Grave Gamer News & Views — collector's edition

 Watch ‘Dracula’s Vengeance’ Trailer

How ghoulishly fitting we should receive a brand new Lords of Shadow 2 trailer on Halloween. 'Course, it’d be more fitting if that game were actually coming out today. Gabriel may be able to wait out centuries in his castle keep, but my lack of immortality means I get fidgety waiting in the drive-thru.

Brief as it is, we witness our man Gabriel curse the God he once devoted his life and work to. No longer a man, he prefers to be addressed as 'The Dragon,’ or Dracul, pledging to forever be a torn sticking out the Almighty’s side. So, yeah, the dude’s been making some serious life changes between the first and second game.

To my European comrades out there, let it be known that Lords of Shadow 2 has itself a Collector’s Edition heading to your side of the world. 'Dracula’s Tomb Premium Edition’ comes with, get this, Dracula’s tomb as a special case to house its goodies which include a hardcover art book, four badass little figurines (one of them being the mysterious, bearded Belmont seen in the trailers), and a steelbox case for your copy of the game.

Only 30,000 are being released, so get up on those pre-orders. No word from Konami if North America is receiving a similar tomb of badassery. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 releases Feb. 25th in the states and Feb, 28th in the UK.

Gain Way for Bioshock Infinite’s Collector’s Editions

Lovingly crafted, fittingly designed, the appearance of two different Collector’s sets for the much belated Bioshock Infinite must mean we’re getting closer to actually playing it, right?  Right?

Arriving in either the Premium Edition ($79.99) or the You-Don’t-Love-These-Games-As-Much-As-I-Do Ultimate Songbird Edition (priced at a sobering $149.99), Irrational Games’ own Ken Levine warns that you best jump on these sets now because of their extremely limited availability.  In what Levine eloquently portrays as a “giant pile of swag,” let’s take a look inside these Collector’s Editions:

Premium Edition

• A 64-page mini-edition of The Art of Bioshock Infinite published by Dark Horse Books featuring a “hand-distressed” linen cover that fools people into thinking it’s an authentic period piece (or that you treat your items like crap).
• 25mm resin-cast Handyman figure.  This piece is meant for use with Plaid Hat’s Siege of Columbia, a board game based on the Bioshock Infinite universe.
• Light the Way with Devil’s Kiss: A propaganda lithograph from Infinite’s in-game world, designed by Irrational’s own Jorge Lacera.
• 3" Murder of Crows replica keychain.  Turns the act of losing your keys into a damned tragedy.
• An assortment of intangible goods including a digital soundtrack, an in-game Upgrade Pack featuring exclusive Gear, and either a 360 Avatar costume or PS3 themes.

Ultimate Songbird Edition

• Houses absolutely everything the Premium set does in addition to the incredibly badass Songbird statue standing at over 9 inches, cast in resin, and hand painted.  Designed by concept artist Robb Waters (the man who brought us the System Shock cover art), the Songbird statue also comes in collectible packaging inspired by the world of Columbia (try not to throw it out).

Forgo the deep well of regret that comes with not owning one of these sets and simply pre-order with the Irrational store ASAP.

Borderlands 2 Has Some Lootastic Collector’s Editions

I’ve always said that a year where a Borderlands comes out is a year worth living, so for only the second occasion in my life, I’m glad to be alive as Gearbox readies a sequel to their lootin’, shootin’ extravaganza.  Now, you can celebrate the game adequately with a standard copy – which is as financially sound as it is mind crushingly boring – or you could do it up the right way with either one of the above two special editions coming out for Borderlands 2.

The Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collector’s Edition, pricing in at $99.99, is decked with a Marcus Kincaid bobblehead, a behind-the-scenes book, a Pandoran map, in-game content, and additional trinkets.  It’s all nice enough for your casual collector but still too…sensible.  Either you go big or you’re just spitting in Gearbox’s face (metaphorically).

That’s why the Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition, belligerently priced at $149.99 to test your fandom mettle, is the only edition grandiose enough to sate true blue Borderlands fans.  Equipped with everything the Vault Hunter’s Edition claims stake to, the Ultimate Edition stocks you up on a steelbook case, a cloth Pandoran map, a ‘Creatures of Pandora’ ID chart, and – here’s where the collection goes into God Mode – a scaled replica of the red loot chest consistently found throughout Borderlands.  That’s all impractical enough to make me need it.

Borderlands 2 drops on our heads September 18th for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 with a worldwide release following closely after on the 21st.