Handsome & Humble: December Issue

Handsome & Humble: December Issue

Handsome & Humble is an ongoing series from Handsome Phantom about the games in the Humble Monthly Bundle. Humble Monthly is subscription service ($12 per month) from Humble that give subscribers a bundle of PC games each month. There are always some AAA titles, as well as a handful of indie games. The bundles are usually worth somewhere around $200, so we think its an awesome value for what subscribers pay.

Subscribers also have the option to pay for the next month’s bundle early, in order to get the “early unlock”, which is typically two or three of the games from the next month’s bundle. Handsome and Humble is the monthly series where we look at what you’ll get in the early unlock as well as a quick overview of the games from the last bundle.

This month, if you pay for December’s early unlock, you’ll receive a copy of Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience & Cities: Skylines plus the After Dark DLC

Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience

The Metal Gear Solid series is as interesting as it is confusing, but each installment of the game has delivered fantastic gameplay. Metal Gear Solid V is no exception, taking an open world approach to the classic stealth shooter, and introducing even more complexity to the ongoing story that only Hideo Kojima can totally comprehend. Regardless of whether or not you’re invested in the series, Metal Gear Solid V provides an extremely fun and challenging gameplay experience with some really cool options for progression as players progress through the game.

The definitive edition of this game contains both Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (a one mission, repeatable experience) and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (the larger, open world game). At first glance, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes seems like a little bit of a rip-off, since it’s all set in one mission. However, the game is structured to give enough variation in playstyle and objectives that players will have more than enough to accomplish. Also, the story that unfolds during all the different parts of this one-mission experience are essential setup for the story of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

Progression and customization are some of the most important aspects of open-world games. With its extensive weapons and equipment development, base building, and extensive weapon customization systems, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain does not disappoint. Players will find themselves going back again and again to the weapons customization to find that combination of attachments that is just right for their own playstyle. Certain missions and challenges may feel impossible at first, but once players unlock that sniper rifle or tranquilizer gun they’ll be able to fly through with no problems. This game provides players with hours of fun gameplay and replayability and alone is worth the $12 price tag for December’s Humble Bundle.

Cities: Skylines

Broadly speaking, Cities: Skylines is an incredibly extensive city building and management simulation game. The game forces players to pay close attention to detail in so many areas of the game. From traffic management to creating tax incentives, players begin to become familiar with the unending complexity of millions of people living together in one small city.

If you’re interested in see an in-depth review of the base game, check out the review from our editor-in-chief, Ben Smith: Cities: Skylines – Review (PS4)

December’s Humble Monthly Bundle also comes with the After Dark DLC for Cities: Skylines. This DLC adds a host of new features, most notable is a day and night system. Not only does nighttime make the cities look absolutely gorgeous, but it also changes gameplay, introducing elements of nightlife, entertainment, and crime at night. Tourism is a big part of this DLC, allowing players to build attractions that people from outside your city will come visit through the new international airport. Finally, the After Dark DLC also expands the transportations system pretty significantly (as if it wasn’t complicated enough already), with bikes and taxis being just a few new ways for your citizens to get around.

And many more!

Each monthly bundles contains a handful of other titles as well, some that are well known, some that are not so well known. Since we can’t tell you about any of the other titles that will be in May’s bundle, here’s a quick overview of the games in last month’s bundle!

7 Days to Die – A zombie survival/crafting game that gets crazy every 7 days

Dead Island: Definitive Edition – A first person zombie game where players get to create crazy weapons to try to escape an island

The Dwarves – A fantasy RPG where players assume the role of a Dwarf orphan turned warrior

Hard Reset Redux – A spacey first person shooter that offers constant action

Hitman: The Complete First Season – The most recent installment of the beloved stealth shooter

Hollow Knight – The 2D metroidvania game that feels a bit like a souls game

Resident Evil Revelations –  A 3DS re-release that takes place between Resident Evil 4 and 5

Sniper Elite 1, 2, and 4 – Three installments of the stealth shooter with the famous bullet camera

Check out the Humble Monthly subscription, an incredible value for PC gamers everywhere! 

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