Smack in the middle of the holiday season, Gameloft has cut prices on just about all of its paid games in a "Holiday Frenzy." If you've got a couple dollars to spare and some time to kill, Gameloft likely has something you'll enjoy, slicing prices on everything from The Adventures of Tin Tin to Wild Blood down to a mere $0.99. Conspicuously absent from the sale is Modern Combat 4, but the 12 other deals make up for its exclusion (though this writer posits that the game may just be worth its $6.99 price tag).
For the sake of convenience (and economy), we'll take a look at each of Gameloft's offerings to let you know what they are, what they're about, and – most importantly – whether they're worth checking out.
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises is, as the name suggests, a Batman tie-in game from Gameloft that's not exactly a surprising entry to the Play Store. It's a game that is clearly inspired by the likes of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, with some relatively well-adapted gameplay elements for the smaller screen. While we weren't in love with the game on the whole, Batman fans will likely find it worth a paltry $0.99 price (down from $6.99).
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt61jxhufrw
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The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man, likewise, is one of Gameloft's movie tie-ins which we covered at launch. If you've been yearning to take Peter Parker's super alter ego for a spin through New York, now's your chance to do so at a steal.
The game challenges players to defeat the Lizard, eliminating the foe and his minions, while swinging through 25 "immersive" missions inspired by the film. Players can explore five NYC districts – Central Park, Business, Downtown, Pier, and Residential on their quest, and enjoy plenty of upgrades. For reference, The Amazing Spider-Man is regularly $6.99, making its Holiday Frenzy price a full $6 drop.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40a49G6bs8k
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Gangstar Rio: City of Saints
Gangstar Rio: City of Saints, a game we covered way back in March, is down from $6.99, and calls players to "see Rio…And fight". The game allows players to explore Rio de Janeiro in a sandbox-ish gameplay dynamic, discovering five different neighborhoods as they complete over sixty missions in a quest to make it to the top by killing politicians, protecting witnesses, delivering packages, and more.
The game also features plenty of character customizations, decent graphics, and a few music tracks from the likes of M.I.A. and Bonde do Role. Gangstar Rio, by the way, is down from $6.99.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gCaj3Ozzws
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Order & Chaos Online
Order & Chaos Online has proven itself as a popular title, bringing what Gameloft calls the "only true real-time, full-3D MMORPG on Android" with thousands of players to your mobile device.
In the game, players can act as one of four races, customizing their gender, appearance, class, and talents, pushing their abilities through gameplay and discovering new equipment and skills. As with any MMORPG, just about anything is possible – players can make friends or enemies, trade, communicate, and more while exploring environments from forests to deserts, jungles, and mountains. Order & Chaos is down from $5.99, making its $0.99 price almost irresistible.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-iu98XGds
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Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus
Modern Combat's "Black Pegasus" entry makes the second in the series, picking up where the original left off. If you've played the original Modern Combat, Black Pegasus will seem mostly familiar – players will enjoy decent graphics, environments from the Middle East to Eastern Europe and South America, using fifteen weapons, and playing with up to ten players online. If you've somehow resisted MC2's FPS goodness this long, "finish what you started" by hitting the widget below and enjoying a $6 price drop.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CwSedSzckE
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Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation
Good news – if you'd already picked up Modern Combat 2 but had resisted the third installment, it's on sale as well. The game, which we covered at launch made for a great addition to the series with boosted graphics, more guns, more locations, and more first person action.
Players will engage in "an apocalyptic battle for the freedom of the United States," again engaging friends (or enemies) online, or going it alone. The thirteen-mission game will have you blasting through a campaign from Los Angeles to Pakistan as you enjoy an even more intense experience than the previous two entries. Its $0.99 price tag is a full $6 drop from its normal $6.99 cost, just like its predecessor.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdF0EvDwH-Y
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BackStab
"When revenge is coming, watch your back!" warns Gameloft. Backstab, which debuted back in July, is something like Gameloft's take on the Assassin's Creed genre. The story follows Henry Blake, who is on a quest for justice and revenge, after having his life "stripped away". The game will pit players against a variety of enemies, using a combo-based combat system as they explore a huge Carribean island freely, taking in some eye-catching graphics and "endless content." Backstab, for reference, is also down from $6.99.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUIvpBkMNWs
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N.O.V.A. 2
NOVA 2 made a splash in the Play Store as the second entry to a widely popular FPS series. Our own coverage hailed the game as "one of the best Android FPS games to date," and rightly so – the game improves on the original with new enemies, more cunning AI, and a rich first person experience in which players can run, shoot, fall, drive vehicles, and even pilot a giant mech.
Of course, players can pit themselves against up to 10 others online, and can build their career while exploring the game's immersive environments. Just hit the widget below to get NOVA 2 at a $6 discount.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JdS69IWU1I
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N.O.V.A. 3
Not to be left out, NOVA 3 is also on sale. The game is, of course, a big improvement on NOVA 2. If you liked the previous game, you'll want to pick this one up as well. Besides even better graphics and environments, players can compete with 12 others at once, and will witness the return of humanity to Earth "after years of exile." Players can also hop into vehicles with others, for an added dimension of strategy. NOVA 3, like its predecessor, is $6 off in the Holiday Frenzy.
'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpB2hzGkOaM
Wild Blood
Wild Blood, which brings "giant swords and a little lag" to Android, is also part of Gameloft's Holiday Frenzy sale, and – lag aside – is worth checking out for the price (which by the way is down from $6.99).
The game invites players to "live the unforgettable journey of Sir Lancelot" as he works to defeat King Arthur, who's gone mad after discovering Guinevere's infidelity. Arthur has unleashed demons of all sorts, and your task is to slay them in a gorgeous, truly immersive experience.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw8HExhs3GM
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The Adventures of Tintin
Adding one more movie tie-in to the list, Gameloft has slashed the price of The Adventures of Tin Tin to a mere $0.99 (from $6.99). The game, which we covered at launch, covers much the same story as its theater-bound counterpart – Tin Tin, the consummate nosey young journalist, stumbles upon a vast mystery in buying a seemingly innocuous model ship. Players will be tossed into action across plenty of varied locations, whether stealthily slinking along or engaging in all out sword fights, playing as Snowy, Tintin, or Captain Haddock.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLZxtopBkTA
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9mm
Finally, we come to 9mm, which debuted back in 2011. Despite its age, the game has a lot to offer, especially for just $0.99 (down from $6.99).
The game follows John "Loose" Kannon, part of a police team who becomes a moving target for every gang in the city after stealing a boatload of cash from a drug lord's brother (who they murdered).
Players are armed with plenty of weapons, and can compete with up to 12 others on 4 maps when not catching gang leaders or informants in the regular game. Fighting crime through the Latino Suburbs, Night Clubs, Police Department, and several other locations, players will need to adapt to plenty of action to survive.
[EMBED_YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azIYhb4XkpQ
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Overall, Gameloft's sale is great, offering plenty of options for those looking to occupy a little holiday time with some action, mystery, or exploration. Even if nothing here suits your tastes, stay tuned – we'll be back with more game sales shortly.