Big Game Hunters 8-Sep-2006
GameSpot's biweekly buyers' guide is for bargain-seeking game players and collectors. In it we tip you off to games that recently got marked down in price. Look for notes from GameSpot's editors about some of the better deals.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8--Welcome to Big Game Hunters, GameSpot's biweekly buyers' guide for bargain-seeking game players and collectors. With games getting more expensive and pricey new game systems coming out, it pays to be thrifty these days. So this here's where we'll tip you off to games that recently got marked down in price at Best Buy (GameSpot's premiere commerce partner) or other retailers. Look for notes from GameSpot's editors about some of the better deals, and leave a comment below if you know of any local bargains or special offers that other game players might be interested in.
Please note: The prices listed below were verified by GameSpot to be accurate and were marked down within two weeks of the above-listed date, but pricing and availability may change without notice at any time. As a result, some of the prices listed on this page may become obsolete.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC)
OLD PRICE: $49.99
NEW PRICE: $39.99 (-20%)
Review Excerpt: "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is simply one of the best role-playing games ever made."
Score: 9.3 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $49.99
NEW PRICE: $39.99 (-20%)
Review Excerpt: "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is simply one of the best role-playing games ever made."
Score: 9.3 Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Brian Ekberg , Sports Editor
Fancy yourself a big bruiser or a nimble thief? Do you like to blast your way through enemies with explosive magic, or is your idea of a good offense a perfectly timed retreat? Regardless of your style, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has something to offer. Marvel at the game's massive open world or immerse yourself in its intricate and rewarding storyline. Whack guys en masse in the Coliseum or hop on your horse and get working on saving the kingdom. However you like to play, you owe yourself the trip to Tamriel to take part in this satisfying epic adventure. Condemned: Criminal Origins (X360)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "This first-person action game hits you like a sledgehammer with its astounding, stunningly creepy presentation, but it sacrifices opportunities for more shocks and surprises by settling for repetition."
Score: 8.0 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "This first-person action game hits you like a sledgehammer with its astounding, stunningly creepy presentation, but it sacrifices opportunities for more shocks and surprises by settling for repetition."
Score: 8.0 Check More Prices
World of Warcraft (PC)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "Here is the online role-playing game you should play, no matter who you are."
Score: 9.5 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "Here is the online role-playing game you should play, no matter who you are."
Score: 9.5 Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Alex Navarro , Associate Editor
If you haven't already taken the plunge on World of Warcraft, you never will, right? Wrong. With the retail price of the game marked down, and the Burning Crusade expansion on the way, there's no better time than now to invest in one of the only MMOGs that's ever mattered. Besides, aren't you tired of your jerk friends raving about their level 60 mages and blowing off your Friday night plans to go raid a bunch of dungeons? Now's your chance to blow off real life and hand over your soul and social life to high-fantasy geekdom, too! Call of Duty 2 (PC)
OLD PRICE: $37.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-21%)
Review Excerpt: "If you liked the original Call of Duty, then you're sure to enjoy the sequel, which stays true to the strengths of its predecessor."
Score: 8.8 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $37.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-21%)
Review Excerpt: "If you liked the original Call of Duty, then you're sure to enjoy the sequel, which stays true to the strengths of its predecessor."
Score: 8.8 Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Matthew Rorie , Guides Editor
Call of Duty 2 isn't a game that's going to change your life, but it is a game that knows what it wants to do and does it very, very well. It looks great on high-end computers; runs well at lower settings on older setups; and, perhaps most importantly, is consistently one of the most popular online shooters, which means you're going to have plenty of servers to choose from when jumping into the game's stellar multiplayer mode. Star Wars: Empire at War (PC)
OLD PRICE: $49.99
NEW PRICE: $24.99 (-50%)
Review Excerpt: "Star Wars fans finally get to play a strategy game worthy of the license."
Score: 8.7 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $49.99
NEW PRICE: $24.99 (-50%)
Review Excerpt: "Star Wars fans finally get to play a strategy game worthy of the license."
Score: 8.7 Check More Prices
Dead or Alive 4 (X360)
OLD PRICE: $59.99
NEW PRICE: $39.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Tecmo's long-running fighting game series hits the Xbox 360 with its best installment to date, complete with plenty of complex and interesting characters, outstandingly good visuals, and great online play."
Score: 8.8 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $59.99
NEW PRICE: $39.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Tecmo's long-running fighting game series hits the Xbox 360 with its best installment to date, complete with plenty of complex and interesting characters, outstandingly good visuals, and great online play."
Score: 8.8 Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Greg Mueller , Associate Editor
Beyond the fantastic graphics, huge stages, and spectacular moves, Dead or Alive 4 has a lot to offer. You can hone your skills in the standard battles and then put them to the test in time attack, survival mode, and more. It doesn't stop there, though, because Dead or Alive 4 has great online multiplayer, as well, so you can pound perfect strangers into submission over Xbox Live. If you're a fan of fighting games and you own an Xbox 360, this is the game to get. Burnout Legends (PSP)
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Burnout Legends is the best racer the PSP has to offer, and any PSP owner should definitely check it out."
Score: 9.0 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Burnout Legends is the best racer the PSP has to offer, and any PSP owner should definitely check it out."
Score: 9.0 Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Ryan Davis , Associate Editor
Over the past five years, no one racing series has offered a more consistently fast and furious experience than Burnout, which delivers as much carnage as it does speed. Burnout Legends condenses the series' winning formula with confidence, featuring many of the best tracks from Burnout 2: Point of Impact and Burnout 3: Takedown. The sense of speed is quite thrilling, but it's the instant gratification of the crash junctions that make Burnout Legends a keeper. Rome: Total War Gold Edition (PC)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Rome: Total War Gold Edition includes both the original Rome: Total War and the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack. Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Rome: Total War Gold Edition includes both the original Rome: Total War and the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack. Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Jason Ocampo , Editor
If you've ever wanted to lead armies of thousands of soldiers in battle, then you must check out Rome: Total War, a staggeringly epic strategy game set in the ancient world. In Rome, you can control one of three Roman factions as you attempt to conquer the ancient world. This requires you to plot out your strategy on a map of Europe, and then participate in intense 3D battles whenever armies clash. You have to think like a real general in order to win, but there's nothing quite as satisfying as crushing your enemies under your war elephants. Space Rangers 2: Rise of the Dominators (PC)
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "It has its flaws, but Space Rangers 2 remains a crazy, inspired, over-the-top, and addictive blend of gameplay."
Score: 8.1 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "It has its flaws, but Space Rangers 2 remains a crazy, inspired, over-the-top, and addictive blend of gameplay."
Score: 8.1 Check More Prices
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (PC)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "Anchored by a wonderful cast of characters, the very well-crafted sci-fi story in Dreamfall will leave you anxiously wanting more."
Score: 8.1 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "Anchored by a wonderful cast of characters, the very well-crafted sci-fi story in Dreamfall will leave you anxiously wanting more."
Score: 8.1 Check More Prices
Staff Pick--Greg Kasavin , Editor-in-Chief
Sequel to one of the greatest adventure games of all time, Dreamfall features one of the best stories and best musical scores of any game so far this year. It's more of an interactive movie than a traditional action adventure game, relying heavily on dialogue and well-written characters to keep you interested. In spite of some flaws, it's a moving and memorable experience that's well worth checking out. Naruto: Clash of Ninja (GC)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-50%)
Review Excerpt: "Fans will appreciate the good-looking characters and hard-hitting attacks, but Clash of Ninja is an experience cut short by a pervasive lack of depth."
Score: 6.3 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-50%)
Review Excerpt: "Fans will appreciate the good-looking characters and hard-hitting attacks, but Clash of Ninja is an experience cut short by a pervasive lack of depth."
Score: 6.3 Check More Prices
Mall Tycoon 3 (PC)
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $9.99 (-50%)
The tycooning of malls continues in Mall Tycoon 3. Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $9.99 (-50%)
The tycooning of malls continues in Mall Tycoon 3. Check More Prices
Luxor (PC)
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $9.99 (-50%)
Luxor is a ball-shooting arcade puzzle game that features power ups and an Egyptian theme. Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $9.99 (-50%)
Luxor is a ball-shooting arcade puzzle game that features power ups and an Egyptian theme. Check More Prices
Bejeweled 2 Deluxe (PC)
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $14.99 (-25%)
This is the sequel to the wildly popular puzzle game, Bejeweled. This version features new pieces, 3D effects, as well as updated music and sound effects. Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $14.99 (-25%)
This is the sequel to the wildly popular puzzle game, Bejeweled. This version features new pieces, 3D effects, as well as updated music and sound effects. Check More Prices
Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa (PC)
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $9.99 (-50%)
Combining features of tycoon and puzzle games, Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa also includes a feature called "Be the Animal", which lets you hunt, fly, or flee with any creature. Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $19.99
NEW PRICE: $9.99 (-50%)
Combining features of tycoon and puzzle games, Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa also includes a feature called "Be the Animal", which lets you hunt, fly, or flee with any creature. Check More Prices
City Life (PC)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "City Life combines the fun of a city-building game with the challenge of a financial simulation, though it requires patience and perseverance to master."
Score: 7.8 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "City Life combines the fun of a city-building game with the challenge of a financial simulation, though it requires patience and perseverance to master."
Score: 7.8 Check More Prices
CivCity: Rome (PC)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "CivCity: Rome could have been a classic, but it wound up just another city builder."
Score: 6.6 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "CivCity: Rome could have been a classic, but it wound up just another city builder."
Score: 6.6 Check More Prices
Neverwinter Nights: Diamond (PC)
OLD PRICE: $28.49
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-30%)
NWN Diamond contains the original Neverwinter Nights, as well as all three expansion packs: Shadows of Undrentide, Hordes of the Underdark, and Kingmaker.Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $28.49
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-30%)
NWN Diamond contains the original Neverwinter Nights, as well as all three expansion packs: Shadows of Undrentide, Hordes of the Underdark, and Kingmaker.
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (PSP)
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Though Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects is a competent portable beat-'em-up, it's not the best value the PSP has to offer."
Score: 6.9 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Though Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects is a competent portable beat-'em-up, it's not the best value the PSP has to offer."
Score: 6.9 Check More Prices
American Conquest: Divided Nation (PC)
OLD PRICE: $28.49
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-30%)
In the next installment in the American Conquest series, you can delve into the early events of American history. American Conquest: Divided Nation is a real-time strategy game that lets you play as a Civil War general, a Texas militia leader, or a pirate captain. Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $28.49
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-30%)
In the next installment in the American Conquest series, you can delve into the early events of American history. American Conquest: Divided Nation is a real-time strategy game that lets you play as a Civil War general, a Texas militia leader, or a pirate captain. Check More Prices
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow (PS2)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "The Legend of Jack Sparrow is a pretty standard hack-and-slash action game that doesn't deliver on much of the stumblingly bombastic charm of its title character."
Score: 6.2 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $29.99 (-25%)
Review Excerpt: "The Legend of Jack Sparrow is a pretty standard hack-and-slash action game that doesn't deliver on much of the stumblingly bombastic charm of its title character."
Score: 6.2 Check More Prices
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (DS)
OLD PRICE: $34.99
NEW PRICE: $24.99 (-29%)
Review Excerpt: "Though Dead Man's Chest is largely competent, the sword fighting is too repetitive and the minigames are too few and too bland to get anyone particularly excited. "
Score: 5.9 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $34.99
NEW PRICE: $24.99 (-29%)
Review Excerpt: "Though Dead Man's Chest is largely competent, the sword fighting is too repetitive and the minigames are too few and too bland to get anyone particularly excited. "
Score: 5.9 Check More Prices
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (GBA)
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Intriguing nautical elements aren't enough to distract from a criminally short running time and rote 2D platforming elements."
Score: 6.7 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $29.99
NEW PRICE: $19.99 (-33%)
Review Excerpt: "Intriguing nautical elements aren't enough to distract from a criminally short running time and rote 2D platforming elements."
Score: 6.7 Check More Prices
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (PSP)
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $24.99 (-38%)
Review Excerpt: "The spirit of the source material is there in the presentation, and the multiplayer is a pleasant surprise, but the single-player experience is too stiflingly repetitive to ignore."
Score: 6.6 Check More Prices
OLD PRICE: $39.99
NEW PRICE: $24.99 (-38%)
Review Excerpt: "The spirit of the source material is there in the presentation, and the multiplayer is a pleasant surprise, but the single-player experience is too stiflingly repetitive to ignore."
Score: 6.6 Check More Prices
Think any of these are a real steal? Got any tips on other bargains online or in your local area that you'd like to share with other GameSpot visitors? Leave a comment and spread the word!
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