Halo 5: Guardians – Limited Collector’s Edition

Halo 5: Guardians is the latest installment in the renown Halo franchise. I won’t go into the game itself in this review, instead the focus will be on the Limited Collector’s edition version of the game. As you may know video games are bigger than ever, and though not officially considered an artform by the governing powers, it is a growing medium that attracts more and more avid enthusiasts. With certain games, usually franchise sequels or the next big product of a previously successful company, the game is realeased in a standard version, and enhanced version. The enhanced versions usually contain extra content in game as well as memorabilia you can display, wear, or play with. The biggest of the games usually have two higher tiered versions, one with extra content and a unique case, then a Collector’s edition with the extra content and a bust. Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector’s Edition is no exception.

Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector’s Edition contains a full game download and the following Limited Edition Content:

• Warzone REQ Bundle: 14 Premium Requisition packs
• Halo: The Fall of Reach – Animated Series
• Guardian model by Metal Earth
• Uniquely-designed Spartan themed SteelBook
• Spartan Locke’s Classified Orders
• Dossiers on Blue Team and Fireteam Osiris
• Xbox Live Gold 14-day Trial – perfect for playing with friends

The memorabilia of the game is outstanding. The dossiers, the player cards, and the profile cards really delve into the depth of the Halo Universe. I want to make the Guardian model, but those model kits take a long time and patience, both of which I am short of at the moment. The main reason for choosing the Collector’s edition is of course the statues of Master Chief and Spartan Locke. They stand a little under 12″ tall and are fully detailed. if I shot it from a low angle it would look like a life sized Spartans. The cool thing about the statues is that, they can set together as either allies or enemies.

The steel case is well designed, but also redundant. I say it is redundant because there is no physical game. Which is the biggest downside of this edition. I think it is idiotic that it would come with all of these cool and intricate items, only to make you download the game. For that reason, I think it is ill-advised to buy this at full price. At full price players are spending $250 for a bust, that doesn’t have the density/quality of a $250 bust.

The extra game features and DLC do nothing to help make the  price any better. It doesn’t even come with the season pass. As cool and intricate as everything is, the regular retail price point is not worth it. However, Amazon has been consistently selling it for around $110-ish dollars, and I do believe that is worth the price. It is less than double the price of the standard game, and comes with extra DLC, a movie (which wasn’t very good as I explain in my review of it),  and a beautiful art piece sure to be the envy of any gamer.

Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector’s Edition comes with plenty of goodies that are sure to impress any fan of the franchise. The main downside to it is that it does not come with the physical game, which makes the purchase more for the items and I believe takes away from the purpose and experience of purchasing a collector’s edition. If you can find it at a good price, I believe it is worth picking up.

Halo 5: Guardians Limited Collector’s Edition can be purchased on Amazon and most major retailers.