The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ Misses Switch Launch Day, But Retail Release Adds Instruction Booklet

I'd buy it eventually if there's ever a physical European version. They did ask us on Twitter whether we'd like to see that happen so people should let them know.

https://twitter.com/nicalis/status/821836378400952320

I was always intrigued by this, it kinda gives me a Ren and Stimpy vibe which simultaneously terrifies and elates me! Will be far to busy at launch with BOTW anyway so can happily wait.

Seems like true Nicalis fashion to delay a game a bit. Either way, though, this game looks good, so I'll still buy it.

bummer. i was going to get it along with BotW since i've never played it before.

That is adorable. Wish I enjoyed this game more.

Maybe I'll give it another chance.

@G0dlike Binding of Isaac is a very strange game and, in true roguelike fashion, very hard. I'd recommend it.

I own The Binding of Issac on Steam, but I haven't put time aside to give it a chance.

Anyway, I buy Nintendo consoles for its exclusives. It's a rare day when I buy something on a console I can also find on Steam.

@Shepdawg1 alright, I'll do it!!

why was it delayed

I will buy this when it comes out.

Thus, our first benefit of being region free with the Switch.....

Why couldn't a game I'm interested in get a manual?

I do love the presentation, never played it may do later in the year

Since this is coming later in March, maybe I'll get Bomberman at launch

@Angelic_Lapras_King If you don't mind paying 14 extra dollars every time you want to buy a physical release because they won't release it in Europe, then fine. Having to pay 40% more for physical releases just because we're Europeans and have no choice but to import is not what I'd call a positive thing.

@Kafei2006 Its an option regardless. Would have loved to import all the physical versions of Half Genie Hero but lack a PS4, Vita, and US Wii U.

I'll be picking this up at some point. I loved The Binding of Isaac on Wii U and having a physical version will look lovely in my collection. Plus it includes content not in the Wii U version.

Now I'll just have to unlock everything again...

@Kafei2006
With BestBuy GCU 20% discount and/or Amazon Prime 20% discount, the extra cost is almost entirely offset for importing from the US.

Sinalefa has me buy all his games from BestBuy for 20% off, and even after shipping it still comes out less than what he'd pay retail in Costa Rica.

Even from Europe, can sign up for Prime or just have a friend buy and ship (or find a member here as a contact) and probably break close to even.

Hehe, I'll be busy playing Zelda, so the delay isn't a big deal.

Love it. I preordered right off the bat and have no problem with waiting a few weeks. Actually I'm inordinantly hyped for the instruction booklet, of all things. Partially for the nostalgia of living vicariously through them as a kid, but more so because BoI is an ideal candidate for a pocket reference. I mean, I keep screenshots of all the items with explanations on my phone to keep tabs during my runs, so ideally the booklet will at least include a full list. That would be a big service to offer any new players.

Wow I would be disappointed but then to see it's a NES style manual with NES style headers, print, and hand drawn water colored looking visuals has me very happy. I'll be pleased to thumb through that faux 80s flashback for a laugh (and info too.)

It's a great game, but I fear the typical Nicalis game-breaking bugs will rear their ugly heads. Maybe in six months when the bugs are squashed and the price drops a smidge.

I love this. So much. Isaac making an instruction manual stylized after the OG Zelda!? PERFECT!

Definitely buying this

Haven't played this and a return of manuals is very welcome, looks like another game for my Switch.

Reversable box art is the coolest thing I have ever heard of

Yep, pre-ordered.

Glad I decided to lock in a pre-order for this at Best Buy last week, while the Visa Checkout promo was still running. $24 and tax. I can live with the extra few weeks for this, unlike Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I NEED that new Battle Mode, now! 😳

Yeah I got notified about one and a half weeks ago I should receive after the 17th - so I figured a delay was in the pipes for this one.

Totally rad! Maybe the potential Cave Story release will have an instruction manual too

If only it came to europe in physical form ...

@GoldenGamer88 system is region free so who cares.

This is very very cool, not the game the instruction manual.

@YANDMAN Not going through the hassle of importing a game I already own twice, though.

That's a bummer : that was my only launch day game.

@ThomasBW84 Are you sure that the booster packs will also come to the Switch?

The original flash release didn't do much for me, but Rebirth was my jam. It actually inspired me to go back and play through the first Zelda, since there are a lot of parallels in gameplay. The manual turns this into a for-sure buy for me.

Is this even coming to the UK as a boxed copy?

I have to say I've never had an interest in the game and never understood all the excitement about it, but the Link's Adventure style manual caught my attention and piqued my interest.

The general art style and theme of the game still doesn't excite me, so I probably won't get it, but nicely done!

Kind of disappointed at the delay, but at least its not a major one, and the instruction manual looks great.

Love the homage to Zelda there with the booklet design; it warms my heart! I'll probably grab I Am Setsuna at launch as well now to not burn out on Zelda since this got delayed. I want Zelda to last, so I need some fun roadblocks along the way. I may snag World of Goo and Human Resource Machine as well, since my preorder of the physical edition of Isaac will leave me waiting. I'm also hopeful for Shovel Knight to come sooner rather than later. And I may consider Bomberman as well if it's well-reviewed and has a good amount of content. So much to love near launch!

Oh, and @ThomasBW84, thanks for the heads-up about the booster packs! I haven't found any info on the booster packs coming to consoles, so I appreciate that confirmation! I assumed they would, but never found any concrete wording about that.

@JaxonH Amazon Prime is nearly 100$ a year. I fail to see the point in subscribing to that when I will probably import 3 or 4 games max a year, and I would then have to stick to Amazon for everything import to make that money back in advantages.

Not to mention... if I want to buy with Amazon Prime from amazon.com... that only applies to the US site, and not to the UK or French websites from which I also occasionally order since Amazon, ironaically, IS region locked (as in your US account won't work with the UK site, and vice versa, and so on and so forth).

And relying on someone else to buy and ship to you, you'd still have to refund the person the shipping fee so whether you pay it to someone else or Amazon, you're back to square one.

We wouldn't have those issues if they would simply release it physically in Europe to begin with without any fuss, but no, it's Nicalis, and they don't like Europe. I took them a year and a half to simply bring Cave Story to the European 3DS eShop. Every European should just boycott their games from here on out until they start giving us equal treatment to North America, and then maybe they'd think twice before treating us like we're not worth the same amount of effort. It's almost racist. Almost.

@Kafei2006
"almost racist"

I assure you it has nothing to do with discrimination. It has to do with different markets on different continents with different demand.

Anyways, ya I get you. Just sayin, people work it out. It's a solution to look into. You don't need to buy Prime, you just need to know someone here who has it (or someone with GCU which is only $30 for 2 entire years of 20% off)

With Amazon Prime (in Canada), the game is $43.99. Not bad. Might have to pre-order this just to save the money. Never played it on Wii U or other platforms but maybe the Switch version will be enough to hook me (at a 3DS game's price point)!

@JaxonH I'm pretty sure there are just as many Isaac fans in Europe if not more than in North America to warrant a physical release. If we were talking another game genre like something very Japan centric or American centric like Madden stuff, of course the demand in Europe wouldn't be nearly as high and wouldn't warrant the same level of release, but for a game such as this, there's no excuse not to bring it over. I know plenty of folks who are awaiting a physical release over here too to finally pick it up.

@Kafei2006
Hey you're preaching to the choir. Felt same way with Fatal Frame on Wii U not coming to the states.

Feel the same way getting digital for I Am Setsuna and Ultra Street Fighter II and Sonic Mania.

@JaxonH Exactly. I advocate the same thing for North America as well and not just one way.

@Shepdawg1 It's really as hard (or easy) as your luck would dictate to tell you the truth. I've had some incredibly easy runs since I ran into the Polyphemus item early on.

Then again I had some rather long runs before since I got full Guppy and the only other item I had was cough Soymilk cough. Kind of made the final boss a rather rough fight.

Worth getting for the Booklet only .

@GoldenGamer88 Not any hassle at all, you just press click on your mouse. i appreciate what your saying if you already have it on several platforms although this is an updated version so is actually different. i just think ts great it made it to physical and i love the design they adopted.