In our continuing effort to find the best value for you,
the gamer, our newest contributor, Dave Fisher,
tirelessly researches ads on Sunday in order to help you on Monday know what to buy.
These include: Electronics Boutique, CompUSA, Software,
etc., Best Buy, OfficeMax, Staples, Circuit City. This week's selection is:
Hey, this isn't the right
week!
Sometimes things get busy around here, and I
forget to paste the new value. But the Value of the Week is ALWAYS posted on
Monday, so if it's not here, just go into the archive
and check Monday's news. You'll find it there. If this is the case this week,
feel free to slip me a note to remind me
that I forgot to update.
________________________________________
04/30/01
We have a
fine mixture of titles this week, from a number of sources, with some of
the bargains particularly interesting.
Before
getting to the games, just a point to be made. I'm going to mention
several Compuexpert and EB Games specials today, because they're good
deals. Rich does want you to know, though, that Gone Gold receives a
percentage of any purchase made through the links on this site. This
is NOT a special service to Gone Gold, but is the Affiliate Program any
site can sign up for, and that other on-line stores have, such as
Chips&Bits.
Value
of the Week
Cossacks:
European Wars - $27.99 @
Best Buy -
A fine
strategy review site, PC Strategy
Games, typically uses 3 writers in their appraisal of games. All 3
rated Cossacks in the 90's, with an average of 92%, characterizing
the title as "...a worthy addition to the RTS genre that covers a
fascinating period (17th & 18th centuries) in European history. Enjoy
it - and learn something at the same time."
For titles
listed today, be sure to check our comprehensive Gold
Guide for up to date review synopses and other useful information on
470+ games.
Other
Newer Titles of Note:
Evil
Islands - $29.99 @ Best Buy
-
EuroGamer
found this "a huge, varied and utterly addictive game; ...if you're a
role-playing fan looking to loose yourself for a few weeks, this could be
just the thing" (80% rating).
Majesty:
The Northern Expansion -
$14.90 @ Compuexpert,
till Tuesday noon -
This add-on
pack is essential for lovers of the original, with Game-Over
awarding 71% - "...although it has only 12 quests, those quests
should give you 50 hours or more of gameplay." [The inclusion of the
"LaPorte Lodge", makes this a "Must Have". ~Guess Who]
Clive
Barker's Undying - $29.99 @
Circuit City -
This
wonderful title was given a Pure Gold award (90% rating) by James
Wink in his review.
He felt the game successfully "walks a fine line between horror and
being a typical shooter," with a "story progression that manages
to surprise and raise itself well above the mundane." Do a price
match at EB, use their online
rebate for $10, and bring it down to a net of $20.
Tribes
2 - $39.99 @ Circuit City;
$34.90 @ Compuexpert
-
Gamezilla
gave this one a 90% rating. "If you like team warfare and like online
gaming, then this game was custom made for you. If you enjoy first person
shooters, but only single player, then you won't have much fun." Make
the fun a little cheaper by using a price match at EB, and a $10 online rebate.
Ultima
Online: The Third Dawn -
$27.99 @ Best Buy -
Reviews
aren't particularly favorable overall with this one, with Gamespot
awarding 69% - "...although the switch to a 3D engine may be seen as
an attempt to attract new players, Third Dawn is nonetheless best suited
for Ultima Online current users." Interestingly, 146 reader
ratings accompanying the review page average only 45%.
Riddle
of the Sphinx - $14.99 @
Best Buy -
Earning a
75% rating (Unrefined Ore) in our review,
this was viewed as having considerable of merit. "As contrasted with
some of today's graphically rich and gameplay hollow PC games, ROTS
provides many hours of intriguing and suspenseful Pyramidic
exploration."
Under $20
Bargain Bin -
Battle
Isle: The Andosia War -
$14.90 @ Compuexpert
-
Don't let
this one slip by. As PC Strategy
Games, giving an 85% rating indicates: "Inspired gaming hybrid
that seamlessly links RTS and turn based playing styles. The whole package
oozes quality and bears all the hallmarks of a real labor of love."
Traitors
Gate - $14.99 @ Best Buy -
One of the best adventure
titles of the last year or so, this "Thief-like" approach was
awarded a B+ by Just Adventure,
who felt it was "nicely designed, having all the best elements of
adventure gaming - detailed pre-rendered scenes, stunning and accurate
looking cut scenes, a well developed storyline, and puzzles that are
thought through when devised so that they carry the story forward rather
than bringing it to a grinding halt."
Lands
of Lore III - $7.99 @ EBGames
-
I replayed
this a few weeks ago, and appreciate the rating (75%) and review from Game
Power: "A common complaint of gamers is that too many titles are
released nowadays that are nothing but eye candy without gameplay. Not
this baby. LOL III is loaded with gameplay, but is hobbled by graphics
that don't quite come up to snuff. Get past those, and you've got quite a
treat in store"
Sid
Meier's Antietam! - $9.99 @ EBGames
-
This
follow-up to Gettysburg was enjoyed by the Computer
Games Online reviewer: "Antietam! does the same wonderful job at
recreating the "feel" of battle that Gettysburg! did so well.
Yes, you get tension, stress, and frustration in a way few other wargames
can replicate, but you also get thrills and a strong sense of satisfaction
at a job well done, at a plan that comes together just right" (80%
rating).
Hardware
Specials -
Brought to you by:
The Computer Center ~
Gone Gold is
using hardware supplied by The
Computer Center (TCC) to bring you this wonderful site. :D There is no
commission on anything sold through GG to TCC. You too can have as much
fun as I do, or you can just take advantage of the following specials...
Maxtor
98196H8 81.9GB Hard Drive -
$219 @ The Computer Center
-
5400 RPM,
ATA/100, 9.5ms,white label 3 year warranty. (The one on the main page is
209, with one year warranty.)
AMD
Duron 700 Mhz System -
$399 @ The Computer Center
-
64 MB PC 133
Memory, 1.44 MB Floppy Drive, 15 GB 7200/100 Hard Drive, 810LMR
Motherboard w/ Built-in 128-bit 3D AGP shared up to 64MB SVGA, 16 BIT
Sound Pro, AMR 56K FAX/Modem , 10/100 Mbps LAN Adapter,40X CD Rom
Drive, 120 WATT Amplified Speakers, ATX Tower W/ 300 WATT
Power Supply, 104 Keyboard, PS2 Mouse
That will do
it for this week. Thanks for reading, and let me know of values you find,
as well as your reactions to our reviews.
Till
later...
Dave Fisher
