Extinction Agenda vs. "EX?"

[Malidictus]

Maybe I'm a little slow, but I can't seem to find any information on how A.R.E.S: Extinction Agenda differs from what appears to be the same game with "EX" on the end, aka this one. I don't own either game, but they're both discounted right now so I'm curious to know which one I should buy, or if I should at all.

I have a rough grasp on what the game is "about" and have kept my eye on it for some time. Since TotalBiscuit highlighted Extinction Agenda as a good buy for ~$1, it got me interested to actually find out.

[MystMan]

EX version expands the original game. Completely different artstyle in the cutscenes and dialogue moments. The controls are different too (took me a while to get used to the transition).

Extinction agenda:
- only Ares as a playable character.
- has the Berserker Armor DLC (highest attack power, lowest armor)
- has Soundtrack DLC
- Genesis Suit unlocked if you can reach Soldier Rank SS. (highest rank; if you attain it you EARNED IT, champ! )

EX:
- adds Tarus as secondary playable character (he unlocks after you beat the game with Ares) thereby doubling replayability. They have completely different playstyles, story progression and ending.
- Two extra stages.
- Owners of the original game get the Apollo support drone in EX which sucks up all loot for you onscreen without you having to go get it yourself, saves you a lot of time.
- does NOT have soundtrack DLC for some reason (Tarus has his own tracks)
- has leaderboards for both characters (currently the guy on top in Ares leaderboards is a cheater, that score is impossible)


So if you don't care about the original's DLC and the Apollo drone, get EX instead.
Getting 100% achievements for both games however, awesome. Perfecting all boss fights just felt so amazing!

[Malidictus]

Sadly, the discount is over by now but I'll put it in my Wishlist for later. Basically what you're saying is EX has "more content" and reworked graphics? OK, that's worth the overhead, I think. Thank you for the explanation :)

[MystMan]

The discount will be back around Christmas / New Year. (20dec - 1 jan) As long as you don't go on a very long vacation during that period, you won't miss it.

The "reworked graphics" you mentioned are ONLY in cutscenes. Valkyl is a more lively NPC than her cold robotic original version. The gameplay graphics look exactly the same for both games. Only Ares' body coloring is different though from the original, that's it.

[Malidictus]

In either case, it seems to me like EX is the better purchase. I'll wait for another discount and pick this up. I've been keeping an eye on it since it came out as I really do like platforming shoot-em-ups, but I never quite caught it at a low enough price to snag without commitment. Now I know. Thank you :)

[MystMan]

Originally posted by Malidictus:

I'll wait for another discount and pick this up.

Go! go! go!

[LasMancasLocas_Zarigueya]

[ODDSIDIAN]

excuse me, but no loyalty discount? I didn't get anything for owning and completing the game, at 10 USD you can be sure I won't be purchasing the "same" game twice. No sir. Nothing personal; I really liked the game and considered it as a metroidvania good example, art was good, upgrades were awesome and even tho it was kinda short you can always replay levels to improve your score..

But I'm unemployed and argentinian peso to US dollar makes it this a no go. Oh well, I'd had hope for an enhanced version rather than a new one, but I understand the devs gotta eat too and according to the info above, this was more than a refresh, just a shame I won't be enjoying the new EX version any time soon :S