Cheap Thrills: Gaming Deals of Nov. 6, 2009

Let's face it: Times are tough. The economy hasn't quite rebounded yet, jobs are still hard to come by, and a flights home for Thanksgiving cost as much as buying a jet. Who has the money to drop $60 on a new Xbox 360 game or $169 on a shiny new Nintendo DSi? Well, we do, but we're very, very rich. So what about everyone else?

Luckily, the Internet is awash in awesome gaming deals. Retailers have shelves to clear, and that means prices often get slashed. We've been scouring the pages of online retailers like Amazon, Newegg, EB Games, Direct2Drive and Best Buy to find the best deals on the hottest games and accessories. Each week, we post our finds here on Cheap Thrills, but if you want to get in on the savings you'll have to be quick – some of these deals disappear faster than an IGN editor's sobriety at an E3 after party. If you're looking for hot deals on gadgets, electronics and accessories, check out IGN's Black Market Gear: Deals of the Week. Our latest addition to Cheap Thrills is our recommendation for a game that is so cheap it won't cost you anything at all.

Ginormo Sword – Free!

We found it here.

Think you've got a big sword? If it's not the size of a small building or a Boeing 747, then you're going to have to try harder to impress the burly, pixilated monsters in Ginormo Sword. This retro blade-swinging RPG doesn't kick off with a quest to rescue a kidnapped princess, save the realm from evil, or get revenge for a fallen comrade. No, this adventure is all about forging the biggest, most ultimately badass sword humanly possible and using it to cleave your way through the beast-strewn countryside.

While it's possible to pimp your blade out with magic powers, equip life-saving armor, and temper elemental attributes into your gear, the real draw of Ginormo Sword revolves around the game's swords themselves. The slash-heavy action percolates into a heavy grind that's super satisfying, because every sack of cash you nab puts you a bit closer to achieving uber-sword greatness. As you purchase bigger and better swords, you can boost their power levels and take them to weapon smiths to alter their size and shape. We're not sure if the drive to wield the biggest sword known to mankind is an attempt to compensate for deficiencies elsewhere, but it's a damn good time nonetheless.

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