Direct2Drive's $5 deals on BioShock, Dark Athena, Pirates, many more
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Sep 14th 2009 at 6:30PM } 
Many of last week's titles are still available, but that's old news. There's a fresh batch of ten titles, handily listed for you after the break. Keep your eye out for newer titles like Saints Row 2, Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and BioShock which, at $5 each, are steals.
The bargains are part of Direct2Drive's five-year anniversary, which will offer a plethora of $5 deals for another four weeks. Next week features RPG/MMO titles, followed by indies and, finally, war games.
Week Two (Action Games):
- The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
- BioShock
- Sid Meier's Pirates!
- Saint's Row 2
- STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl
- Frontlines: Fuel of War
- Thief: Deadly Shadows
- Serious Sam Gold
- Max Payne 2
- MLB 2K9
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sly (PSN: SniperChameleon) @ Sep 14th 2009 6:38PM
wow, there are 6 fantastic games on there... all together, they're less than one copy of one of them. wow...
Preston @ Sep 14th 2009 6:41PM
Well there goes my paycheck tomorrow.
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Sep 14th 2009 6:45PM
Your job must be terrible if $30-$60 worth of games is a paycheck for you....
Ignatius @ Sep 14th 2009 6:47PM
Hey, you do what you can when you suddenly lose your job.
Preston @ Sep 14th 2009 6:56PM
ITT people fail at humor
Sly (PSN: SniperChameleon) @ Sep 14th 2009 7:01PM
humor usually means it's funny.
Omega2k3 @ Sep 15th 2009 5:07AM
:(
I thought the comment was funny...
CaramelZappa @ Sep 14th 2009 6:45PM
If you don't have Bioshock yet, you have no excuse now. (aside from not having recent enough hardware to run it.)
No Kill Tayler @ Sep 14th 2009 6:48PM
i'm buying it even if i don't have the hardware.
AoE @ Sep 14th 2009 7:59PM
Agreed. Having played Bioshock I can say that $5 is a terrific price. $60 was a massive rip-off, and I wish I hadn't bought into the hype when it first dropped. But for anyone that hasn't played it yet, get it now, you will NOT be saddened by your purchase.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 14th 2009 9:20PM
$60? you must have bought it for a console then.
Even so $60 for one of if not the best game of 2007 isn't bad at all.
...Jan... @ Sep 14th 2009 9:25PM
I'm definitely getting Bioshock. I don't own a 360 and I was contemplating getting it when it hit $20. But, yeah, now there's no reason not to.
AoE @ Sep 14th 2009 11:51PM
@CaramelZappa,
Indeed I bought it for a console. And I heartily disagree that it was worth $60. If I'd paid $30 for it I would have been happy, but there was no replayability to that game whatsoever. I mean I suppose there were the pseudo 2 endings based on what you did with the little sisters, but other than that it is an extremely linear, one play through kinda game. In fact, I'd argue that the twist makes it far more of a one play-through game than the linearity of it all.
Don't get me wrong, production on the game was excellent, story/art/voice acting/controls were all phenomenal and polished... it's just... the game is good for exactly 10 hours of fun, no more. I can think of so many games that came out around the same time as Bioshock that were so much more worth the $60 price of admission.
May I be fully candid for a moment? I suspect the reason people fawn over Bioshock as much as they do is because they'd never encountered a first-person game quite like it before. The problem is, it's been done before, and better. The Chronicles of Riddick was far more replayable; and Breakdown, arguably the first title in this sub-genre, runs circles around both games when it comes to story/presentation/replayability.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 15th 2009 12:07AM
I have not played Breakdown. I don't think it was that they "hadnt seen anything like it before" I think it was because of the complete and utter immersiveness of the title. Yes, it was only 10 hours of gameplay, but it was 10 of the best hours in the whole year. It's like how portal was only 2 hours, and the replayability is even less than bioshock because the puzzles are pointless once you figure them out once. It didn't matter because it was some of the best 2 hours of gameplay you could get.
Replayability isn't really the most important thing to me, nor is how many hours I get out of a game. You can play WoW all day every day, if you're into that kinda thing, but for me that game is just pointless, and I'd trade 100 hours of a game like WoW for ten hours of a game like Bioshock any day. To each his own I suppose.
AoE @ Sep 15th 2009 1:18AM
Lol, the complete immersiveness to which you refer is EXACTLY what I am refering to as well. Breakdown did it 10 times better, and is a vastly more replayable title despite the fact that it too is also super linear and also features a big twist in the story. It's actually quite a bit more immersive than Bioshock too.
And I agree it was 10 of the best hours of gaming that one could have in 2007... but that doesn't mean it was worth $60 to have that fun. Like yourself I don't generally seek out games purely for the number of hours you can invest in them... but that doesn't mean that I am okay with paying a full $60 for a one-time 10 hour shot either... perhaps if there'd been more challenge to the gameplay I would feel differently, but the fact is they made it pretty easy, so there isn't even that.
By the way, if you have a 360, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend you seek out a copy of Breakdown. It was exclusive to the original Xbox and got little fanfare upon release; these two factors are why it's the unknown gem from last generation that everyone likes to pretend Psychonauts and BG&E are (even though every gamer on the planet knows about them). But trust me, everything you liked about Bioshock is there, and better. It's a more immersive title, the storyline is as good if not a little better than Bioshock's. Really I can't say enough good things about the game. Bioshock may have been the best title of 2007, but I can safely say Breakdown is the best game I've played in the past decade. It features the most enjoyable, most intense, most satisfying boss battle I've ever played in my 24 or so years of gaming. It's also the reason I wasn't entirely blown away by Bioshock. One word of warning/advice too, your first time through, don't be ashamed of going through on easy. Easy in Breakdown is hard in most other games.
AoE @ Sep 15th 2009 1:39AM
Hey, I wanted to leave you with a trailer for Breakdown:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LgVU3QsKus
Note the comments on the trailer too (and on any videos of Breakdown for that matter). Gamers seem to be of two camps when it comes to Breakdown, those that think it's one of the best games they've ever in their lives played... and those who haven't played it. Good luck finding someone who thinks it's less than mind-blowing. :)
CaramelZappa @ Sep 15th 2009 2:17AM
I'll definately check my logal gamestop/gamecrazy to see if they have it. I'm guessing it's BC compatable with the 360? I no longer have my original XBOX.
AoE @ Sep 15th 2009 3:29AM
Yeah, thankfully it was added in the last BC update, or possibly the one just before, it was a surprise and a welcome addition to say the least.
One thing I should note, the shooting in the game is not great. But it's also a very tiny chunk of the game, leave it on auto-aim and just power through the shooting bits as quickly as possible, it's over in a flash and then you're on to the proper game. And the proper game will blow you mind, sometimes in a 4th wall breaking kind of way. Be prepared for a difficult but rewarding game. Oh, and no cut-scenes... or levels. After all, neither is very immersive. This game does a fairly excellent job of blending the storytelling directly into the gameplay.... the whole game is one gigantic, difficult, extremely fun mind-fuck of a wild ride. Let me know what you think once you've beat it :)
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Sep 14th 2009 6:49PM
Thief: Deadly Shadows is a good game. If you are a fan of any sort of stealth gameplay, I reccomend it.
RKN @ Sep 14th 2009 6:51PM
I guess I will have to live without a physical box decorating my shelf for these insane prices! : )
Foetoid @ Sep 14th 2009 6:55PM
Can someone explain the difference between Direct 2 Drive and Steam. Can i log into a D2D account on any PC and download a game through my account like i can with steam? Does it download a program to your PC like Steam? I've never used the service before, but i love Steam, so i'd like to know how it differs. Saints Row 2 for $5 is too good to pass up.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 14th 2009 7:01PM
You can log into your account and download purchased games at any time. However, you download an installer file, rather than download it to steam. Then it installs like any game would from a cd or dvd. They email you cd keys as well as have them on the website when you log in.
CaramelZappa @ Sep 14th 2009 7:11PM
Oh, and oddly enough, some games just give you a steam cd-key. I bought the indie pack a while back and while I can't remember which games specifically, one or two of them just activated on steam.
Einhanderkiller @ Sep 14th 2009 8:07PM
Since Saint's Row 2 is built with Steamworks, the key Direct2Drive gives you will be activated through Steam.
Foetoid @ Sep 14th 2009 8:38PM
So i buy the game through Direct2Drive, and i'll be able to download it and play it throught Steam like a Steam game??
CaramelZappa @ Sep 14th 2009 9:03PM
I wouldn't jump the gun and say just because it has steamworks acheivements in the steam version that the d2d version will be steam.
I bought cogs on d2d, and I just got an installer, no steam key, no steamworks achievements.
Nevermind, quick google shows you're right.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=373686&page=3
User: Cindres "I just bought Saints row 2 and used the key on Steam."
Neebs @ Sep 14th 2009 7:05PM
STALKER is a good game too.
AoE @ Sep 14th 2009 8:01PM
I'm finally about to find out! :D
I've of course heard many good things about it, but never got around to buying it. $5 I cannot pass up though.
MrKlorox @ Sep 14th 2009 11:21PM
Best game on the list. However needs mods to be as fun as it should be.
jsut @ Sep 14th 2009 7:11PM
Dark Athena includes the original, right? For $5 I don't think I can pass that up.
AoE @ Sep 14th 2009 8:03PM
Yeah, it's the original in a slightly updated engine + a new, short campaign. It's well worth the price of admission. IMO, as first-person adventure games go, it's second only to Breakdown, and quite a bit better than Bioshock. I assume I'll get crucified for saying this... but whatever, I played the hell out of all three games, and I assure you it's the truth.
Discotheque @ Sep 14th 2009 7:41PM
Those are some amazing deals. Also, they are busting out their RPG 5 dollar sale next week. So be on the lookout for that. STALKER is a great game, but I already bought it.
I guess I'll pick up Bioshock and Riddick. Too bad D2D blows though, I hate it.
maspiderface @ Sep 14th 2009 7:45PM
Sigh, looks like im gonna miss it. Any of you guys wanna buy me Dark Athena?
Captain_Hairy @ Sep 14th 2009 7:58PM
Damnit, the UK gets gypped again. We don't get Riddick. Still, I don't own a copy of STALKER yet, so I'll probably pick that up.
MrKlorox @ Sep 14th 2009 11:19PM
It's not that hard as long as you are familiar with FPS. Be sure to get an environment mod though. The default nights are as bright as daylight -- you need a mod to get dynamic weather and (super intense) night battles.
Great game.
Neebs @ Sep 14th 2009 8:06PM
It's hard as hell though. Be warned.
AoE @ Sep 14th 2009 8:35PM
I just read that as "It's fun as hell." I can't wait, already bought it, gonna download as soon as I get home!
Dizzy @ Sep 14th 2009 8:10PM
I have GTA 4 for steam, should I get Saint's row 2?
Foetoid @ Sep 14th 2009 8:45PM
Yes
MrKlorox @ Sep 14th 2009 11:17PM
No. Runs as bad as GTA and looks/plays much worse. A joke of a game.
MuToiD_MaN @ Sep 14th 2009 8:28PM
Chew bahn!
Lurkero @ Sep 14th 2009 9:34PM
MLB 2K9 counts as an action game?
MrKlorox @ Sep 14th 2009 11:15PM
I got STALKER on STEAM for $5 a while back. One of the best $5 I've ever spent on a game. Highly recommended.
Never used D2D before... but I might get Riddick.
Kribbstar @ Sep 15th 2009 7:03AM
Why, just why has there to be some stupid country restriction on Riddick: Dark athena? The game is made by swedish devs but i cant buy it as a swede from D2D, ahh the anger!
Thou Bioshock looks like a opportunity not to be missed.
Michael @ Sep 15th 2009 11:25AM
And I thought bioshock for $10 from steam was a good deal!
rickjamess04 @ Sep 15th 2009 3:44PM
Pirates brings back great memories. That game would've been killer with a multiplayer component...