{"id":4879,"date":"2026-02-20T06:33:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T06:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/au-deals-quiet-classics-smart-sequels-and-a-few-deep-cuts-i-would-happily-buy-again\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T06:33:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T06:33:58","slug":"au-deals-quiet-classics-smart-sequels-and-a-few-deep-cuts-i-would-happily-buy-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/20\/au-deals-quiet-classics-smart-sequels-and-a-few-deep-cuts-i-would-happily-buy-again\/","title":{"rendered":"AU Deals: Quiet Classics, Smart Sequels, And A Few Deep Cuts I Would Happily Buy Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Thank your own personal deity–possibly Athena of God of War: Sons of Sparta<\/em> fame–it’s Friday. Some sales are noisy. This one is curated. These are games I have played, finished, stress tested, and would still recommend at these prices without hesitation. And now I’m off to play some Resi. Weekend well. See you Monday.<\/p>\n

Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n

This Day in Gaming \ud83c\udf82<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

In retro news, I’m celebrating the 23rd birthday of Rez<\/strong>, Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s synesthesia masterpiece. One part Panzer Dragoon<\/strong> on-rails shooting and another part LSD degrees of “ohhh, I can seeee<\/em> the muuuusic,” this Dreamcast must-own stands up today, particularly inside of a PS VR2 headset.<\/p>\n

A great game that had one of the most <\/strong>eyebrow-raising peripherals<\/strong> ever.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aussie birthdays for notable games.<\/p>\n

– Rez <\/strong>(DC) 2002. Remaster<\/p>\n

– Castlevania: Lament of Innocence<\/strong> (PS2) 2004. eBay<\/p>\n

– Fire Emblem<\/strong> (GBA) 2004. eBay<\/p>\n

– 40K: Dawn of War II <\/strong>(PC) 2009. Get<\/p>\n

– Street Fighter IV<\/strong> (PS3,X360) 2009. Get<\/p>\n

– Persona 4 Golden<\/strong> (PSV) 2013. Get<\/p>\n

– Dead or Alive 5 Last Round<\/strong> (PS3\/4,X360\/O) 2015. Get<\/p>\n

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Red Dead Redemption (-48%) – A$25.00<\/strong> The writing is still razor sharp and the world holds up surprisingly well on Switch. Gunplay shows its age, yet the pacing and tone remain worth every cent.<\/li>\n
  • Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-40%) – A$47.80<\/strong> Tactical combat without rigid grids gives this sequel real personality. The Rabbids humour can grate, but the systems underneath are smarter than they look.<\/li>\n
  • Dead Cells (-50%) – A$18.70<\/strong> Still one of the tightest action loops around. It is punishing but fair, and every run feels earned. At half price, it is dangerously easy to justify.<\/li>\n
  • Unravel Two (-70%) – A$8.90<\/strong> A gentle co-op puzzle platformer built around coordination rather than chaos. It is short and simple, yet quietly charming at this price point.<\/li>\n
  • Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered (-80%) – A$11.90<\/strong> Loud arcade racing that knows exactly what it is. Structure is old school, but the chases still feel good and the discount softens repetition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Switch Console Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n

    How much to Switch it up?<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    36<\/p>\n

    Switch 2 $696 |
    \n Switch 2 + Mario Kart $766 |
    \n Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $534 |
    \n Switch Original: $448 |
    \n Switch OLED Black: $539 |
    \n Switch OLED White: $539 |
    \n Switch Lite: $328<\/p>\n

    <\/span><\/p>\n

    Back to top<\/p>\n

    Exciting Bargains for Xbox<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

    <\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Assassin’s Creed Mirage (-70%) – A$24<\/strong> Mirage trims the RPG excess and restores rooftop stalking. Smaller scope works in its favour, especially at this price.<\/li>\n
    • Sonic Frontiers (-66%) – A$33.70<\/strong> Ambitious open zones give Sonic room to breathe. It is uneven, but the spectacle and soundtrack carry more weight than expected.<\/li>\n
    • Hogwarts Legacy (-65%) – A$39<\/strong> Hogwarts itself is absurdly detailed and worth exploring slowly. The main story drags occasionally, but the fantasy rarely falters.<\/li>\n
    • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (-33%) – A$55.90<\/strong> Predictable but polished, with campaign set pieces that still flex technical muscle. Multiplayer value depends entirely on your squad staying active.<\/li>\n
    • Mortal Kombat 1 (-62%) – A$29<\/strong> Visceral and visually absurd in motion. Live service elements divide opinion, but the core fighting remains satisfyingly sharp.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Xbox One<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (-51%) – A$49.10<\/strong> Combat repeats itself, yet the writing and cast chemistry carry the experience comfortably at this discount.<\/li>\n
      • Mass Effect Legendary Edition (-70%) – A$30.30<\/strong> Three sprawling RPGs and almost all DLC in one package. The first game shows its age, but the character work remains elite.<\/li>\n
      • LEGO Worlds (-42%) – A$28.90<\/strong> Freeform creativity with minimal structure. It lacks modern LEGO polish, though younger builders will not mind at this price.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Or just invest in an Xbox Card<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

        Xbox Console Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n

        How many bucks for a ‘Box?<\/p>\n

        <\/p>\n

        20<\/p>\n

        Series X: $799 |
        \n Series S Black: $545 |
        \n Series S White:$498 |<\/p>\n

        <\/span><\/p>\n

        Back to top<\/p>\n

        Pure Scores for PlayStation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

        <\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • CoD: Black Ops 7 (-64%) – A$40<\/strong> Faster load times and steady performance help here. It does not reinvent anything. CoD is CoD. You know this.<\/li>\n
        • Crimson Desert (-19%) – A$89<\/strong> Large scale combat and open world ambition headline this one. It is not a small investment, but early scope looks substantial.<\/li>\n
        • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (-48%) – A$48.90<\/strong> Shorter than the original, tighter because of it. Swinging across New York still feels clean and confident.<\/li>\n
        • Alan Wake II (-44%) – A$50.30<\/strong> A bold horror sequel that trusts you to keep up. Combat can feel deliberate, but the structure and atmosphere linger.<\/li>\n
        • Assassin’s Creed Shadows (-55%) – A$49<\/strong> Dual protagonists and feudal Japan finally align. Open world fatigue is possible, yet the setting does heavy lifting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          PS4<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Trials of Mana (-44%) – A$43.20<\/strong> A bright remake that keeps its classic bones. Story is simple, but the combat system retains genuine charm.<\/li>\n
          • It Takes Two (-80%) – A$11.90<\/strong> One of the smartest co-op designs in years. You will need a reliable partner, which is sometimes the real challenge.<\/li>\n
          • Disco Elysium – The Final Cut (-75%) – A$14.90<\/strong> Dialogue as combat, and still unmatched. It is dense and uncompromising, but essential at this price.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Or purchase a PS Store Card.<\/strong><\/p>\n

            What you’ll pay to ‘Station.<\/p>\n

            <\/p>\n

            29<\/p>\n

            PS5 Slim Disc:$829 |
            \n PS5 Slim Digital:$749 |
            \n PS5 Ghost of Yotei:$909 |
            \n PS5 Pro $1,199 |
            \n PS VR2: $649.95 |
            \n PS Portal: $329<\/p>\n

            <\/span><\/p>\n

            Back to top<\/p>\n

            Purchase Cheap for PC<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

            <\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (-53%) – A$54.90<\/strong> A stealth classic rebuilt with modern presentation. Pacing is theatrical, but jungle tension still grips.<\/li>\n
            • It Takes Two (-80%) – A$9.90<\/strong> Runs beautifully on PC and remains a co-op benchmark. You do need someone equally committed on the other controller.<\/li>\n
            • Death Stranding Director’s Cut (-75%) – A$13.70<\/strong> A strange, contemplative trek about connection and cargo. It commits fully to its tone, which is precisely why it works.<\/li>\n
            • Metaphor: ReFantazio (-55%) – A$51.70<\/strong> Persona lineage meets high fantasy politics. It is dense and stylish, though newcomers should expect a long commitment.<\/li>\n
            • Spiritfarer (-85%) – A$6.50<\/strong> Gentle management wrapped around grief and goodbyes. It moves slowly, but the emotional payoff is quietly powerful.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Or just get a Steam Wallet Card<\/strong><\/p>\n

              PC Hardware Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Slay your pile of shame.<\/p>\n

              <\/p>\n

              25<\/p>\n

              Steam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 |
              \n Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 |
              \n Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049<\/p>\n

              <\/span><\/p>\n

              Back to top<\/p>\n

              Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that’s worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on <\/em>YouTube<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Thank your own personal deity–possibly Athena of God of War: Sons of Sparta fame–it’s Friday. Some sales are noisy. This one is curated. These are games I have played, finished, stress tested, and would still recommend at these prices without hesitation. And now I’m off to play some Resi. Weekend well. See you Monday. Contents<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[2584,345,3975,3972,4665,4666,4662,4664,4663],"class_list":{"0":"post-4879","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-console-gaming","8":"tag-buy","9":"tag-classics","10":"tag-cuts","11":"tag-deals","12":"tag-deep","13":"tag-happily","14":"tag-quiet","15":"tag-sequels","16":"tag-smart"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4879"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4879\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beteja.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}