Welcome to another week of not paying retail for the games that matter. As per always, I’ve scoured the storefronts for nothing but the best in budget-minded gaming, plus the perfect preorder entry points. Wish I had time to say more, but Super Earth isn’t going to super save itself. See you planetside in Helldivers 2, where I may or may not accidentally (but also democratically) delete you with an Orbital Airburst Strike.

In retro news, I’m lighting a big 9 on a cake for the original Helldivers. Rather different from its current day darling of a sequel, this top-down twin-stick shooter was still white-knuckle enough to explain the early onset arthritis some of you now have. Core memory for me: hearing some NPC Helldivers on my bridge remark upon the ‘peacefulness’ of our skull logo in a very “Are we the baddies?” exchange. Comedy gold.

This Day in Gaming

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

– Freelancer (PC) 2003.

– Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PC,PS3,X360) 2010.

– Helldivers (PS3/4/V) 2015. Get