As the month opens up, our two contenders, the USA and EU, prepare their opening salvos. Having won the last fight of February, the US fires first, attacking with their newest addition to the Instant Game Collection, Spec Ops: The Line. This modern third-person shooter puts players in the role of one Captain Martin Walker as you are deployed to a post-catastrophe Dubai. You are accompanied by an elite Delta Force team on a seemingly simple reconnaissance mission, but soon things get out of hand and the situation escalates into a hunt for a decorated officer by the name of Colonel John Konrad. Will you be able to find him? Or will you be added to the ranks of those KIA?
The US follows up the opening shot with a machine-gun discount assault. This includes BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (normal: $14.99, PS+: $11.99), as well as 17 new games that are added to the Vita Anniversary Sale, including Big Sky Infinity (cross-buy. Regular: $9.99, PS+: $4.89), Sumioni: Demon Arts (regular: $14.99, PS+: $7.34), and Knytt Underground (cross-buy. Regular: $14.99, PS+: $7.34). For a full list of the games added to the Vita Anniversary sale, you can see the official PS Store update.
The EU shoots down the US's opening missile with Mass Effect 3, the sequel to the popular Bioware franchise starring Commander Shepard. The game had been fairly well received, despite faults players found with it, not the least of which many considered the ending. With that in mind, the game has actually recently had DLC released that provides, what many believe, a better ending.
The EU aims to dodge the rapid fire of the discounts by throwing up Dead or Alive 5 and Joe Danger 2 completely free of charge. As they hope that each game can deflect at least 9 of the rounds apiece, they open fire themselves, offering up Mass Effect 2 for 10 percent off, Reality Fighters (Vita) for half off, as well as three free themes (Island, Travellers, and Johanna), Big Sky: Infinity starbits (half off), and some DoA 5 costumes for 10 percent off.
Which region pulled out the victory? Honestly, it's hard to say. Though the EU received more free games (not to mention three free themes), the Vita Anniversary sale allows the US to put up quite the fight, particularly since several have cross-buy capability. In terms of free stuff and nothing alone, it'd go to the EU hands down (some ME fans will likely say that the entire thing should simply because of Mass Effect 3, and particularly with the Mass Effect 2 discount.), but the sale blows the EU discounts out of the water.
In the end, I think I'd call it a draw. When I first saw the triple games, I was thinking it'd go to the EU, but the Vita sale turned out better than I had expected, and allowed the US to fight to a standstill. With all their ammo expended, both the US and EU ships limp back home to restock for the next week. Which will come out on top then? We'll find out soon, but until then, happy gaming!
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