Hobbies, Family, & Geekery from a Stay-at-Home Dad
Welcome Hi! Remember me?! I used to be a food blogger, before I stopped caring and found other hobbies to spend my time on. Well, here I am, back AGAIN. Hey, stop those collective groans! How many times can a person leave and come back? …Read More….
I’ve been putting this off for a while. No, not for the usual laziness that’s typically why I don’t write reviews anymore. But because it would signify completion. Writing this up and putting it out there for the world to see would be like reading …Read More….
That’s right! I’m posting on the blog! Better play lotto or somethin’, because hot damn, this isn’t normal! I used to do this sort of thing a lot, you know? Unboxing collector’s editions, taking pictures, talking about art books and mandolls like a nerd. But life, as you know, finds a way. And with barely enough time to play the games, I have no idea where to find time to write about them too. But I digress! We’re not talking about my poor time management skills, we’re talking about the Collector’s Edition for Horizon Zero Dawn!
I’ve done little unboxings here and there with the kids, but I can’t remember the last time I unboxed a collector’s edition…. No, I lied, it was No Man’s Sky, and I’m pretty sure I was trying to forget. (Too soon? Haha, sorry, jk! I actually dug NMS.)
But getting into the nitty gritty, let’s see what’s going on in this box:
First and foremost, the game itself in a snazzy steelbook. And next to it, the standard sized art book that you usually find in these CE’s. Lemme tell ya, I’m a simple man. A steelbook and an art book is all I need to be happy in a Limited Edition. I guess I’m just low maintenance, I don’t know. I mean, if you’re loving a game, and appreciating the art and how amazing it all looks, an art book is perfect to compliment it, right? Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m hoping to one day get The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn because I feel like I’ll be able to sit with that for a few hours. And with how much the kid is into watching the game, I’m sure he’ll love it too.
In the steelbook is the code for all of the CE digital goodies, which about 10 hours into the game I can see they’re not terribly exciting. Better than nothing to start off with but I’m already wanting something more. Details on the DLC are pasted below from Amazon:
Also, is a Collector’s Edition exclusive dynamic theme for the PS4. I’m a complete sucker for dynamic themes, love a good one like Uncharted 4’s, Firewatch’s, or everyone’s favorite, Transistor. I was expecting a lot from this one but was pretty disappointed with the background. I feel like they could’ve gone a better route with the thousands of choices of backgrounds they had. The game is a freaking wallpaper generator. I dig the one that was free at launch on PSN a lot better, and that one is static! But whatevs, not a dealbreaker, moving on!
Aside from the game, art book, and digtals, there’s only one thing left to look at… And I think it’s safe to say we could happily do so for a while.
The mandoll statue is gorgeous. Bravo to Gentle Giant for creating this amazing work of art that brings a beautiful game to life. (Like that?! I could’ve said gorgeous again but I DIDN’T!)
The base where the Watcher is laying there like “WTF just happened” is especially impressive. The details throughout the statue are amazing, but it’s especially true in the Watcher itself.
All the wiring and electrical parts that you see (and HEAR!) in the game are clearly seen and it’s… it’s freaking GORGEOUS dammit.
I have a few other mandolls statues from previous collector’s editions and they’re cool and all, but none of them are as detailed or colorful. NONE. Pair it with this amazing world that Guerrilla Games created for us to play in and explore, and you have a collector’s edition that you will have no buyers remorse after purchasing. And that’s saying something! Because usually these things are like instant regret. But no, the amount I’m enjoying the game, and how beautifully detailed the statue is, I am thrilled to have this sitting on my shelf.
No Man’s Sky!! So crazy, that we could now happily go out, buy it, and venture into this vast universe that we’ve longed for so.. long.. As always, I took some pictures because, hey, someone has to be a super ultra dork around here. Might …Read More….
Alright, it’s been a while, so why not give you guys a recipe?! Fall is coming. And if you haven’t checked your calendar recently, it’s coming ridiculously fast. It’s almost September! So I’m going to try and get the jump on some fall flavors here …Read More….
Song of the Deep! Aren’t you excited?!? Yeah, I… what? What the heck is Song of the Deep?? It’s… it’s a game! Yeah! Ok, I know, Song of the Deep is not really on everyone’s radar, but I’ve been insanely intrigued since I first heard about it.
A quick rundown straight from the official site:
Song of the Deep is a metroidvania-style action-adventure game following a young girl’s quest into the unknown to find her missing father. Combining discovery, skill, and suspense with an unforgettable narrative, this underwater journey will challenge players to explore, experiment, and skillfully navigate a vast ocean landscape.
The whole aspect of being an underwater adventure is what lured me the most. I’m a sucker for two types of atmospheres in games: space, and underwater. The fact that it’s an Insomniac game helped it a lot too. At $15, it was easy to take a chance on it.
But… for $15 more!….. Yes, for just $30, you too…. Ok, I’ll stop now before I get carried away.
But yeah, the Collector’s Edition was only $30. And even if it’s a short game, I think for what you’re getting, it’s a pretty sweet deal. Why? I’m glad you asked!
The game itself is $15. But in the collector’s edition you’re getting.. stickers! Eh? Ehhhh?? Beat THAT deal! Stickers! AND the soundtrack to the game. Which really is awesome, because who doesn’t like soundtracks? And from what I’ve heard, the music in the game is pretty nice. On top of that, you get a sweet, sweet steelbook.
And you know me and steelbooks. C’mon, they’re my kryptonite. It’s hard to resist a sexy looking steelbook.
But all these awesome goodies are accompanied by something else: A book! MAN, I am not selling you guys on any of this, am I?!
Ok, seriously. The book was a huge reason why I wanted the collector’s edition. You can get the book separately without the CE, but this one has a special cover only found here. But the price of the book along with the game is just about the price of the collector’s edition so why the hell not? (Though the book seems to have dropped in price significantly since launch week.) The PS4 version sold out pretty quick but there was still Xbox One and PC versions as of this writing. I didn’t mind showing my Xbox some love so I went for it. And of course, judging from this post, you could see I’m happy with my decision.
Important Note: Now, I’m not sure it’s for all collector’s editions, but I don’t see why not. Turns out the code for the soundtrack – that has to be redeemed via Steam – is ALSO the code for the full game! So if you get the collector’s edition, you’re essentially getting 2 copies of the game. I really wish I would’ve known this. I would’ve had a contest for the Steam version or given it to a friend. But now I have 2 copies of the game, one of which I’ll probably never use. I know, worst things have happened. But still, I wish it would’ve been clearer.
I’m really, really excited to dive deep into the book and the game. The book sets up the game, so we need to go through that first. It’s a children’s book at its core, and that is awesome coming from a dad.
The author, Insomniac’s chief creative officer, Brian Hastings, said he wrote the book wanting to create a heroine that his daughter could look up to. From an article on Gamasutra:
“In video games in particular, the heroines have trended toward the archetype of the ‘sexy badass,’ and I’ve enjoyed playing as many of those sexy badass characters.” says Hastings. “But I wanted the hero of this game, Merryn, to be something different. I wanted her to show that you didn’t need to be either sexy or badass to be a hero.”
I only had time to read the first chapter and so far it seems like it’s setting up an intriguing story. For a children’s book, it’s getting pretty deep into the characters of Merryn and her father. I already find myself wanting to keep reading without my kid, to see how everything evolves. But he’s into it and wants to hear what happens too so that’s saying something!
Anyway, that about covers the Collector’s Edition for Song of the Deep. I haven’t touched the game yet, but so far I feel like I’m pretty invested in it. I don’t know, something about it is intriguing to me. The way the book will lead into the game, the exploration and the way the story will progress, I can’t wait! I can’t promise a review because I’m insanely lazy and already owe you guys like 5 reviews.
This post is going to be about Ghostbusters! With the 30th anniversary behind us and the new movie out now, I figured I’d dedicate a post to my original four idols. My heroes in beige, who cursed and drank and smoked on screen. Man, those …Read More….
This is going to be an update. No recipes, no food, just bringing you up to speed on la vida and what’s been going on. Bit of a warning up front: This is probably going to be a little long winded. Maybe if I feel …Read More….
The day is finally here! Uncharted 4 is now roaming free in the world and everyone is going insane! I haven’t even gotten to the second chapter yet but I’m right there with the hype.
I know, I know. Everyone is busy playing it so I’ll try to keep this brief. I just wanted to show off the contents of the Special Edition that I was lucky enough to pick up thanks to a birthday gift from the wife. And that’s the regular Special Edition, not to be confused with the Librarian Edition with the mandoll. I’m totally happy with my purchase, too. It helps I already have a Nathan Drake mandoll on my shelf, but that’s besides the point.
The Special Edition is simple. But for a game like this with the praise it’s getting, you’ll be happy with simple. The art book is half of the excitement in the package, as it should be.
I’m a huge fan of art books. I love combing through them and admiring the process of how the game came to be. Especially when it’s a game that I admire and look forward to experiencing.
The steelbook is the other half of the awesomeness. I have quite a few steelbooks in my collection but this is easily the most gorgeous.
The art is by freelance illustrator Alexander “That Kid Who Draws” Iaccarino who illustrates for NBC, Marvel, Sony and numerous other clients. The art style on the steelbook is his unique style you can find on his website there, and I’m super happy Naughty Dog got him to design it.
I was let down from the Uncharted 3 steelbook but this one blows basically every other steelbook I’ve seen or have out of the water.
Also included were stickers of the Naughty Dog logo and various pirate sigils, as well as a code for 300 Uncharted Points which I do not know anything about but know they have to do with multiplayer. Lastly, a bonus for pre-ordering from Best Buy got you a replica pirate coin!
I love little things like this even though they’re hard to display. There’s not as much weight to it as I was hoping, but there is a tad. I love how it looks so worn, and how it’s slightly fading on the back. It’s a nice little trinket to add to the contents of the Special Edition.
Overall, I’m happy with everything. Granted, of course, I didn’t pay full price for it. Discounts, certs, gift cards, they all softened the blow. But if I was paying full price for it I feel like it would’ve been justified because it’s Uncharted 4.
This has been on the wish list of many for a long long time. And finally being able to play it and hear about how amazing it is not only makes me happy I got this Special Edition, but also makes me feel bad for not getting the one with the statue.
Either way though, as long as you’re playing the game and experiencing the story, it doesn’t really matter what’s sitting on your shelf.
…..No, that’s a lie, this steelbook, man! It’s somethin’ else!