Although I've succumbed to the urge less frequently these past few years - due to finances or due to disappointment with games that didn't pan out after I shelled out for the CE - I am a Collector's Edition Addict. I love everything about getting one. Finding it available online! Eeee! Ordering it and knowing it's coming in the mail at launch date! Eagerly awaiting for the post delivery that day of launch. Opening the brown outer carton and revealing the CE case for the first time with all of the details on it. Cracking open the CE and looking at each and every piece with giant, goggly "kid at Christmas" eyes. Looking through art books. Listening to soundtracks. Putting in goodie codes with mounts, pets, characters, outfit skins, etc. The whole experience, it's like grown-up Christmas to me. I am 36, and I think this is about as grown-up as I care to get! May I always find joy in the little things and in new games! And may you do the same!



So, Overwatch came in the mail. I got the CE through Amazon Prime at 20% off the lowest list price if made on Pre-Order. I am such a fan of this promotion that I have a few other games on pre-order in the works for the rest of the summer and year. I picked up the box and I was confused, trying to think what else I had forgotten to have ordered. My bf's Origins Edition was in a separate box - so that wasn't it. The thing was huge and weighed 17lbs! I brought her to my bed, cracked her open and inside was *another* box. Smaller, heavier gauge cardboard. It popped open to reveal an insane amount of cardboard lining and my Overwatch CE gently nestled inside within a sheet of plastic.



So, I had my boyfriend hold down the box and I lifted the CE up and out of the carton. It was heavy, too! And as my photos will show, this thing has an insane case. It's all cardboard but it's *nice* - thick and there is beveling and hinges. It's pretty crazy.



Inside are all the goodies we were promised. And they are all gorgeous and beyond expectation. Let's go over them below:



1. Let's go for the big guns, and what is half the interior of the CE case. The Soldier 76 statue, while plastic, is huge and gorgeous. It's well molded and has a faux distressed metal patina that is spot on. It's now perched upon my sexy white Destiny PS4, and it looks awesome! Since I've no interest in reselling (I buy these CEs for MY own personal joy, not resell value!) there is no way I am putting this baby aside unless I am dusting it or moving.



2. The art book is a tactile experience. It's sheeted in a thick plastic sleeve-case. Within that is a book with that awesome-feeling smooth rubbery coated covers. I always love that coating on a book cover. I literally bought a book once recently, in part, because when I picked it up it had that smooth, lovely coating and I love the way that feels in the hands as I read. Inside are great renditions of characters, places and such. It's a beautiful book and I love that cover art, too. That would make an awesome wrap around shirt.



3. Under the art book is the Steelbook case. It's pretty simple and as expected, but it's beautiful and always a nice touch.



4. The CD, while in a disappointing paper card case, is something I always love. It has a booklet and I've already listened to the music once since getting it, while I was getting ready for bed.



5. There are art postcards of each zone. Beautiful, thick paper and artwork.



6. An assortment of game codes for all the other Blizzard games in the current line up. Some are the prerequisite "Guest Pass" codes, but others contain codes for heroes, card packs, etc. This is a nice add-on.



Overall, this has been my favorite CE unveiling in - forever - and with Amazon Prime the price wasn't even that bad. I think it was $103? For all the goodies, and for the experience, and the knowledge that I really enjoy the game itself (played in closed beta) you can color me a happy camper with the purchase of this CE.



Do I recommend to others? Well, do you think you will like the game? It most reminds me of a gussied up, more fleshed out, Team Fortress type of game. It's gorgeous, colorful, slick as hell, fast-paced and multi-layered in content and rewards for each match. You can play vs. AI or vs. Players. I am not going to go into too much here because this is mostly a review for the CE box itself, but if this interests you and you like Collector's Editions I think you will be very pleased with the Overwatch CE. Hands down best CE I've ordered in years, could only be made better with perhaps a Winston or Mercy statue instead of the (imo somewhat generic dude with a gun silhouette) of the Soldier 76, and a nicer case on the soundtrack. That said, bottom line this is a 6 of 5 star item, as it exceeded my expectation and was so thrilling to unwrap it had 3 people entertained and "Oooo'ing and Ahhh'ing" over it.



Note: I added the max of 20 shots of the box and goodies (They *are* fairly small images though - I sent them from my phone via email so had to conserve a little space!) lots of which are the outer carton to give a feel for what it's like when you open it, which is at least half the fun of getting a CE. Hope this helps! And enjoy YOUR Collector's Edition. Cause I am guessing by now, you want one, too! :-)



UPDATE 05/31/2016: I wanted to mention that the MSRP for this item was 129.99. When I bought it through the Amazon Prime Pre-Order program it was cut down to ~$103. That is what I fully expected to pay and I felt it was a good deal for what I was getting. When I got the item - with all it's goodies - I felt great about the purchase for sure. A couple days later I got an email saying that the Pre-Order Price Guarantee (which says I get the lowest price it dips to after pre-ordering and by time of release) was going to save me an additional $37.77 off the $103 price I already thought was great. So I essentially ended up getting the Collector's Edition Overwatch for $65 - or ~$5 more than most folks paid for the Origins edition. Also, having bought the Origins edition for my boyfriend at the 20% off price of ~$47.99, I ended up getting $11-12 back on that, making the Origins the cost of the base edition game.



I am beyond thrilled, and though I know such a savings won't always happen - I am going to buy through Amazon from here on out as it is an automatic 20% off and potentially a lot more than that, when you get lucky. Just something to keep in mind.