Prime Gaming – February 2024

If you were born after 1995, you might as well leave right now: February is a month of nostalgia. Before we get to that, we’ll make the obligatory mention that if you are one for the free-to-play and live service sections of gaming, there is plenty to pick up from Prime Gaming throughout February as well as the games. This includes Cap’n Crackers Pet for WoW, the space bundle for F1 23, Rosewood Moira epic skin for Overwatch 2, and more. Including COD: Warzone and Modern Warfare 2, Cyberpunk: Phantom Liberty, Lost (T)Art, Pokémon Go, and many more titles.

Starting with what was available from last Thursday when I wanted to throw this month in the bin already, you can pick up a GOG code for Fallout. The 1997 version, Fallout: A Post-Nuclear Role Playing Game is the isometric one that seemingly everyone already has in some form or another. A great CRPG, one that I think everyone should at least play to get an appreciation for the advancements in the genre, but quite dated. I’m going to say that a lot this month.

Also available now following the 1st, this time through the Epic Games Store, you can pick up Breakout: Recharged. Originally released in 1976 for arcade cabinets, or in 1978 for home consoles, Breakout might not have been the first block-breaking title, but it did popularize the style and spawn several clones and the building block for the 1978 title Space Invaders. This of course is the glitzy, modern polished version from Atari SA. The title is credited to being designed by Nolan Bushnell, Steve Wozniak, Steve Bristow, and some other guy named Steve Jobs. Never heard of any of them.

From the 8th, once again available through the Epic Games Store, you can pick up Missile Command: Recharged. Now you see what I am on about, there are only two games from this last decade available this month. Released for arcades in 1980, with home ports releasing in subsequent years, Missile Command has you in charge of anti-missile batteries to protect little cities. Released amid the Cold War, and some missiles having MIRV capabilities, there is a vague anti-war message “hidden” under almost never-ending missile ordnances.

From the 15th, if you are a retired OAP or extremely bored, you can pick up Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders – Collector’s Edition. Now, my Claire Voyant powers are telling me that I’m about to say this is a hidden object game available through Legacy Games. Criminal Archives: Alphabetic Murders – Collector’s Edition is a hidden object game available through Legacy Games, released in 2023 it was the one birthday present from last year that I think continues to ruin my life to this very day.

Released in 1981 for arcades, Dave Theurer’s second major title after Missle Command became a major hit. Too bad Tempest 4000 feels like it was made for and was released in the 80s (minus the 4000 addition). If you are partial to having seizures or other issues at the sight of quick flashing colors, movement towards the screen, and screenshaking, avoid this one on the 15th. As the “tube shooter” does get a bit chaotic in later levels that could cause issues.

From the 22nd you can pick up the second game from this past decade, in fact from the last couple of years, but it is also a repeat of something from only August. Released in 2022, Blade Assault is a colorful “2D action Rogue-lite platformer with lovely pixel-y graphics and quite a bit of neon.” To quote myself from only 7 months ago. I’m not against Blade Assault, but I am against repeating ourselves so quickly for a game that you either already have or don’t care too much about. With only a small number clearly without it in one of their many libraries.

Then, of course, we have the final title available from the 29th of February which will either have you playing Final Fantasy Terrorist Edition Remake – Part II, or anything other than Gravitar: Recharged via the Epic Games Store. Originally released in 1982 for arcades and in ’83 for the Atari 2600, Gravitar is a multidirectional shooter that sees you making your way through cave systems destroying bunkers that fire at you constantly. Known for its high difficulty, this was back when games hoovered all the shiny pennies from your pockets at alarming rates.