Video Games
Black Friday Chopping List: Video Games
Black Friday is more than just the day after Thanksgiving or an unofficial holiday begging for its own 80s style slasher. No, Black Friday is a huge boon for retailers. In fact, the day got it’s name (supposedly) for being when stores would go from profits “in the red” to “in the black”. Over the years, it’s also become a massive cluster-fuck of rabid shoppers and disgruntled teenage employees who’d rather be somewhere downing eggnog. More than a few drops of blood seem to get shed annually as well. See? SLASHER – MOVIE. Sometimes, there are amazing deals to be found on the day, but it’s hard to know where to look. Not every store releases their ad paper in advance. For Black Friday 2018, I’m going to try and ease some that stress for you, fiends. I’ve scoured the internet to try and find the best deals, specials, and must have gifts for any horror obsessive this Pagan holiday season (Google it).
Video Games
Honestly, I’m not much of a gamer. The last console I owned was a Sega Saturn (Nights into Dreams was badass). Nonetheless, I know that gaming is an expensive hobby. Prices for the newest consoles seem to always be on the rise. Games that may only offer a few hours of gameplay cost $50 – $60. So, when a sale comes around, it’s certainly worth taking note of. Below are some excellent deals on horror games from the major retailers as well as a couple indies that caught my eye.
Indie Releases
Home Sweet Home ($16.99 on Steam) –
“Tim’s life has drastically changed since his wife disappeared mysteriously. In one night, after suffering from the sorrow for a long time, he woke up in an unknown place instead of his house. While trying to escape from this place, he was hunted by a rancorous female spirit. Can he survive? Is this place actually his house? Does it relate to the disappearance of his wife? Some dark sinister secret is hidden inside this house, and it won’t be a place of happiness as it used to be any longer.” – Synopsis from Steam
No, this has nothing to do with the NES game Sweet Home that became the impetus for the entire Resident Evil franchise, spawning its own amazingly over the top film of the same name (directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa of Pulse). It also has nothing to do with that Thanksgiving slasher flick starring the “Body by Jake” guy. This Home Sweet Home is a brand new paranormal spookfest from Taiwan that is deeply steeped in the culture’s myths and folklore. Even better? The game offers VR support, and gameplay is varied from stealth, puzzle solving, and outright horrific onslaughts. From quiet atmospheric dread, beautifully rendered environs, zombies, and bizarre creatures – I might actually give this one a try myself.
Hello Neighbor ($29.99 Pre-purchase on Steam/or Pre-order for Xbox One at Target)
“Hello Neighbor is a stealth horror game about sneaking into your neighbor’s house to figure out what horrible secrets he’s hiding in the basement. You play against an advanced AI that learns from your every move. Really enjoying climbing through that backyard window? Expect a bear trap there. Sneaking through the front door? There’ll be cameras there soon. Trying to escape? The Neighbor will find a shortcut and catch you. ” – Synopsis from Steam
From dev Dynamic Pixels comes a game that’s been available in various builds and demos for quite some time. The full game will release on December 8th. In Hello Neighbor, the objective is simple, break into your neighbor’s house and figure out just what exactly he’s up to. The game’s design is reminiscent of a number of Pixar films…only something seems off here. The low-key mysteries of the neighbor have been captivating players for almost two years. Videos litter YouTube of players who’ve combed over miniscule details in an attempt to piece the story’s puzzle together. Just what is hiding in the neighbor’s excessively protected basement? In just a couple short weeks we can finally find out (or just Google the spoilery video of the ending online).
Target
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard ($15) – This one is a doorbuster, so you’re going to need to be there when doors open at 6 PM on Thanksgiving night. For less than twenty bucks, though, this one might be worth it. Target’s ad shows this for sale for PS4, but it’s likely the sale extends across platforms.
The Evil Within 2 ($29.99) – Also a doorbuster and also PS4.
Wal-mart
Mortal Kombat X ($12) – Rip off heads for only $12 on any platform!
Call of Duty: Black Ops III Zombie Chronicles ($35) – This also a multi-platform deal.
Best Buy
If you have more than a couple names to check off your shopping list, Best Buy is certainly where it’s at. The list of games they have on sale is extensive and below are just a few of the horror centric titles I came across.
Bioshock: The Collection ($15) – Multi-platform
Doom ($15) – Multi-platform
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus ($25) – Multi-platform
Bloodborne ($15) – PS4 only
The Last of Us: Remastered ($15) – PS4
Until Dawn ($15) – PS4
At the time of this writing GameStop had not yet released their Black Friday deals.
Video Games
New Gameplay Teaser Shows off Key Mechanics for ‘Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days’ [Watch]
Over a year after it was first announced, developer PikPok has dropped a new gameplay teaser for their upcoming entry in the Into the Dead series with Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days. We still don’t have a release date for the zombie strategy game, which is currently in development for an Early Access release on Steam later this year.
The new gameplay teaser shows off Our Darkest Days‘ high tension atmosphere, including key gameplay mechanics such as crafting meals and tools, healing survivors suffering from physical and mental injuries, and of course, fighting off zombies.
“We’re really excited to be showing off a snippet of what we’ve been working on since our announcement trailer in 2023,” says Juliann Lum, PikPok senior product manager. “So much more has gone into the game, including new ways for survivors to interact with the world around them, each other, and of course the dangerous undead that infest the city of Walton.” Lum went on to say that more reveals for Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days are coming over the next few months.
Set in 1980 Texas, Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days is a 2.5D side-scroller where players must guide a group of survivors from shelter to shelter within the beleaguered Walton City, which is infested with the undead. Managing resources and survivors’ needs is crucial as players try to keep ahead of the rising threat while executing plans to escape the quarantined city area.
As mentioned, you’ll be scavenging for supplies, crafting tools and weapons, as well as fighting off the undead, all the while keeping constant movement as the zombie threat closes in. While their experiences will lead survivors to gain new skills, players will also need to manage their physical and psychological needs, as Our Darkest Days has a permadeath mechanic.
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