Menu Close

Need Big Bang For Your Buck? Here Are Some Suggestions

Not everyone is privileged enough to be able to buy every last great game available.

So when you have to prioritize, you want to get as much bang for your buck as humanly possible. And thus far in 2012, there haven't been too many hugely long games to turn to, so here are some fantastic titles that should prove both satisfying and lengthy. Disclaimer- As always, it helps if you're a big fan of the genre in question.

Mass Effect 3

One of the year's top RPGs, there's always plenty to do in any Mass Effect game. Doing everything will result in a 40-50 hour adventure (or longer), and you'll check out a pretty solid storyline, interesting characters, and a big wide universe that's just begging to be explored. Yeah, there was all that hoopla about the ending but the bottom line has never changed: Mass Effect 3 is a top-tier game and for most, well worth the price of admission.

Dragon's Dogma

Another RPG, but this one is set in a fantasy setting and although it isn't perfect, there's always something to do and somewhere to go. The combat can be tons of fun and very often, you'll find yourself running around fighting just 'cuz it's so damn entertaining. Plus, it's absolutely beautiful; the artistry and animations are second to none and that's a big bonus considering the sheer size and scope of the game. You don't want to be lookin' at mediocre stuff for that long! Dragon's Dogma is a biggie.

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 or Dead or Alive 5

Fighting fans may only need one or the other; if they're a hardcore follower of either franchise, they're good for the fall. I know some of these people…they have something in their blood that I don't have, this almost manic desire to master their favorite character(s) and become absolutely supreme at using them. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is so freakin' deep gameplay-wise (massive roster, too), that it might take you the rest of your life to master everything you want to master. You nutty fighting fans you.

Rainbow Moon

A good 30 hours or more for $14.99? That's not easy to find, especially if we're only talking about one play-through and no multiplayer. Rainbow Moon is a gem for those who miss the good ol' days of turn-based RPGs. This one mixes in some strategy, too, and it's colorful and addictive. It can get a little repetitive, unfortunately, but for bang for your buck, I can't think of many other downloadable experiences in 2012 that top this one. Maybe Journey just because you want to play it over and over and over…but that's pretty subjective, I guess.

Darksiders II

Another game that goes for $60 that can keep you playing for 30-40 hours. There was a time when such titles weren't so difficult to find, but these days… Not only is Darksiders II easily one of the year's best, it blends just about every genre you can think of into one totally awesome package. Platforming, puzzle solving, action, role-playing, and even third-person shooting; it's all here and as soon as you're done, you feel this overwhelming urge to start again for some reason.

Rayman Origins and LittleBigPlanet for Vita

I figured I'd toss this out there for Vita owners, just because both games are filled with a ton of gameplay, especially LittleBigPlanet . Rayman Origins is the absolute best Vita game available thus far in our opinion, and it's a lot bigger than you think it is. It's wicked challenging, for one, so that automatically makes the game feel longer than it really is, and besides, don't you want to get and do everything there is to do? All you completionists know what I'm talkin' about.

Borderlands 2

Again, I can't say much right now but trust me when I say, this game could totally own your life. I'll just leave it at that for the time being.

By the way, sports fanatics always have options to keep them playing; Madden NFL 13 for football fans and MLB 12: The Show for baseball followers are guaranteed to be big hits. Oh, and I should also mention Final Fantasy XIII-2 ; as much as I can't stand Square Enix right now for that Lightning Returns mess, FFXIII-2 has a ton of content, even more than ME3 and Darksiders II if you want to get everything done.

Upcoming, you have to know Assassin's Creed III will be so worth every penny. And for the multiplayer aficionados, obviously, Call of Duty: Black Ops II . Lastly, don't forget about Far Cry 3 in December…big, robust, involving, and top-quality, guaranteed.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
16 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Killa Tequilla
Killa Tequilla
11 years ago

Most of those have rpg elements

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Yes, those tend to be deeper and longer. No surprise there.

LowKey
LowKey
11 years ago

What about Star Ocean the Last Hope? After 397 hrs on SO:TET, is it worth givin a go?

Rogueagent01
Rogueagent01
11 years ago

As far as bang for your buck I have to agree with you Low Key, however I think he was just using games that were from this year or at least recent. I'm playing it right now and just crossed the 400 hour mark and am still on my first playthrough of 3, I really miss games like this.


Last edited by Rogueagent01 on 9/15/2012 1:33:53 AM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Star Ocean The Last Hope was awesome, the characters weren't as strong as TEoT but I thought it was overall a better game.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

What kind of world does Dragon's Dogma feature? The demo was just a couple of fights so it was hard to tell. Was it full of towns and caves and forts and scenery to explore like Elder Scrolls and Two Worlds II or was it more like Dragon Age Origins or Amalur or what?

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

Sort of like a cross between Skyrim and Two Worlds. There's plenty to explore.

Beamboom
Beamboom
11 years ago

Hmm. I should get me Dragons Dogma at some stage.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

cool, I'll get around to it at some point. Sounds like my kinda thing. Such a full plate these days.

xenris
xenris
11 years ago

The world exploring is open, like those game mentioned by ben, however it has more linear sections built into the map. Like a canyon area with lots of bandits and little holes in the wall to explore however you have to go through there to get to this area to progress the story and you can't just run around it. Just one example, of a couple but in general its pretty open.

Also the game gets easier as you level up, like laughably so. It can get really hard in the beginning but if you grind a little it becomes way easier. So don't get frustrated its not like demon souls where its hard throughout.

But I highly recommend it, it really captured me.

LowKey
LowKey
11 years ago

Ben… Dude… I can hardly wait for Borderlands 2 as it is. Now I want it even more… Thanks alot buds.

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

😉

___________
___________
11 years ago

id have to throw in the witcher 2.
its unlike every RPG out there!
so many, skyrim for instance have hundreds of hours of content!
but most of it is a bowl of milk repeated 100000 times!
plain, boring, repetitive, and really does not mean or change anything!
whether you do them or not really does not effect anything.
in the witcher 2 though its totally different, if you actually finish sidequests they help in other side quests and even help you in main missions!
in other words the more side quests you do, the better off you will be for future side quests, and the better off you will be for the main missions.
actually have a good story behind them and actually make you care about the characters, towns and tasks as well!

id have to scrap ME3 and replace it with ME2 as well.
3 was good for its main missions and action, but i found the main missions to be shorter than 2.
not to mention the multitude of side missions for ME2 that actually made you care about them!
side missions and story were exactly the reason why so many were disappointed with ME3!

id have to throw out darksiders 2 as well and replace it with the original.
it was just so much better thought out!
the puzzles, the level design, the characters, the story, the combat, EVERYTHING was better in the original!
especially disappointed by the story, i really thought 2 would give you a side view of the events of the original.
show you while war was doing this, and this was happening in his area this is what was happening with deaths.
but it doesent, all you see is corruption taking over the world you see NOTHING of the battle that was surrounding the story in the original.
not as addictive either.
theres ALLOT more loot in 2 but for some reason i dont have excessive compulsive like i had in the original.
the original compelled me to explore every nook and cranny, but the sequel i just dont care!
whatever i find i find, whatever i dont i dont.
i cant be bothered deviating off the main path.
very disappointing!

xenris
xenris
11 years ago

The witcher 2 if you have a computer or an xbox, or if you wait for the PS3 version either way this game is the best RPG I have played in the last several years.

Darksiders 2 has a lot of bang for your buck so I back up ben there. In fact all his choices I back except ME3 however thats only because I'm bitter towards the whole thing but still you can get good play time from it.

Guild Wars 2 if you have a PC, I know I know this is a console site, but seriously 60 bucks no monthly fees and I can't tell you how many things this game gets right. Its incredible, definitely worth checking out.

Starhawk is now 39 99 I think and with free map packs in the pipe, if your into this games online it will give you a lot of time for your money.

KingRed
KingRed
11 years ago

I have to agree with Ben on Rainbow Moon. I'm already 54hrs in on my 1st playthru. Just got to the part where the pace kinda changes and man I'm loving it even more now. I think I spend the last 10 or so hours just mainly exploring. Def the best 14.99 game I brought in a while.

Robochic
Robochic
11 years ago

I just bought the first Darksiders i kept seeing ads fro the second but wanted to play the first 🙂 i have the day off so after my eye apt and dentist i'll be coming home to play 🙂 I figure i'll wait fro the second to come down in price things are tough right now thank goodness the games i really want are next year

16
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x