Hi Tznnok,

Medieval II: Total War was made after Rome Total War and is much better IMO. It's not that different from Empire with only a year between the release of the expansion Kingdoms and Empire: Total War. I like both games wheras I find Rome and the original Meieval games a little dated.

Dreamkiller is basically an updated version of the painkiller series, so if you liked those you'll love this. I was playing it the other day and throughly enjoyed myself. You get the same wacky looking weapons and you've also got powers that can be used without weapons. The painkiller series had that weird flying /spinning knife thing, wheras with dreamkiller you have the ability to flame them with the left mouse and push them away with the right. If you keep the right mnouse button depressed for a few seconds the force produce blats them (and I mean blat rather than blast, lol). Some of the original painkiller team worked on this new game as well. To be honest theres little difference in the graphics from the original painkiller series to this IMO, but its well worth trying out. Thankfully I got it on a deal when they had that five day special the other week (I think it was then). I've only played the first stage so far which deals with spiders. :) If you are arachnophobic it'll scare the pants off you, lol.

My son (aged 10) hates spiders webs. Which the first levels have in abundance. He won't stay in the same room when I'm playing the game.

I reckon they've put it up as a free weekend because it hasn't sold very well. It had only been out several weeks when I got it half price.

cool, I'm gonna buy this one. I've been wanting to try these games out for awhile now, but they are always so expensive. I like knights and mid-evil fighting, but I really wanted try Rome.
Also since they just completed this game and are letting go for 5 bucks, I'd bet they didnt put the kind of time they put into Rome or Empire.

Oh well, cant go wrong for that price. By the way another free weekend. They don't have it posted on steam news yet, but if open steam it will pop up the option to predownload it there.

Dreamkiller:
About the Game

Dreamkiller is a shooter that takes players inside the world of dark and twisted nightmares. Gamers take on the role of Alice Drake, a psychologist with the extraordinary ability to enter the minds of her patients and combat the ravenous foes haunting their dreams. Utilizing a host of fantastic weapons and her own special abilities, Alice confronts our common demons only to discover an even deeper menace reigns within. The ultimate showdown becomes inevitable between that which would torment and she who will protect, and only one force will prevail amidst a variety of dreamscapes as varied and bizarre as the human mind itself.

* The world of dreams and nightmares allows for each level to be a completely different environment with different sets of enemies
* In each dream world players can enter a secondary level of the subconscious – a world within a world – and encounter new enemies, weapons and power-ups
* Players can use Alice's teleportation powers to quickly zoom around rooms to dodge enemies and achieve a tactical advantage over enemies
* Alice’s weapons are massive and fierce, each featuring two unique attacks and outlandish ammunition including lightning bolts, lasers, sticky grenades and even "Happy Thoughts."

The Kingdoms expansion was actually the first Total War game I bought I remember really looking forwards to playing it when I got home only to find I required the core game to play it. I'd not noticed that it was the expansion, so ended up having to buy that. They had recently released a deluxe set that included all of the original games (Shogun, Medieval I and Rome) that also included lots of extras like artwork etc. It had been reduced to £10, so was pleased I'd not bothered with any of them previously. I'd lost interest in real time strategy for a few years.

For the asking price of £2.49, this is a bargain. you don't need the expansions to enjoy the game. I'll post some images later.

Medieval II: Total War was the last Total War released before Empire Total War. The game iset up is similar. Here's steams take on the game:

Take command of your army and expand your reign in Medieval II - the fourth installment of the award-winning Total War series of strategy games. Direct massive battles featuring up to 10,000 bloodthirsty troops on epic 3D battlefields, while presiding over some of the greatest Medieval nations of the Western and Middle Eastern world. Spanning the most turbulent era in Western history, your quest for territory and power takes you through Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and even onto the shores of the New World.

You'll manage your empire with an iron fist, handling everything from building and improving cities to recruiting and training armies. Wield diplomacy to manipulate allies and enemies, outsmart the dreaded Inquisition, and influence the Pope. Lead the fight in the Crusades and bring victory to Islam or Christianity in the Holy War. Rewrite history and conquer the world. This is Total War!

■Bigger and better real-time battles. Improved combat choreography, larger armies, quicker pace, and spectacular finishing moves make this the most visceral and exciting Total War ever.
■New epic campaign. The ambitious single player campaign will span three continents and let players sail across to the Americas to confront the Aztecs on their home soil.
■Greater accessibility. An enhanced user interface and optional shorter campaigns make the Total War experience faster and easier to enjoy than ever before.
■Over 40 new features. An advanced terrain system, enhanced weather effects, and more will help you divide and conquer.
■Intense Multiplayer Battles. Wage war against other players in 8-way multiplayer games across the Internet and LAN.

NOTE: Because the Kingdoms expansion uses core game elements from the Medieval II: Total War game, it is required that you use the same method for purchasing Kingdoms as you did in purchasing Medieval II: Total War. If you purchase Medieval II: Total War from Steam, then please use Steam to purchase Kingdoms.

The Kingdoms expansion isn't included with this deal.

System Requirements:

Minimum System Requirements:

Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP
Celeron 1.5GHz Pentium 4® (1500MHz) or equivalent AMD® processor
512MB RAM
11GB of uncompressed free hard disk space
100% DirectX® 9.0c compatible 16-bit sound cardand latest drivers
100% Windows® 2000/XP compatible mouse,keyboard and latest drivers
DirectX® 9.0c
128MB Hardware Accelerated video card with Shader 1 support and the latest drivers. Must be 100% DirectX® 9.0c compatible
1024 x 768 minimum display resolution
Internet (TCP / IP) play supported; Internet play requires broadband connection and latest drivers; LAN play requires Network card.

This weeks weeday sale on Steam is Pirates of the Burning Sea. You can see a video and screenshots over on steam by following THIS link. It's only £2 which is equivalent to about $3. :)

Theres swashbucling adventures on and off your ship as well as confrontations at sea. The video would have sold it to me but then I discovered that theres no singleplayer mode. :( This is a MMO multiplayer only game. Here's Steams info:

Set Sail With Pirates of the Burning Sea™!

Pirates of the Burning Sea is an MMORPG featuring high-seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder. Set against the backdrop of the New World of the 18th century, players can choose one of three nations — England, France or Spain — or choose the role of a Pirate and battle it out for glory and power.

Key Features

Join one of the four loyalties — France, Spain, England or Pirate.

Battle other players to control more than 80 conquerable ports in the Caribbean.

Explore the world and make a name for yourself in more than 1,000 missions.

Vie for power and wealth with the fully player-driven economy.

Build, capture, and customize 158 historical ships.

Design your own personal flags, and customize sail decals.

Choose from three different styles of combat — deadly and formal Fencing, flashy, dual wielding Florentine or rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting.

Disclaimer:

30-day subscription included for new accounts only (existing Pirates of the Burning Sea and Station Access accounts are not eligible to receive gameplay included with purchase). Afterwards, a Monthly Subscription Fee of $14.99 applies (plus applicable tax).

Installation and play subject to the Pirates of the Burning Sea User Agreement and Software License Agreement, game rules of conduct, SOE's terms of service and SOE's privacy policy.

This is an Internet-only game which requires players to connect to Flying Lab Software's servers via their own Internet connections. Players are responsible for their own Internet connection service and all Internet-related fees. A valid credit card is required to play this game and additional, recurring subscription fees apply.

Sony Online Entertainment and Flying Lab Software do not ensure continuous or error-free access, use or availability of any game content, feature, game-play or server and may change, modify, disable, suspend or remove any such content, feature, game-play or server at their sole discretion.

System Requirements:

Operating system: Windows® XP
Processor: Pentium® IV 1.48 GHz or greater
Memory: 1024 MB RAM
Hard disk space: 6 GB Hard Drive Space
Video: DirectX® 9 compatible video card: NVidia® GeForce™ FX 5700, ATI® Radeon® 9600, or equivalent with 128 MB of texture memory
Sound: DirectSound compatible audio hardware