes of mindless monsters to blast your way through.
Role-playing Game
- Avencast: Rise of the Mage on Steam - Save 50% Weekend Deal – 4,49 EUR
Avencast is a mediocre hack & slash RPG with gameplay centered around wizardry and magic. There are many better games in the genre, but there are worse games to play if you’re looking to pass the time until Diablo 3, Dungeon Siege 3 or Torchlight. - Avernum V on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal – 7,18 EUR
This is an isometric turn-based RPG with classic party-based gameplay. It’s a large game with hundreds of quests and it’ll take quite a while to complete. But it’s a bit combat heavy for this type of game and the graphics are very basic. - Eschalon: Book I on Impulse – Save 50% Weekend Deal – 7,49 EUR
An isometric turn-based RPG in a large fantasy world. Its graphics are somewhat dated and it was created by a small independent studio, but it offers many dozens of hours of play time and a solid fantasy story. Worth a look if you’re into gameplay and storytelling over graphics in your RPGs. - Eschalon: Book II on Impulse – Save 50% Weekend Deal – 9,99 EUR
See the above, but add in much improved graphics, 60 new features and an even more expansive game. It’s mostly more of the same, but in a good and solidly improved way. - Geneforge 5 on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal – 7,18 EUR
Another isometric turn-based RPG game from the creators of Avernum V. It features similarly outdated graphics, but is also an expansive RPG with solid storytelling. - Mount and Blade on Steam – Save 75% Weekend Deal – 7,50 EUR
An independently created medieval life simulator might sound like a dull affair. But this is a game that cleverly combines a large fantasy world with interesting combat mechanics. Because the player is in full control at all times and such affairs as sword fighting and archery all come down to player skill. Add a huge amount of player freedom to do anything from trading to becoming the leader of a band of mercenaries and you’ve got a game that can entertain for hours on end. - Numen: Contest of Heroes on Impulse – Save 50% Weekend Deal – 9,99 EUR
This appears to be a fairly generic fantasy hack & slash RPG. But one that doesn’t seem to do anything particularly wrong. There’s only one review that I know of which gives it a solid 7 out of 10 and most Impulse users seem quite pleased with it giving it a 4 out of 5 rating. I’ve actually bought it, but still need to find the time to give it a proper look and review. - Star Wolves on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal - 2,49 EUR
You control a mothership and a set of pilots in their own fighter craft through an extensive singleplayer campaign. The voice-acting is very sub-par and the graphics are merely decent, but the gameplay is very addictive and fun. The universe just sucks you in after a few hours of play. - Star Wolves 3: Civil War on Get Games - Save 75% Summer Deal – 6,25 EUR
This game hearkens back to the original Star Wolves with similarly awesome and addictive RPG/RTS gameplay, no DRM and poor voice-acting. It’s nowhere near as buggy as Star Wolves 2 and while the interface takes a bit of getting used to it’s definitely a fun game to play.
Real-time Strategy
- Darwinia on Green Man Gaming – Save 70% Deal – 2,16 EUR
A retro-themed indie real-time strategy game where you have to save the Darwinians from extinction as a computer virus has infiltrated their world. It only features singleplayer, but is actually quite fun to play. - Defcon: Everybody Dies on Green Man Gaming – Save 16% Deal - 6,02 EUR
Defcon puts players in charge of a military commander trying to turn his country into a global superpower. It’s a cold and harsh presentation of what a nuclear war would be like viewed from the perspective of those in charge. Set up defenses around major population centers, build a fleet to engage the enemy and then launch everything you have at the largest possible population centers of the enemy. With its distant global map view and cold statistics on nuke efficiency this is definitely not your average heroic real-time strategy game. - Fate of Hellas on GamersGate – Save 50% Weekend Deal – 4,99 EUR
Fate of Hellas centers around ancient Greece and offers fairly familiar RTS gameplay. It tries to change things up a little by carrying over bonuses from conquered cities, as well as introducing some unit customization by allowing you to pick up weapons from fallen enemies. But apart from that it’s just a solid RTS game with base building, melee and ranged combat, formations and siege gameplay. - Grand Ages: Rome on Green Man Gaming – Save 70% Weekend Deal - 7,22 EUR
A city-building real-time strategy game set in the Roman era - Gratuitous Space Battles Complete on Impulse - Save 35% – 20,18 EUR
An excellent indie strategy game that puts you in command of a space fleet. Design your own ships and set up your armadas before each battle, then watch as they tear into the opposing fleets. There is no direct unit control in this game, but it really doesn’t matter given the gratuitous space battles and excellent pre-battle planning systems. This package also includes all three race expansions (The Order, The Swarm and The Tribe). This should really be bought from the developer’s website instead, because it’s equally cheap and all the cash goes straight to Positech Games and thus even more such cool indie games. - King Arthur: The Role-playing Wargame + Saxons on Steam – Save 33% Weekend Deal – 33,49 EUR
A recent strategy game with a fantasy setting inspired by the legends of king Arthur. It’s based around a turn-based campaign map and large scale real-time strategy battles that forms a mixture similar to the Total War games. The key differences being the inclusion of heroes, magic, RPG elements and a fantasy setting. This deal also includes two DLC packs and the Saxons expansion pack. - Men of War: Red Tide on Green Man Gaming – Save 70% Deal – 7,22 EUR
This sequel to Men of War introduces a brand new campaign spanning 23 missions and 4 factions during World War 2. It also includes six historical battles fought in the 1941-1945 time period and more than one hundred different units. - Napoleon: Total War on Get Games – Save 50% Summer Deal – 19,99 EUR
The most recent game in the Total War series, which features the Napoleonic era. It’s an improved version of Empire: Total War, with slightly less features and a smaller theatre of war, but superior execution. - XIII Century Gold Edition on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal - 6,25 EUR
Two excellent real-time strategy games with large scale battles (thousands of soldiers) in realistic medieval conflicts. It recreates the actual conditions of numerous historical battles, taking into account both the weather and terrain. It may have the grand scale in battles of a Total War game, but it lacks the grand strategy turn-based over map gameplay as it’s more of a medieval battle simulator.
Turn-based Strategy
- Elven Legacy on Green Man Gaming – Save 70% Deal – 9,03 EUR
In this turn-based fantasy strategy/RPG you take command of a small army of troops and scour clean maps with gameplay that’s mildly reminiscent of Heroes of Might & Magic. Interestingly the entire map is a battlefield so you always have to properly position your forces when moving, not just during combat. A solid strategy game that should be good for a fair few hours of fun, but don’t expect too much from the storytelling. Don’t bother with it until you’ve finished Heroes of Might & Magic V and King’s Bounty. - Fantasy Wars on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal – 3,74 EUR
Turn-based strategy gameplay in a fantasy setting. This is the prequel to Elven Legacy so the gameplay is nearly identical with constant grid-based turn-based warfare. It’s actually a lot of fun to play despite the low production values. - Flotilla on GamersGate – Save 66% Weekend Deal – 3,05 EUR
This indie-game involves randomly generated universes that you get to explore with your own space fleet. It includes turn-based tactical combat, exploration of a randomly populated universe, stylish 3D graphics, ship upgrades, splitscreen co-op, skirmish mode, etc. Definitely a game worth having. - King’s Bounty: The Legend on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal – 2,49 EUR
An excellent fantasy turn-based strategy game with RPG influences that’s similar, but superior, to Heroes of Might & Magic. This is about as good as the genre gets and you definitely don’t want to miss out on it at this price. - UFO: Aftershock on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal - 2,49 EUR
Humanity has fled from Earth after it became uninhabitable, but now they’re trying to reconquer it from the unknown lifeforms that have taken up resources. Naturally you’re placed in charge in this small-scale tactical strategy game. - UFO: Afterlight on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal - 3,74 EUR
Afterlight places the focus on a small human colony on Mars that has to thrive in the face of constant alien invasions. It’s a much better game than Aftershock and a solid mixture of global strategy and small-scale tactical combat. - World War 2: Time of Wrath on Impulse - Save 75% – 6,75 EUR
A decent turn-based grand strategy game set in World War 2.
Simulator
- Air Aces: Pacific on Impulse - Save 35% – 29,90 EUR
An arcade flight simulator set in the Pacific arena of World War 2 with variable reality-mode setting for different flight experiences.
Platform and Puzzle Games
- And Yet It Moves on GamersGate – Save 66% Weekend Deal – 3,59 EUR
A puzzle-platformer indie game with a very unique visual style similar to paper mache. - Braid on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal – 3,59 EUR
An excellent puzzle-platformer that present colorful environments and some very challenging puzzles that require time manipulation to solve. It’s highly original, challenging and fun. - Osmos on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal - 3,19 EUR
An arcade-puzzle game in which your objective is to grow by absorbing other motes. - Puzzle Dimension on Steam – Save 33% Launch Deal – 6,69 EUR
This new puzzle game lets players assume the role of a large stone ball that needs to roll and jump around a large variety of crumbling environments. Naturally these environments become increasingly complex and challenging to maneuvre as one wrong turn can mean failure and a reset. With achievements, leaderboards, a whopping 100 puzzles and decent production values this is a solid puzzle game. - Saira on GamersGate – Save 60% Weekend Deal – 3,59 EUR
An independently developed 2D platform game that stands out due to its beautiful scenarios, tough puzzles and smart design. - Trine on Green Man Gaming – Save 70% Deal – 6,02 EUR
A great indie platform game featuring singleplayer and local (same computer) co-op modes. Read my first impressions for an indication of what the game plays like and why you should get it. - World of Goo on GamersGate – Save 66% Weekend Deal – 6,79 EUR
Take charge of an armada of goo and use it to form all sorts of weird contraptions to solve puzzles. It’s charming, humorous and challenging.
Other Games and Bundles
- A Kingdom for Keflings on GamersGate – Save 66% Weekend Deal – 6,79 EUR
In this colorful city-building game you assume control over an avatar who can explore a fantasy world, go on quests, build up a village and help its inhabitants in gathering resources and improving their settlement. It also includes 4-player multiplayer. - Amnesia: The Dark Descent on Direct2Drive – Save 10% Pre-order Deal – 12,50 EUR
An upcoming first person survival horror game. - Space Rangers on Get Games – Save 75% Summer Deal – 2,49 EUR
This is a difficult game to describe. It’s part RPG, part RTS, part Sim. You’re a space pilot and you can do whatever you want: trade, fight, follow the storyline, accept missions, become a pirate, etc. However it also features strategic ground battles and all sorts of quirky encounters. It’s a very unusual game in the way that the King’s Bounty games are over-the-top weird… and like those games, Space Rangers is one game you can’t afford to miss out on. - THQ Ultimate Bundle on Impulse – Save 80% – 65,49 EUR
This is a bundle of some of THQ’s best PC games. It includes the entire Company of Heroes series of World War 2-era real-time strategy games, along with Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War and Supreme Commander and their respective expansion packs. Proper first person shooters are also included in the form of the entire Red Faction franchise and both Full Spectrum Warrior games. The excellent Action RPG Titan Quest and its Immortal Throne expansion are also included, along with the superb free-roaming singleplayer FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. The racing game Juiced 2 and zoo simulator World of Zoo round out the package. - Uplink on Green Man Gaming – Save 70% Deal – 2,16 EUR
In this game you assume the role of a freelance hacker. Take on jobs and upgrade your tools with the earnings as you progress through the game’s plot.
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