Limited Editions, Collector’s Editions, Premium Editions, etc. I’m sure you’ve seen them around. Maybe you have a few of them yourself. Me, I’m something of a collector of them. While I buy these almost compulsively, I am also able to judge whether or not the premium content is worth the premium price (you know, before I buy it regardless). This series is made for people curious about these premium releases, either because they’re planning on digging some up on ebay or something or just wondering what they contained.
I don’t really plan these ahead so I’m always open for suggestions. If there’s an LE you’re curious about, send me a message and if I have it, there’s a good chance I’ll review it.
Season One (2008)
- Looking towards the Weekend and LE Review Debut June 6, 2008Robotech: Battlecry Collector's EditionMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Collector's Edition Guide
- Spoilers and LE Review may follow… June 16, 2008Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Limited Edition
- Thoughts on Twin Snakes and LE Review June 27, 2008Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence Limited Edition
- Just random stuff and an LE Review July 5, 2008The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Collector's Edition
- Pre-E3 and LE Review July 13, 2008Castlevania: Lament of Innocence Limited Edition (JP)
- Weeks Plus LE Review (RE4 Edition) August 8, 2008Resident Evil 4 Gamestop Special EditionResident Evil 4 Premium EditionResident Evil 4 Collector's PackRandom Resident Evil 4 stuff
- Australia 2008 plus LE Review August 27, 2008SoulCalibur IV Premium Edition
Season Two (2009)
- Starting the Year off Right & LE Review January 10, 2009Prince of Persia Limited Edition
- Dead Space, Endwar Review, & LE Review February 18, 2009Tom Clancy's Endwar: Limited Wireless Headset Edition
- Resident Evil 5: Review, LE Review March 17, 2009Resident Evil 5 Collector's Edition
- Tomb Raider review, RE5 pt2, and LE Review March 22, 2009Biohazard 5th Anniversary Special Pack- Nightmare Returns
- The Wii in Context May 12, 2009Europa Universalis III Collector's Edition
- Great ideas…in theory: Random Dungeons May 26, 2009The Witcher Enhanced Edition
- New Games, New Audiences, New Genres June 26, 2009Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition
- The Sales Myth August 9, 2009Sonic Adventure 2 Birthday Pack (JP)
- Updates October 5, 2009Tales of Vesperia Special Edition
- Why I like ‘bad’ games November 22, 2009Cursed Mountain Limited Edition
Season Three (2014)
- 2013 Year in Review January 1, 2014Aliens: Colonial Marines - Collector's Edition
- The Great Controller Showdown May 19, 2014Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector Set
While these are reviews of the bonus materials contained and the unit as a whole, it is important to know what I personally value in a premium release.
Making-of/Documentaries: I recently got my degree in film production and I hope to someday become a video game developer. For these reasons I love making-of videos and production featurettes as they give you a look at how the game was developed, inspirations, and the goals of the designers and developers. Many Collector’sLimited Editions just include one of these and call it aday.
Soundtracks: I find it hard to really describe why I love game soundtracks. Maybe its because I’m fascinated with the development of video game music as much as I am with games themselves. Video game music has, for a long time, been looked down and and disregarded because people listened to 8-bit music and heard the primitive beeps and buzzes of the limited hardware without really examining the music itself. Now, many game music soundtracks rival film scores and I enjoy being able to experience it apart from the game.
Art Books: This goes back to my interest in game development. Many well-made art books include a plethora of concept art that lets you see how ideas begin and how they evolve as the game design process runs its course.
Presentation: This isn’t a specific item, but I always enjoy it when a premium edition is presented in a unique way. The worst games in this department just stick a bonus disc in a paper sleeve inside the game case or shove all their items into a large enough box. The best ones cannot be compared to anything else and either exude excessiveness or make you just gaze upon it in awe.
That’s basically a rundown of what I love to see in Limited Editions. I’m also fond of anything that really enhances the gameplay experience or that provides additional information on the game’s universe. What I hate to see is laziness or cheapness on the part of publisher. Things like DLC as bonus content typically get low marks as far as I’m concerned because digital content is rarely appealing to me and is incredibly inexpensive for the publisher to include. Trinkets and jewlery are rarely interesting unless its something important in-game. Squall’s necklace, for example would be a great bonus item, but the Africa necklace included in RE5 is lame. I can spend all day describign what I love and what I hate so I’ll stop here. I sort of look at things on a game-by-game basis so my evaluation for each release can’t really be put on a rubric, at least none I have any interest in devising.