Mass Effect 3: Limited Collector’s Edition

Epic quality for an inevitably epic game?

by: Allegionary

©2011 Alex Hilton

Mass Effect 3: the epic finale to an epic trilogy developed by Bioware and EA.

Mass Effect 1 saw Commander Shepard and his team embark on a thrilling chase for the evil turian, Saren. Then the trilogy continued with the death of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 2.

How will this story end?

But before we find out we need to decide which version of the end of the Mass Effect trilogy to purchase.

What is a more fitting end to the epic series of Mass Effect than an equally epic Special Edition? But is the announced Collector’s Edition worth it?

Does it look Epic or just like an Epic Fail?

Here is the Collector’s Edition that has been announced:

EB Games, JB Hi-Fi and GAME all have this collector’s edition listed on their sites ready for pre-orders.

Mass Effect 3 Collector’s Edition

N7 Collector’s Edition includes:

• Mass Effect 3 game
• Exclusive Hardcover Art Book
• Exclusive Collectible Tin featuring male and female Shepard
• Exclusive N7 Fabric Patch
• Exclusive 4×6 Lithograph

Exclusive Bonus In-Game Packs

• Exclusive Squad Appearance Pack
• Exclusive N7 Arsenal Pack

Also includes:

• Exclusive Extended Soundtrack
• Dark Horse Comic Book
• Additional Downloadable Mission and Character
• Bonus Avatars and More

The verdict

Firstly, the retail price of Mass Effect 3, without the extras, is AUD$108 at EB, AUD$109.99 at GAME and AUD$99 at JB.  The Collector’s Edition is AUD$128 at EB, AUD$129.99 at GAME and AUD$129 at JB.

So the difference in price of the collector’s edition is only a small amount (AUD$20 for EB and GAME, and AUD$30 for JB).

This edition is contained in a decorated box and the game in a collectible tin that depicts the male and female Commander Shepard (yet all the official screenshots only depict the male…).

This is similar to the Mass Effect 2’s Collector’s Edition that was exclusive to EB Games here in Australia. These are nice additions but they are not worth the twenty dollar difference.

Like all Collector’s Editions this one contains in-game DLC content. You get some extra outfits, some extra guns and you get an extra mission and character. The outfits don’t look too impressive and the guns would not be game-breaking so these extras only add a little value to the collector’s edition.

The extra DLC mission and character might add a little to the story of Mass Effect which would nice but I doubt it will add much because the developers would (I hope) include every bit of the story into the game so that the final instalment is a good one. This mission therefore will probably be an exploring or combat mission that probably wouldn’t affect the main storyline.

The character that this collector’s edition adds might, however, be interesting as characters have their own personal story which doesn’t affect the main story (usually) so the developers would be able to make this person’s story interesting. Another good thing is the conversations between characters are often interesting and funny so this character might add some more fun to walking around the universe.

Art and extra books were what were also featured in the last collector’s edition. This one is no different as there is an art book, a comic book, a fabric patch, a lithograph and a soundtrack. It is easy to predict what would be in the art book (art from the development of the game) but you won’t know if it is small and short or packed full of pages with quality pics so if you buy this edition then the art book is one of the surprises.

The comic book probably will add some more back-story to the game like the one in the last collector’s edition and the extended soundtrack will be a nice extra as the previous special edition did not have one.

The fabric patch and the lithograph are also new to this special edition. The lithograph looks like it would be a fine addition to the posters on my wall but the fabric patch has no use that I can see. Should I sew it on to a jumper that has nothing to do with Mass Effect? No… Should I put it on my wall? No… Should I put it on a shelf so it can get dusty? Seems to be the only option…

In comparison to Mass Effect 2′s Collector’s Edition this one matches it and adds more. However, one difference between the two editions is that Mass Effect 2′s Collector’s Edition had a DVD to watch where the people involved in the game talked about it. Mass Effect 3′s Collector’s Edition has replaced that with an extended soundtrack.

Overall this Collector’s Edition feels like the last one. The edition itself is worth the extra $20-$30 but the overall thrill about it is not there. There is no special object that is unique to Mass Effect to obtain- even a little model of the Normandy would have been really cool. Instead it is just a run of the mill special edition.

While I will be getting the Collector’s Edition as I am a big fan, it is probably not something others will find exceptional.

Assassin’s Creed III: Limited Editions revealed and priced HERE

OXCGN wades into the Mass Effect 3 ending controversy HERE.

©2011 Alex Hilton

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Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Blogbanter, Console gaming, Editorial, New Xbox 360 Games, Press Release, Support Australian Stores, Xbox 360 Tagged: | "Mass Effect 2", Bioware, Characters of the Mass Effect universe, Collectors Edition, DVD, EA, EB Games, Electronic Arts, JB Hi-Fi, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect 3 Collector's Edition, Mass Effect 3 Limited Edition, Mass Effect 3 Special Edition, Special Edition