Dark Souls, Hitman: Absolution Now Dirt Cheap

This afternoon Steam began offering two very nice last Midweek Madness deals. Dark Souls and Hitman Absolution now cost $7.50 and $6.24 for the next couple days.

Dark Souls is an action RPG known for its brutal difficulty. Players must navigate dungeons filled with monsters and traps that can kill them in a matter of seconds. Making matters worse, they have to watch out for other players that can invade their game and try to kill them. Other players can be help as well, though; they can leave helpful hints throughout the world or even fight alongside you.

The PC version, called the Prepare to Die Edition, also comes loaded with new features. A new chapter of the game will pit players against scarecrows, stone knights and Artorias of the Abyss. Through this adventure through Lordran's past, players will earn new armor and weapons. From Software also introduced a new matchmaking system for PvP. Players can easily find competitors for 1v1, 2v2 or four-player free-for-all matches.

Hitman Absolution is the fifth title in the long-running assassination series. Players take on the role of world-renowned hitman Agent 47. They must complete missions using a combination of stealth, disguises and violence. It's up to the player to decide how exactly they'll fulfill each contract. A new Instinct Mode lets players see enemy movements, better avoid detection, and spot hidden details in the environment.

Absolution introduced the series' first multiplayer with a new Contracts mode. In Contracts, players design custom missions and share them with the community. Designing the missions doesn't require much effort - you just select a premade level, set the targets, and specify the kill conditions. After they complete a contract, players receive scores based on how quickly and cleanly they completed them. The money they earn can be used to unlock new items like weapons and disguises. Leaderboards keep tabs on who the best assassins in the world are.

The Professional Edition of Absolution received a discount today as well, bringing it down to $7.50. The Professional bundle unlocks an upgraded silencer and laser sights for your weapon customization. It also gives you access to the Jagd P22G pistol, HX UMP submachinegun, and SPS 12 semi-auto shotgun. This bundle provides some insight into the development process for the game as well with a 72-page artbook and making-of video.

The Absolution and Dark Souls discounts will run until 4pm Pacific Standard Time on Thursday.