Amazon Discounted PS4, Xbox One, and Switch Games from August 2019
In late August 2019, Amazon offered discounts on recently released games including Control, Collection of Mana, Madden NFL 20, and Man of Medan.
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In late August 2019, online retailer Amazon applied discounts to several video games that had been released earlier in the month for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The price reductions ranged from 13% to 18% off their launch prices, covering a variety of genres from sports simulations to supernatural action and cinematic horror.
Supernatural Action and Classic RPGs
Remedy Entertainment’s Control was among the discounted titles. The PlayStation 4 version saw a 15% price drop, while the Xbox One version was listed at 17% off. Released on August 27, 2019, Control is a third-person action-adventure game set within the Federal Bureau of Control, a secretive U.S. government agency that investigates paranormal phenomena. Players take on the role of Jesse Faden, who wields a transforming service weapon and a host of telekinetic abilities to combat a hostile force known as the Hiss.
For Nintendo Switch owners, Square Enix’s Collection of Mana was available for 15% off its list price. This compilation, which also launched physically on August 27, 2019, brought together the first three games in the Mana series: Final Fantasy Adventure (released as Mystic Quest in Europe), Secret of Mana, and Trials of Mana. The collection was particularly notable for including the first official English localization of Trials of Mana, which was originally released in Japan as Seiken Densetsu 3 in 1995.
Sports, Racing, and Demolition
The annual football release from EA Sports, Madden NFL 20, was also part of the sale. Both the standard PlayStation 4 and Xbox One editions were discounted by 15%. The Madden NFL 20 Superstar Edition for both consoles was reduced by 13%. This installment, featuring Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the cover, introduced the “Face of the Franchise: QB1” career mode and “Superstar X-Factor” abilities, which were designed to make elite players feel more distinct on the field. The Superstar Edition included additional Ultimate Team content.
Also on sale was Wreckfest for PlayStation 4, with a 15% discount. Developed by Bugbear Entertainment, the studio behind the FlatOut series, Wreckfest is a demolition derby-style racing game. It focuses on vehicular combat and realistic soft-body damage modeling, allowing for spectacular crashes. After a lengthy early access period on PC, the game made its console debut in August 2019.
Horror, Sandbox, and Card Games
Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology – Man of Medan was discounted by 17% for both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. As the first entry in a planned series of standalone cinematic horror games, Man of Medan follows a group of American tourists on a diving trip that goes horribly wrong. The gameplay emphasizes player choice, with decisions directly impacting the story’s direction and which characters survive. The game also featured two multiplayer modes: a two-player online “Shared Story” mode and a five-player local “Movie Night” mode.
The Nintendo Switch port of the popular 2D sandbox game Terraria was marked down by 17%. Originally released in 2011, Terraria combines elements of action, adventure, and creativity, allowing players to explore, build, craft, and fight enemies in a procedurally generated world. The Switch version brought the experience to a hybrid console for the first time, supporting both docked and handheld play.
Finally, Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution for Nintendo Switch received the steepest discount at 18% off. This title is a comprehensive simulation of the popular trading card game, featuring over 9,000 cards and storylines spanning from the original animated series through Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. It incorporated the “New Master Rules” and Link Monsters, bringing the digital version up to date with the physical card game at the time of its release.
Frequently asked questions
What games were in the Collection of Mana for Switch?
The Collection of Mana included three classic action RPGs from the series. The games were Final Fantasy Adventure (the first game in the series), Secret of Mana (the second game), and Trials of Mana (the third game). For many players, this collection was the first opportunity to officially play Trials of Mana in English, as it was previously a Japan-exclusive title.
What was the main new mode in Madden NFL 20?
The most significant new feature in Madden NFL 20 was the 'Face of the Franchise: QB1' mode. This was a narrative-driven career campaign where players could create a quarterback, play through the College Football Playoff, participate in the NFL Combine, and get drafted. The mode followed the player's journey to becoming the face of an NFL franchise.
Was The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan made by the same developers as Until Dawn?
Yes, The Dark Pictures Anthology – Man of Medan was developed by Supermassive Games, the same studio that created the 2015 PlayStation 4 exclusive horror game Until Dawn. Man of Medan shares a similar gameplay style focused on player choice and branching narratives, but it is the first part of an anthology series with a completely separate story and characters.
What kind of racing game is Wreckfest?
Wreckfest is a demolition derby-themed racing game that emphasizes vehicular combat and realistic damage physics. While it includes traditional lap-based races, the main appeal is its chaotic events where crashing into opponents is encouraged. The game features detailed soft-body damage modeling, meaning cars visibly deform and fall apart in a convincing way during collisions.