Humble Monthly Bundle - February 2019- Review and Discussion Thread . Full Unlock 2/1/19

[RanceJustice]

It's that time again, the next Humble Monthly Bundle is about to arrive! For those unaware of Humble Monthly Bundles, please see my more in-depth introduction here during my first thread from April 2017 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-april-review-and-discussion-thread.1929347 - I'll just get right into it again!

For those interested, here are all my back Humble Monthly reviews..

May - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-may-review-and-discussion-thread.1931795/
June - (Missed writing one)
July - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-july-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1939318/
August - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...st-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1941294/
September - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1943055/
October - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1945470/
November - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1947730/
December - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1949477/
Jan2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1951895/
Feb2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1953943/
March 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-march-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1956171/
April 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...-release-date-4-6-18.1957941/#post-1043572129
May 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-5-4-18.1959906/
June 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-6-1-18.1961480/
July 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-7-6-18.1963715/
August 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-8-3-18.1965425/
September 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-9-7-18.1966820/
October 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...scussion-thread-release-date-10-5-18.1969171/
November 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...scussion-thread-full-unlock-11-02-18.1970520/
December 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-full-unlock-12-6-18.1974264/
January 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...scussion-thread-full-unlock-01-04-19.1975165/

February Early Unlocks

Yakuza 0 ($20, Windows) - Start the month off with a trip through the Japanese underworld! One of this month's hallmark titles, Yakuza 0 is the first of the long-running SEGA developed series to make its way to PC, previously residing mostly on Playstation consoles. Set in the 1980s, Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the mainline series and throws away much of the cruft, both in terms of story and older mechanics/technology, that would impair PC players not familiar with the series and thus creates a great entry point for newcomers while still offering worthwhile enjoyment for old fans. Players take on the role of Kazama Kiryu and Goro Majima, members of a Yakuza clan during a period of explosive excess in the 1980s which makes for a great backdrop; Japan's booming bubble economy was surging forth triumphant in a way it had not yet been since the end of WW2 and this affected all elements of Japanese society...as would its later bust! Played as a 3rd person adventure title, it has many story beats one expects of a mafioso thriller with betrayal, missions, factions and more; fans of crime stories will find much to enjoy. However, what is even more striking about the game is the tons of side quests and activities available for those interested! Lovingly crafted into period representations of Tokyo and Osaka, from streets to seedy pachinko parlors and red light districts, are all manner of in-depth mini-games and side quests. Help a person here or there, go dance and "nanpa" (aka pick up women in a public place) at discos/clubs, train in martial arts, take a bath, gamble, or even run your very own hostess club are just a few of the things you can do that unlock all manners of additional content! Between the main story and free-roaming side quests, you'll have tons to do especially for those interested in 100%'ing your save file.

Yakuza 0 comes to PC with enhanced graphical features in an overall solid PC port, even given respectful pricing in deference to its delay since console launch. There is no DLC to speak of which is much appreciated, as all content is included in the price of the title itself. When I first heard of the series coming to PC with a major Western release, I was a bit concerned that it would be fragmented; I can recall how earlier PS2 / PS3 era titles sometimes had Japanese cultural content or things deemed too risque removed. Thankfully, localization for PC has been done right with both original Japanese language audio remaining and no game content censored or removed! This bodes well for the upcoming "Yakuza Kiwami" , the definitive remake of the very first Yakuza game, to release unscathed as well. Those who enjoy 0 will also likely favor Kiwami, but due to some similarities between the two its probably better not to try to 100% them right back to back! Yakuza 0 is further proof that Sega has seen the value of bringing their titles to PC and should be rewarded for doing so as players will enjoy a high-powered crime thriller and a ton of Japanese cultural tropes along the way!

Tom Clancy's The Division ($50, Windows) + Survival DLC ($15) - Bioterrorism, chaos, and heroic action abound in Tom Clancy's The Division! As with many Tom Clancy games or novels, the modern world is a tense, scary place with threats arising only to be beaten back by (often covert) teams of highly skilled operators and those who support them. In The Division, we are taken to a quarantined New York City after an outbreak of bioterrorism where players are a member of the titular "Division" - a secret force of agents embedded throughout the general populace, activated in case of dire emergency and given wide latitude to get things done by any means necessary. Playing out as a third person shooter, players create one such agent and find themselves heading into NYC to deal with the crisis. There are significant RPG progression elements with copious loot drops, cosmetics, and abilities to be selected. The game is more or less open world within a realistically laid-out Manhattan, allowing players to take core or side missions, gather materials for crafting, or pick up tons of collectibles which often reveal a little of the game's story along the way. Players can choose to play solo or in groups of up to 4 , which expand rewards and can make certain content easier - especially instanced content such as major story missions; some that are analogous to MMO-style "dungeons" or even high level "raids" nearly require a full party to survive! While most of the game takes place in a PVE environment, there is the particularly noteworthy "Dark Zone" , which offers some of the hardest open gameworld content around and also allows for PVP; there is a whole sub-section of gameplay and even leveling that is exclusive to the Dark Zone, but it can be ignored and/or attempted in a PVE fashion (albeit at higher risk of running into "rogue" player agents who may want to steal your loot) for those not interested in specifically hunting other players.

Released originally in 2016, The Division is one of Ubisoft's first titles showcasing their "live service" ideology. The game has been frequently updated with new content, both in terms of free content patches and paid DLC as well. Some of the DLC can be found in $5 "outfit" packs with various themes, granting cosmetics for those interested. I really would have preferred to see these available in-game instead, but considering the game offers no subscription fees nor an "item mall" and there is plenty of cosmetics to unlock and wear, this is far from the most egregious offense. There have been 3 major expansion-style DLCs Underground, Survival, and Last Stand, each one independent and set at $15. This Humble Monthly includes Survival as a nice bonus, which takes the player out of the normal playstyle/gear and drops them into a freezing blizzard within the Dark Zone, requiring them to keep warm and alive until they can make it to extraction. For those enjoying the game, the Season Pass priced normally at $40 (though I advise to seek sales and discounts) grants all 3 expansions plus some cosmetics and special items. Much like Rainbow Six Siege and Assassin's Creed Odyssey I must commend Ubi's continual content updating of even an older title like The Division with the most recent to date coming in Jan 2019! All of this is poised for the upcoming March launch of The Division 2 and players of the original title who unlock certain content will be rewarded with special items in the sequel. This month's bundle gives those the chance to dive in and see the updated original to either get prepared for the next chapter or decide if they shall be interested. You've been activated, Agent!

NOTE: I feel compelled to mention that unlike the first game, which is sold on Steam as well as UPlay direct keys, The Division 2 has seemingly discarded their profitable partner Steam in favor of Epic, who is pushing for exclusivity of their launcher. Best analysis of the situation suggests that Epic likely paid a handsome bundle of money up front to convince Ubisoft to NOT release on Steam, as in the past every Ubi title was available on Steam showing consistent viability of the store and platform. If you must buy The Division 2, I urge you to buy a key that activates directly on UPlay and NOT patronize the Epic store, lest 3rd party "store/platform/launcher" exclusives by contract become a player-harmful part of gaming.

 

[RanceJustice]

February Humble Monthly

Sniper Elite 3 ($30, Windows) - Having offered Sniper Elite 1, 2, and 4 in previous bundles Humble completes the set to date this month with Sniper Elite 3! This World War 2 adventure again stars Karl Fairburne, sniper and covert operative extraordinaire dropped into the various theaters of combat. Each game has chosen a different locale and Sniper Elite 3 is set in the North African campaign, which is a relatively rare setting for WW2 titles. While the first and second games were a bit more restricted, the third was where the gameplay opened up to allow for wider play styles and dynamics. Sneaking and quiet, covert kills became a focus in addition to the titular sniping gameplay which has been honed even more greatly, wind/breath/bullet drop, with the famous series "X-Ray Cam" for kills now being present when shooting vehicles (say, in the gas tank or engine block to disable them). Multiple objectives and routes, stealth action staples such as silent kills and distraction by sound etc.. made their way into the series in this title, giving the whole experience a lot more body, along with a degree of progression/unlock during the campaign. Its noteworthy that they include multiplayer game modes including separate, adversarial team based multiplayer, but perhaps the most exciting is that the entire campaign can be played in 2-player co-op and there are special co-op only modes too!

Like many games in the series, Sniper Elite 3 offers DLC. There are several packs between $2 and $4 that offer period-accurate weapons from all around the world, expanding your arsenal considerably though none are just plain "better" than those unlocked in game. Fans of multiplayer may enjoy the Allied Reinforcements Outfit Pack for $9 which grants 3 new characters to play as, but most who enjoy the game will be excited for the expansion-style DLC. "Save Churchill" is a 3 part full expansion where players must save the British statesman from a plot against him, with each part being $7. Of course as always, the Sniper Elite series offers a special $10 expansion "Target Hitler: Hunt the Grey Wolf" where players get the chance to put the Fuhrer down on his visit to a secret base of the Afrika Korps! Those who want all of the above can buy the Season Pass for $30, but like always I suggest waiting to check out sales and discounts for all but the most excited purchasers. Sniper Elite 3 (and the 4th iteration, released in a previous Monthly) really expand the game and bring some of the best elements of the genre to unique locales and greatly increase the depth of play. Check your sights and get ready!

Rock of Ages 2: Bigger and Boulder ($15, Windows) A quirky gem this month is Rock of Ages 2: Bigger and Boulder! This game is nothing if not inventive. Its predecessor, "Rock of Ages" mixed , Monty Python-ish humor, great works of art throughout history/mythology, and gameplay not unlike a close-follow version of Marble Madness to a very amusing end! Its sequel continues the tradition. Players are set to close-follow a giant boulder (often with a wide variety of faces one can pick) they direct it through a level inspired by great works of art - such as Van Gogh's Starry Night - rolling down historical troops and enemies (Think elephants from Hannibal Crossing the Alps) that try to block your way, tower defense style! There are even occasional boss battles with mythic or artistic figures that crank the weirdness up to 11. Overall this works well with the Monty Python-style animation of great works of art and comes together into something wholly unique, unsettling, and surreal. The second game in the series improves and expands as all good sequels should and besides a considerable campaign there is the potential for both local and online multiplayer with up to 4 players, including both those controlling boulders and those building barricades and mustering troops to stop them in top-down tower defense style!

There is very little DLC to speak of save for the Classic Pack + Soundtrack for $2, which owners of the original Rock of Ages are granted for free! Chilean Developer ACE Team is known for unusual titles like "Abyss Odyssey" and "Zeno Clash II" and all of these titles, including Rock of Ages 2 offer a unique artistic vision which I've always found to be well worth playing; another great example of Humble Monthly offering unique, lower-profile titles that may not have a big advertising budget nor get the kind of enduring "indie cred" as a few others, but users greatly benefit finding them in their library. Get rolling!

Full Metal Furies ($20, Win/Mac/Linux) - From the developers of Rogue Legacy comes a well-made co-op adventure! Full Metal Furies uses well animated pixel graphics to provide hectic, action combat for up to 4 players! Each member of the titular military unit has their own class, ability tree, skills, and quirks and the entire game is built to encourage cooperative play, such as certain enemies and barriers only being broken/defeated by attacks of the same color; all rewards are even shared to stop fighting over loot! Even when playing solo this dynamic persists as solo players are allowed to pick 2 characters to control and swap them in and out at will! Online and offline multiplayer is present and thrives in various modes, including a long story-based campaign. This campaign offers branching paths, secrets, and of course massive boss battles and hidden treasures!

I must commend the developers for offering Mac and Linux support, building the game on the excellent XNA toolkit and employing Ethan Lee (aka Flibitijibo), a legendary porter in the indie scene, to offer support for their title on Linux. There are relatively few full-featured, multiplayer 2D "beat em up/shoot em ups" so when a good one arrives its worth it to take note. Full Metal Furies definitely qualifies and is another bright spot this month!

Aaero ($15, Windows) - Rhythm games return to Humble Monthly with this indie title. Aaero is a mix of the old arcade classic Tempest and rhythm title Audiosurf, as players control a ship floating along a corridor at breakneck speeds. The main mechanics are both riding a line of light in position and shooting various enemies, both of which are clearly linked/generated to be in sync with the musical accompaniment. Some levels even have large multi-stage bosses giving chance, but in all levels the proficiency of the player is rewarded by high scoring multipliers for driving along the light-line when it appears and vanquishing enemies.

Its notable that unlike many other rhythm titles, especially the most highly rated indie ones, Aaero does not allow the user to import their own songs and generate tracks/encounters thereof. While this may limit replay interest for some, it does allow the developer to curate and hand-develop each track into its own experience so I cannot say that it is necessarily a bad idea, but it must truly be exceptional to compare with the variability of a good procedural generation engine and the limitless user library of music. DLC offers a handful of $1 skins to change the appearance of your craft, as well as $5 track packs of licensed music acting as expansions for new content. It is also noteworthy that the game requires a a game controller with two real or emulated analog sticks; play on KB/M is not possible according to the design. Those seeking a hand-crafted, high speed musical experience check out Aaero!

Bleed 2 ($10, Win/Mac/Linux) - Fans of Mega Man , Metal Slug, or countless bullet-hell series should keep their eyes open this month for this indie adventure! A 2D sidescrolling platformer, Bleed 2 follows heroine Wyrn in hectic, Gunstar Heroes style action. Adding to the basic shooting mechanics are a time-stop, projectile reflect (by color), and other subsystems that enhance combat into a frenetic dance when performed well; enemies "bullet hell" style attacks further necessitate all of these tools for those going for a perfect playthrough. Difficulty settings change level layouts and more making sure that the game isn't solely for those well versed in this style of game.

There is no DLC to speak of but plenty of content, as players can fight a great many bosses, unlock new abilities, specialweapons, and even characters along the way. Players can compete for high scores on global leaderboards in various modes including Boss Rush and even an Arcade Mode where players are only given a single life! The developer is to be particularly lauded for two decisions - first, the inclusion of Mac and Linux clients is greatly appreciated. Secondly, while they have offered 2-player local co-op since the game's launch, they have continued to update and support the title to the point of the nearly-unheardof addition of online co-op (currently in opt-in beta), a rarity for any game that launches with Local only, much less a small indie project. I'm really not sure how I missed Bleed 2, but I'm certainly glad to see it come to Humble Monthly!

Super Daryl Deluxe ($20, Windows) - This month his heavy with hidden gems and Super Daryl Deluxe is nothing if not unique! Described as an "RPGVania", it meshes real time "metroidvania" combat, with tons of RPG-style skills, attacks, upgrades, equipment and more. However, the unique setting and artistic aesthetic really mesh well with the mechanics in the creation of something that stands out. Players take the role as Daryl, a new student as a "totally normal" high school that seems to be under the control of a sinister new principle. A bespectacled walking nerd trope, half "Napoleon Dynamite" and half old school geek stereotype, Daryl (complete with teen stash, mullet w/ 80s headband and 70s style bellbottoms) finds his school is not so normal after all, existing across dimensions which gives rise to his adventure.

The entire game complete with wacky enemies from various time periods and the powers Daryl finds himself imbued with all seem drawn from countless "retro" high school student sketchbooks...a trope that will probably be more recognizable to those at least in their late 20s; I'm honestly unsure how those who grew up after pop culture started accepting certain "geeky" things will receive it. Kudos to the indie team behind the game for such a cohesive idea and extra credit is certainly due for the heavy metal "Dragonforce-esq" theme song to the game. There is no real DLC though the game has been updated to allow 2 player local co-op (2 copies of Daryl defined by color of their clothes, it seems) and I really look forward to what inventive adventures will come either expanding this title or future works from its developers!

Rapture Rejects ($20, Windows) - While the "battle royale" genre has been overdone in many respects, I'm pleased to see that Rapture Rejects takes it in a different direction! Developed in partnership with the extremely popular webcomic "Cyanide and Happiness" and using the very same artistic style, Rapture Rejects takes place in a world where God (coiffed and bearded of course) has gotten sick of Humanity and instituted the rapture, taking all the "good" souls to heaven. Moved by those left behind, he offers a limited amount of "admit one" tickets to Heaven for whomever can survive the coming apocalypse the longest...and lo we have our premise!

The game is currently in Steam Early Access and content is still expanding, with full game 1.0 release tentatively scheduled for 2020. While the central battle royale conceits are present, in this case it is a setup where there are 50 players per round and the incursion of hellfire, molten lava and other end of the world nastiness will keep campers from staying in one place too long. Players must equip themselves from scavenging the environment, craft meaningful weapons, items, and defenses, and ultimately kill others and/or survive until they're the last one remaining! Unlike most genre titles like "Fortnite" or "PUBG", Rapture Rejects is showcased in a 2.5D overhead isometric style, instead of a typical third person shooter, which adds to the game dynamic and also puts the humor of the C+H comic style front and center. As players continue, they are able to unlock copious cosmetics to enhance their avatars. Further development during EA suggests additional maps, weapons, play-styles, cosmetics and all kinds of new content will be on the way in time. Even those who normally don't enjoy the battle-royale gamestyle may want to give Rapture Rejects lighthearted though ultraviolent play a shot!

After Hours ($??, Win/Mac, Humble Original) - This month's Original is "After Hours", a FMV vignette based experienced into the life of a woman with borderline personality disorder caused by her molestation. If you're still here after that sentence, you probably are not at all surprised the video is in black and white. Not the kind of game one sits down at just for "fun", After Hours is the kind of artistic experience that appeals to certain audiences should they be in the right mood, opening the window into certain perspectives we may not always see or care to see in our entertainment. However, it does drive the medium forward in the same way certain genres of indie films do so at Sundance and as such continue to prove that gaming is no less open as an artistic medium than film or written work.

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Don't forget that aside from each month's games, you also are granted a global 10% discount (that even stacks with other discounts!) in the Humble Store , access to the Humble Trove of downloadable titles , and extras like discount coupon If you enjoyed any of this and wish to subscribe , feel free to use my Recruit-A-Friend link and discount/credit-sharing code to lock in the savings - https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=02L8o8 . There is also another coupon that can be used for 10% off everything on Humble Store for a month, but unlike the RAF it can only be used once per month - PM if you're interested in that (note: I do not think it stacks with Humble Monthly Discounts; its a new program version after all) Don't forget you can always "pause" your subscription for a month too before the unlock day, if you don't think you'll want what's upcoming. Enjoy!

 

[Derangel]

Great job on the run down of these bundles each month. I've been eyeing up the March one since they revealed it, all three early unlocks from there get my attention.

 

[RanceJustice]

Happy to help! Much like Yakuza 0 and The Division in February, March's Early Unlocks again seem to be very promising.

I'll give full rundowns of them in next month's thread, but all 3 seem worthwhile.

Space Defense Force 4.1 + All DLC (I wonder if it counts thew spinoff/side game?) is said to be a really enjoyable B-movie style shooter. Getting all the DLC is a big deal considering the game and DLC itself are fairly expensive even after all this time, so its certainly a good deal.

Warhammer Vermintide 2 Collector's Edition will be great for fans of Left4Dead, Killing Floor 2 etc. The first Vermintide was good, but this one seems quite a bit more in depth which will be a benefit and getting the Collector's Edition bonuses is a great place to start as well.

Cultist Simulator is a really unique title. Ostensibly a "card or board" game it builds a really unique story couched in Lovecraftian mythos and lore into every game; stick with it as players are meant to feel a bit bewildered as they start out, by intent. Its the kind of thing that if you are not adverse to reading is really enjoyable when you're in the right mood and each play session/attempt will let you know a bit more about how things "work" so to speak where unveiling that, not to mention mysteries of the cosmos, is part of the fun! There's a lot to unlock as well... I'm nowhere near the end!

Edit: Would anyone like embedded YouTube videos for each listed game, after my description?