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Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles Limited Edition
Should you get this limited edition?
Kinda yes, if you're a fan? But this release still uses some scummy practices.
More info under the cut!
General info
Version: Limited edition
As it is customary with NIS these days, they release their games digitally, the physical version gets bumped to a "deluxe edition" with bonuses that aren't worth the price, and the limited edition gets the actual bonuses.
Normal price: $49.99
Limited edition price: $89.99
That's roughly 80% more than the normal price of the game.
"Bare minimum"
Game: Included (Nintendo Switch or PS5),
Special box: Included,
Soundtrack: Included, most probably the full soundtrack for both games - store pages mention 2-disc original soundtrack for both of the included games,
Artbook: Included, although it is not known whether it is a quality artbook (containing not just art from the game, but also concept art, etc.) or just a collection of available-elsewhere prerenders.
Actual bonuses
"Royal Crescendo" Art Cards: for all it matters, 3 postcard-sized (hopefully) printouts
2 Acrylic Displays
"The Show Must Go On" Cloth Poster
Extra information
This is one of the two ways to obtain this release physically. The other one - "Deluxe Edition" - includes "Mini Art Book" and "Double-sided Mini Poster", none of which are available in this edition. It is a bit concerning that the only way to obtain the game physically is to get a version with, possibly, unneeded bonuses padding the price.
Moreover, this is a re-release for 20+ games, with just some quality changes.
All in all
Surprisingly enough, this isn't the most overpriced limited edition around. For $40, you get 2 full soundtracks for the included games - most probably the main selling point of this edition - and some other paperweights that NISA habitually adds to this type of releases. This is arguably worth the price.
However, you cannot obtain the soundtracks anywhere else, which means that the only easy way to obtain those is through this limited edition, which comes with other bonuses which pad out the price. What's more, the kinda acceptable price of the set comes from the fact that this is the typical price for NISA's limited editions. If the games were released separately, the limited editions for each of the games would probably sell at the same price point. This is not example of a fairly-priced limited edition, this is an accident caused by a set pricepoint.
Sources:
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles product page
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles eShop page
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Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg - Special Collection Box [JP]
Should you get this limited edition?
Absolutely not.
More info under the cut!
General info
Version: Physical limited edition, "2nd tier"
In the usual fashion with Gust releases, there are multiple tiers to limited editions. This is the more expensive physical limited edition, with there being also a "Premium Box" edition. This edition includes bonuses from the Premium Box edition.
Normal price: 6,380円
Limited edition price: 19,800円
That's roughly 210% more than the normal price of the game.
It's worth to note that, unlike with the Premium Box, it is not possible to buy just the bonuses.
"Bare minimum"
Game: Included (Nintendo Switch, PS4, or PS5),
Special box: Only the special box from the Premium Box edition. That box, along with the rest of the bonuses, come in a normal cardboard box.
Soundtrack: Included, not the full soundtrack. Includes selected tracks from the original game and the remake. Full soundtrack from the game sold separately for 3,200円
Artbook: Included, contains concept art, 36 pages. Knowing releases of Atelier games, it's possible that a full-length artbook will be released at a later date.
Actual bonuses
"Clear Card Set": set of 4 clear files.
"B2 Tapestry": Standard for Koei Tecmo releases;
"Special Data Book": 48 A5 pages filled with "strategies, information about characters, items, and events", with "notes written by Marie". At best, it's a strategy guide, at worst, it's a printed-out version of the information that's already available to read in-game, in library/encyclopedia menu.
"Acrylic Diorama Stand"
"Set of Clear Bookmarks": set of 20 bookmarks featuring characters from the game.
Extra information
With just this set, it is not possible to play the original game. You'd need to purchase an upgrade pack to the Digital Deluxe edition, which may or may not be available on your platform of choice.
All in all
As it is the standard with highest-tier limited editions of Koei Tecmo games, this one is very overpriced and generic. For the price of bonuses, you could buy 2 more copies of the game.
The same as with the Premium Box, the artbook and soundtrack are subpar. For the difference in price between this edition and the Premium Box edition - 9,570円 - you pretty much only obtain some print-outs, a B2 cloth tapestry and a diorama set. Still doesn't include the original game mode. With this much of a markup on items you could obtain on a decent convention, do not buy.
Sources:
Atelier Marie Remake products page
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Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg - Premium Box [JP]
Should you get this limited edition?
Kinda not, to be honest.
More info under the cut!
General info
Version: Physical limited edition, "1st tier"
In the usual fashion with Gust releases, there are multiple tiers to limited editions. This is the cheaper physical limited edition, with there being also a "Special Collection Box" edition.
Normal price: 6,380円
Limited edition price: 10,230円
That's roughly 60% more than the normal price of the game.
It's worth to note that it's possible to buy just the extra bonuses from this edition, for the exact difference!
"Bare minimum"
Game: Included (Nintendo Switch, PS4, or PS5),
Special box: Included.
Soundtrack: Included, not the full soundtrack. Includes selected tracks from the original game and the remake. Full soundtrack from the game sold separately for 3,200円
Artbook: Included, contains concept art, 36 pages. Knowing releases of Atelier games, it's possible that a full-length artbook will be released at a later date.
Actual bonuses
"Clear Card Set": set of 4 clear files.
Extra information
With just this set, it is not possible to play the original game. You'd need to purchase an upgrade pack to the Digital Deluxe edition, which may or may not be available on your platform of choice.
All in all
It's pretty underwhelming. The 2 most important bonuses - artbook and soundtrack - don't contain everything one would expect, and the full versions will be sold separately. Additionally, does not include a digital code for a pretty important mode, which is not acceptable with this price and lackluster bonuses. Do not buy - if you're interested in soundtrack or artbook, obtain them separately.
Sources:
Atelier Marie Remake products page
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Fate/Samurai Remnant - TREASURE BOX
Should you get this limited edition?
Absolutely not.
More info under the cut!
General info
Version: Physical limited edition
On top of the 2 standard editions (physical and digital), there are 2 "deluxe" editions - physical (Treasure Box) and digital (Digital Deluxe). There aren't any higher tiers, but both deluxe editions differ in content.
Normal price: $59.99
Limited edition price: $114.99
That's $55 for just the bonuses. For this price, you could almost buy a second copy of the game.
"Bare minimum"
Game: Included (Nintendo Switch, PS4, or PS5),
Special box: Included, the design is not known,
Soundtrack: Included, not the full soundtrack. "Over 10 carefully selected songs are included on the original soundtrack CD (1 CD set).", as opposed to all songs in the Digital Deluxe version,
Artbook: Not known, presumably not,
Actual bonuses
"Fate/Samurai Remnant material": Only concrete information is that it contains short side story about the characters of the main game. (Despite Nasu not being the writer, it is about food.) Not known if it contains any artwork.
"Official Short Story Translation Booklet": Genuinely a really cool touch. However, it is only regarding the short story.
"B2-Sized Cloth Poster": Koei Tecmo's staple for limited editions.
"Command Spell Stickers": ...yeah, stickers.
"Box Bonus Costume DLC Code": ...quoting the website, "Costume DLC may become available for purchase or free separately at a later date.". Presumably not the same as the pre-order costume.
Extra information
It is known that the game will already have 3 DLCs. They are available in the Digital Deluxe version, but not here - to experience all the content, you will need to buy them (or a "Season Pass") separately.
All in all
Very underwhelming. For an additional price of $55, you get partial soundtrack, a short story and its translation booklet, and genetic and cheap knick-knacks. In addition, it doesn't include the DLCs - unacceptable for this price. Do not buy.
Sources:
Price of the normal edition in the US
Price of the limited edition in the US
Contents of the limited edition
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"What is this?" and other FAQ
Hello! If you're reading this, then you are most probably very normal about limited editions of games!
In this place, we hope to document the various ways in which publishers are trying to milk people's attachment to various game franchises, bank on artificial scarcity, as well as their other weird excesses. If you love getting annoyed, you have found a place just for you!
Below the cut, you will find the criteria by which the games are rated, the reasoning behind them, and some additional information.
What is a limited edition?
They come under many different names - "limited edition", "deluxe edition", "collector's edition", "special edition", etc. The thing that they all share is being a collectible edition which, in addition to a copy of the game, comes with items related to the game which are (usually) not available for purchase elsewhere. Being targetted to existing fans of a franchise, there is usually only a limited number of copies produced. Because of that, they usually come at a steeper price.
For the sake of clarity, they all will be referred to as limited editions.
Games with preorder bonuses usually do not fall under this category by default, unless the bonuses are significant enough.
Why rate limited editions?
The idea of a special edition of a game catering to long-time fans of a franchise is neither novel nor objectionable.
However, more and more publishers are trying to turn a quick buck on this very niche. High prices, artificial scarcity, mediocre and uninspired contents, and low production quality are just a few of the problems with limited editions these days, in addition to more and more game having such an edition, it being warranted or not.
Limited editions are, unfortunately, not bought just by the loyal fans. Every limited edition of a popular game there will be a group of scalpers buying them, lowering the number available to genuine buyers, and then reselling them with a high markup. There is also a growing population of "collectors" buying them in hopes they become valuable long-term. Yet another group is people loyal to the brand, willing to get limited editions even for the games they aren't interested in, wanting to complete the collection. All of them, and probably more, are neither undesired nor unintended for the publishers.
What's more, this business is becoming so lucrative that there are now companies banking on the "buy it while you can" mentality behind limited editions, such as Limited Run Games. While they claim to provide physical or limited editions for games that would never get them otherwise - oftentimes indie titles - there are many voices likening them to scams.
With all of this, documenting some of the past and upcoming limited editions seems rather useful - if not to leave a record, then to cool one's head when deciding whether to pay for an overpriced version of a game.
How are the limited editions rated?
Due to the nature of the limited editions, it would be difficult to obtain them all to rate them - or, in case of ones that didn't yet come out, impossible. Because of that, unless there is a copy of a limited edition available, rating will be based on official list of contents and second-hand information about the production quality of bonuses. In that case, the sources for the information should be linked in the post.
With all that said, the "rating" is ultimately a handwavy measure of how much a cashgrab the limited edition is - and it is not hard to measure given the price, contents, and general knowledge about prices of merch.
Should I buy a limited edition for X?
The decision to buy any limited edition is yours alone and depends on your relation to the game.
Do you really like that series that much? Is this the way you want to express that? Have you considered other ways to support the producers (as opposed to publishers), or maybe even the fan community? Are the included bonuses really worth the price? Are there other ways you can get the included bonuses or better versions of them? Are the bonuses actually that cool, or will they land in some cardboard box after a month?
Limited editions are meant to be expensive because they are limited, what's your problem?
Limited editions are expected to be pricy because they are limited. However, most non-indie releases are not really limited.
Publishers control both the supply and the price, and they have a single goal - maximising profit. They will set the price to the highest reasonable and will make enough copies so that everyone who might want it will get it. Lowering the price won't increase the demand (because of the nature of the niche) and will decrease profits. Lowering the supply way below the demand will decrease profits.
Limited editions are not inherently special and do not get a free pass on being way overpriced. Interesting and unique sets will be easier to stomach, but this is not the norm in the current landscape.
The criteria
General info
Version - Is it a "normal" limited edition? Preorder? Digital limited edition (yikes)? Considering this might give some extra context.
Price of normal and limited edition - Comparing these will tell you how much the publisher values the bonuses (and how overpriced they are).
"Bare minimum" - the absolute minimum for a limited edition. More intricate and unique limited editions may forgo some of these, but those are the expected staples nonetheless.
Game - Doesn't need an explanation. Very preferably a physical copy.
Special box - Gamer's favourite waste of space.
Soundtrack - Preferably a full soundtrack on CD and a digital download code. Bad soundtracks will often only contain a selection of the tracks, with a proper and full OST being available to buy elsewhere.
Artbook - Preferably lengthy, containing inspirations, concept arts, etc. Bad artbooks are short and only contain renders that are possible to see in the game.
"Actual bonuses" - Bonuses that should make this limited editions special among others. The more unique and connected to the game, the better.
Production quality - Most likely included if it's noticably subpar.
Why is is the icon a Prinny?
Because I like NIS games! Making a random game company the icon of this blog would be mean and in a bad faith. Not to the company, of course - companies don't have feelings - but to people who actually enjoy their titles and are more familiar with their situation.
But, for a more detailed answer - it's because NIS(A) is bonkers about their limited editions! Almost all of their games have a limited edition nowadays! Even for new IPs, which, by definition, don't have any fans yet! The contents usually aren't that special, unique, or inspired! In places, it's even hard to get a normal version of the game, with only the overpriced one available! So much of their online stores is dedicated to making you want to buy one of the cashgrabby editions! But they are just pricy and boring!
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