It's launch day for PlatinumGames' latest frenetic action game, Astral Chain. If you're one of the lucky ones, you might have ordered the Europe-exclusive Collector's Edition – and if you are one of those people, we suggest you look away now and save your eyes for your own private unboxing.
However, there are many more people out there that either didn't manage to get their hands on this edition (which is now pretty much sold out) or simply didn't have the shelf space. For those, we offer you this gallery to give you a glimpse of what you could have had.
So there you have it, £20 extra for a massive box, soundtrack CD, artbook and art print seems like a pretty good deal to us.
Did you pick up this edition? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments 56
Regret not getting this when it was first announced. Already bought the game but if i come across the collectors edition ill definitely buy it. I'm already loving everything about the game: designs, setting, story, gameplay.
Europe has been getting treated very good by Nintendo on the LE front ever since the Wii U. They get both very awesome CE's on Astral Chain and Daemon X Machina while NA doesn't really get anything outside of just the standard copy on many of these games.
Yes I understand in the past Europe had gotten the short end of the stick on a lot of this kinda stuff, but you haven't had much room to complain for the last 5 years or so.
@ParasolStars don't worry, we have plenty of other things to complain about here in Europe
I needed to choose to get CE of astral chain or fire emblem. I'm happy I got fire emblem instead
If you're still looking to pick this up, 365Games still has some in stock.
https://www.365games.co.uk/nintendo-switch-games/astral-chain-limited-edition-nintendo-switch-game
It does however, cost a fair bit more than if you'd pre-ordered it.
@ParasolStars Parasol Stars is one of my old favorite games!
I got the Collector’s Edition this morning. It’s a beast!
I really want to go through the artwork but it got a warning that it contains spoilers. So, first things first: let Astral Chain consume all of my free time!
Thought the neon signs deserve some spotlight. Glad to see them being featured
Of course, here in North America, we don’t get this option at all.
Box design is a bit busy for me. But loving the artbook!!!
Having fondled @antdickens' copy, I can confirm that this thing is as sexy as heck.
Does that chibi style art appear in the game?
Yes bagged it, and FE3H, and Zelda Collectors editions as well!
As an illustrator, it kills me not to own that artbook.
@ParasolStars The European Breath of the Wild Limited Edition one was terrible.
Simply Games still has this in stock too, I think it's around £79
Hope the soundtrack gets a standalone release!
@progx
Many games don't even release physically outside the USA.
At least you can get the standard version locally. Games like the Mega Man collection games and Mega Man 11 were not even available on cart in Europe and Australia. So I was forced to import from Amazon US.
My point?
Saying your regios is worse off is incorrect. Every region has had the short end of the stick from time to time.
"Europe-exclusive Collector's Edition"
Australia also got it. Picked it up today. Very much considered cancelling as it set me back $130 and I could have got the game on its own for half that, but no regrets right now.
@ParasolStars Regarding other regions I'd say the US wins out as much as it loses out. Someone mentioned BotW which is one example, but besides that there's plenty of games that have had editions ship to the US that haven't made it to my local region for whatever reason (Nicalis has a number) and I believe theres a few I've been interested in where the US got carts and we got digital codes or eShop only here as examples (Mega Man 11 is one case).
Not that I want the US to miss out, it'd be good if the releases were more consistent globally however in all ways.
Looks amazing. I just went for the standard edition though.
@Smigit Australia is often lumped in with PAL regions (Europe) so that doesn't surprise me.
Kinda annoyed that the Japanese version doesn't come with the same stuff exactly. The Japanese version doesn't have a jewel case for the soundtrack and the box isn't as fancy. But the art book is the same.
@RupeeClock Thanks for posting the link, but jeez, $110 US dollars is a lot! Maybe someday I'll be able to find the soundtrack selections CD loose on eBay...
@60frames-please
365 Games is a UK site anyway, it's in the best interest of UK shoppers.
They import a lot of games and take pre-orders for them actually, it's a good place for UK shoppers to get US or Japanese imports without having to deal with international shipping charges and hassles.
Glad I ordered the Amazon UK version the NA is just bland and worthless. And Amazon Japan version doesn't have the Shikishi art board? Why is that since its also released in Japan?
@Quarth
It should. And I think it'll be a multi-disc release. The sound selection itself is 31 tracks.
Source - My AC-CE, I bought it in Australia locally via pre-order.
@AstralSoul13
Europeans AND Australians.
I bought this in Australia - here's my photos of the one I picked up.
https://imgur.com/a/7c6eA4m
I'm jelly.
I had hoped North America would've gotten something similar but alas.
If any Aussies get sick of looking at their Collectors Edition and feel the need to sell it and keep the game, let me know.
@Magician Europe and Japan get all the cool stuff these days.
I'm still upset N/A never got a physical version of Fatal Frame V. And the game itself, digital only, never even got a price cut!
Looks nice but I figured I'd buy the standard edition and use the extra to buy the full soundtrack instead
@the8thark Thanks! The soundtrack seems great.
@RupeeClock Yeah, I saw that it offers free shipping within the U.K. I do sometimes order stuff from Britain, so I'll keep it in mind...
Hey everyone - Here's an unboxing of the Japanese version of the collectors edition. It's quite different to the European/Australian version and still good but no where near as amasing as the EU/Aus one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d16CJmMLTjY
Didn't even know this was getting a collector's edition. But then again, I live in Canada and Nintendo has decided to omit any and all limited editions from the North American region. Apparently we are meant to import these from other places, further diminishing the already scant supply.
@Ralizah
I wish Europe and Australia got the Mega Man collections, Mega Man 11, Cave Story etc etc on cart. But we didn't. Physically only. I had to import the lot.
Also the BotW switch case from the CE was US only, other regions didn't get it.
Every region get the short end of the stick from time to time.
Anyone who complains their specific region is worse off, is just biased. Every region gets shafted from time to time.
Looks amazing, this is how you keep gaming physical!
I should have pre ordered this. I didnt however as I wasnt sure what I thought the game and thought it was going to pan. Alas I could only snag the standard today. Missed this and fire emblem. I wont be making those mistakes again that's for sure.
@the8thark The real kicker with the BotW Collectors in Australia is I ordered in the first few hours and EB Games had the case listed. It was removed the following day with no changes to price or anything. I probably could have imported a US copy initially but by the time EB de-listed the case 24 hours later, the US had sold out of the edition at all major retailers.
I never really get these editions. Concept art used to be an unlockable in game, which completionists would always end up with all of it, anyway. I have so much physical media again and that's after my great clear out of 2017... There are so many sci fi dvds in charity shops, anime dvds on ebay and cex has a ton of cheap Wii and Wii U games now that I'm full up again. I have like 100 dvds, 60 wii games, 30 wii u games etc. I cheekily went digital with all my GC games and sold those on, but no one's supposed to know that and if Nintendo actually did some virtual console versions I'd get those.
this sucks why does europe get the collector edition while the rest of us in the west get shafted.
@the8thark First party-wise, Europe almost universally gets better treatment when it comes to Special Editions and physical releases these days. BotW being, like, the one exception doesn't change that. Almost every other major release, be it Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Link's Awakening, Astral Chain, Mario Maker 2, etc. have superior options in the European market.
With respect, it's not "bias," it's just a fact.
You are right that Capcom is treating Europe worse when it comes to physical releases, but Capcom isn't Nintendo.
American Market = All of The European Countries Combined. How does The gaming Industry reward It's Biggest Market In The World? The Answer Is It Doesn't.
Edit: And IMO The Europeans Zelda Limited Edition Hurts The Most.
@Ralizah Sadly they don't need to entice us because we still buy more of their product without special incentives than Europe. Until they need to "win" our money they don't really need to spend a dime trying.
@the8thark I wasn’t saying we were worse off without it. It’s only a bummer.
@NEStalgia
One of the benefits to living in SonyLand, I guess, is that Nintendo has to fight harder for your affection.
At least the Switch is region free. Even if I got a physical copy of Fatal Frame, I'd have to hack the stupid system to get it to run. No such issues would arise with an imported Switch game, however.
@Smigit
I was burnt the exact same way here in Aus. I feel your pain.
@Ralizah
you saying this is true of recent. But history shows that was not always the case. First party releases were often delayed for Europe or Australia and their prices were and still are higher. European and Australian gamers of the years 1985-2010 know this very well.
For first party Nintendo releases, usually Japan gets the best options there. Not anywhere in the west. Things like 1st party game soundtracks are often Japanese exclusive.
Also The USA has a Nintendo World store. Europe and Australia would like one too.
@Ralizah Yeah, much as I love hoarding collectibles, though, they're expensive enough without dealing with import costs and such.
Looks like a really good value CE to be fair. I'm still not sure about the game... I think I'll inevitably give it a go - just depends on how good I am at resisting over the next week, before September's bounty starts to land!
Very cool... but IT WOULD BE A LOT COOLER IF WE GOT THIS IN THE US
Ehhh not really care about these type of things. It's extra money for stuff you will never use essentially. Rather just use that money to buy nother game.
Damn this looks good
I got mine today but was at work last night and back to work again tonight and the night after ahhbso needed to sleep so only had a chance to open and admire how pretty of a collectors edition this is ahh I do love a pretty box can't wait to get stuck in
ugh, can't find any stores that have the CE still for sale
@blackric "ugh, can't find any stores that have the CE still for sale "
Check eBay or Amazon Japan if any left. That is your choices nowdays. Otherwise you get Standard only.
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