Another new Square-Enix title, another new collector’s edition. Well, not “new” exactly, but new in the sense that this particular product was just released. ANYWAY, the fact that I ordered an item on the Square-Enix website and actually received it is cause for celebration, so please join me as I tear away the packaging on yet another collectible item and expose the secrets that lay inside.
The item that we’ll be looking at today is none other than the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Collector’s Edition (wow, that’s a mouthful) for the PlayStation 3. If you want to nab one of these for yourself, as of this writing, they are still available on the Square Enix store for a $79.99 MSRP. Yes, that’s double what you would pay for the standard edition. What do you get for the extra cash? I’m glad you asked! Let’s take a peek at what the package even looks like:
Here’s the back side.
The outer box is just a slipcover. When you slide that off, it exposes the artbook underneath.
“But wait!” you exclaim. “Where is everything else?” Excellent question. You just open up the back cover like so to expose the goodies inside.
I took the discs out so you could see the artwork underneath.
It’s just as you expect. The artbook is actually one with the case (a trend that I absolutely despise), so if you want to look at it, prepare to hold everything else with it. At least the art inside is really nice.
The inside front cover contains the rest of the merchandise.
If you’re wondering what that little pamphlet is on the side there, it looks like it’s… wait, is that what I think it is?!?
A MANUAL? HOLY CRAP, THEY ACTUALLY INCLUDED A PHYSICAL MANU…
… Oh. A manual that tells me where to get the manual. How redundant. Anyways, the package came with two discs. One contains the two games, but what was the other thing? Here’s a shot of that. It’s actually a bluray containing the full soundtrack as well as a sheet with the entire track listing.
Here’s the inside.
Yes, you heard correctly. It is on a bluray disc, which means that you won’t be able to listen to it in your car without dumping the mp3’s first. Fortunately, the back of the sheet explains how to do just that. I think it’s a bit early in the lifespan of the bluray media format to begin compressing soundtracks onto them, especially since most computers need some form of update or codecs that will even allow you to play the things. At least the videos that come equipped on the disc are nice and even display subtitles for the songs that need them. Very cool.
I yanked out the lithographs from the inner cover of the artbook so you can see them laid out. Very gorgeous.
While the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster Collector’s Edition has all of the content that I’d come to expect from such a package (namely the full soundtrack and artbook), the actual execution of it left me a bit wanting. I don’t like having artbooks integrated with the game case, nor do I think bluray soundtracks are worth the hassle it takes to make use of them. Still, I don’t regret the purchase and I certainly look forward to visiting Spira once again.
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