The advent of the DVD format fundamentally changed the means by which millions of people watched movies in the comfort of their own home, as the digital nature of the medium allowed for enhanced audio and visuals, as well as the ability to access various points of the movie without having to rewind or fast forward via menu systems. Furthermore, the added storage afforded for the addition of extra content including deleted scenes, alternate endings, commentary tracks, featurettes and various other special features, providing the consumer with a whole lot of value for their hard-earned dollar. Over the years since, the DVD has become the standard format for retail [and bootleg] copies of feature films and more over, the features once considered a nice bonus are now essentially demanded by the market; those DVDs without a respectable amount of supplemental content are generally considered rip-offs, no matter how great the actual movie may be.
Since the arrival of the Playstation 2 in 2000, and the subsequent release of the Xbox in 2001, millions of gamers have been playing their games via the DVD format, yet the gaming market has yet to form the same type of mindset towards extra features as the home video market. In fact the opposite is true, as a distinct lack of special features has remained the expected norm, while those games that do feature supplemental material are treated as an unexpected gift, rather than held up as the standard to which publishers should attempt to have their products reach. Thankfully, after five years, this situation seems to be on the verge of significant changes in this area. While gamers are still a few years away from the point at which they can expect substantial amount of extra content with every game they purchase, many publishers seem to be testing the waters in efforts to see if gaming market would be receptive to The recently released collector’s edition of Doom 3 is the latest in a recent trend of games that are being simultaneously released in both standard and special edition form, and the reception to these special editions has been incredibly positive. As part of our weeklong celebration of this major Xbox release, we’re ranking the top 3 most significant special editions in the Xbox library.
3. Halo 2: Limited Collector’s Edition
Developed by: Bungie
Produced by: Microsoft
The Game: The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Xbox launch title, Halo 2 rode a wave of hype the likes of which had not been seen since the arrival of the Playstation 2 in North America. While the advertising campaign regarding the game may have been a bit misleading, the game more than met expectations as one of the best console first person shooters of all time. Built on the fundamental gameplay mechanics that made the first title a sensation, Bungie added numerous elements that remedied several balance issues and improved the overall flow of the proceedings. Abilities such as duel wielding and vehicle jacking – seemingly minor additions – had a large impact on the nature of combat scenarios, while issues with weapon balance were addressed and all but eliminated. Halo 2, more so than any other Xbox game, truly demonstrated the potential of Xbox Live, as it utilized full integration to bungie.net for stat tracking, and the ranking system – initially off-putting to many players – has be accepted as the most effective means for engaging in heated contests with similarly-skilled players. While certain elements of the game’s presentation were arguably the game’s most glaring weakpoint, as despite the technical excellence of the graphics engine powering the game, noticeable texture pop and somewhat mediocre art direction hurt the overall look of the game. Any flaws in the visuals were more than outweighed by the level of quality found in the award-winning audio element. Halo 2 is one of the best games on the Xbox platform, and the defining piece of software for Microsoft’s premier console.
The Extras: Inarguably the most successful Special Edition game on the Xbox, Bungie did a fine job of marking the release of one of the most important games on the Xbox with one of the most striking packages on the market. Metallic silver with an embossed Halo 2 logo on the front, and a black/white rendition of Master Chief on the back the Halo 2 Limited Collector’s Edition is certainly eye-catching in its elegantly simple styling. On the inside of the case, gamers will find a Covenant themed instruction booklet, essentially relaying all the same information as the standard instruction manual but from the point of view of the Covenant; it’s a cute touch that not only serves to distinguish the two versions of the game, but helps to reinforce whole Halo universe. Also included, a thin insert dubbed ‘Conversations from the Universe’ contains various fragments of communications that help to flesh out the events that have occurred over the course of the two games, as well as a filling in a few blanks that those who have yet to read the novels might appreciate. Both the books are high-quality, and serve as a nice hint as to the production value of the whole Halo 2 campaign.
The Halo 2 bonus DVD contains some solid media for the game, but most of it is pretty standard stuff, and disappointingly, much of it was content that could be downloaded for free weeks prior to the release of the game. The hour-long ‘Behind the Scenes: The Making of Halo 2’ featurette took gamers from the inception of the Halo 2 script to the final countdown to launch, though many pieces of it would have been familiar to any Halo 2 fan with an internet connection, and other parts of it seemed completely unnecessary. The Bungie staff’s reactions to their own work accounts for the most intriguing moments, as the mood ranges from utter disappointment to incredible excitement as the team heads into the home stretch of development. In addition to the behind the scenes look, there are several mini-documentaries that take a closer look at more specific aspects of the development process, but again, many of these were available for download online so for many, the information was nothing new. Finally, the highlight of the DVD comes by way of the ‘Bonus Materials’ menu selection, which leads the viewer to commentaries, deleted scenes and a hilarious look at the original Halo when it was a 3rd person shooter. While the fact that respectable chunk of the goodies on the bonus DVD were available for free beforehand hurt the value of the package somewhat, the beautiful case, and genuinely new media are worth the price.
2. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Special Edition
Developed by: Ubisoft Montreal
Produced by: Ubisoft
The Game: The third installment in the Splinter Cell franchise takes place in 2008, a time when electronic warfare has evolved into freedom’s most serious threat. Players return to action once again in the capable shoes of Third Echelon agent Sam Fisher, and he’s learned a few new tricks since his last outing. Several additions and have been made to the fundamental gameplay mechanics of the franchise, including a variety of new abilities (hell, there’s a whole list of things for approaching a door alone), as well as significant enhancements such the ability to choose the equipment Sam takes along on the mission, and a more forgiving gameplay paradigm that features multiple paths through a mission, and various levels of priority for objectives – both of which help take some of the frustration out of the trial-and-error gameplay found in first two titles. Featuring graphics that look as though they belong on the Xbox 2, with normal mapping as far as the eye can see, dynamic lighting that could make a grown man weep, and some of the most lifelike animation ever seen, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is undoubtedly one of the best looking games on the console. The revolutionary Spies vs. Mercs competitive multiplayer mode established in Pandora Tomorrow returns with new abilities and gadgets, in addition to new 2-player co-operative missions that can be played via Xbox Live, system-link or split screen.
The Extras: Ubisoft put together a solid bonus DVD for the Special Edition of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, packing it with a variety of interesting featurettes and a variety of assorted media. 3 bonus remixed bonus tracks from electronica genius Amon Tobin serve as great addition to an already stellar soundtrack, while a making of featurettes and several video designer diaries help bring the player inside the game making process, if only for minutes. Those in the mood for something a little more light-hearted can find a few chuckles with the training manuals created by the two guys behind the ridiculously popular Penny-Arcade online comic strip, as well as the Mega64 video series. Indeed variety is the primary reason why the Chaos Theory Special Edition is one of our favorites – there’s just so much on the bonus DVD, and much of it is quite different than the stuff one would expect.That would have been enough to garner the Chaos Theory Special Edition accolade as a solid deluxe game package, but then Ubisoft went and packed the DVD in one of the most beautiful DVD cases ever seen.
Those wowed by the elegantly simplistic beauty of the Halo 2 tin case will be blown away by the meticulously embossed and fully colored images covering either side of the high-quality metallic case; one of Sam’s trademark goggles shining through a translucent surface with a drop of blood slowly making its way down, the other of a Sam Fisher silhouette on top of an eerily cool green glow. While some may argue the case is over the top, such a level of artistry is rarely seen in the mere packaging of a game this side of the Pacific, and the level of enthusiasm I’ve witnessed in response to first glimpse of the box indicates that, yes, presentation does count for something. Besides, have you seen what the standard cover looks like? Honestly the only thing missing the Chaos Theory Special Edition package is some sort of extra gameplay content for those who shelled out the extra dough – everything else is simply brilliant.
1. Doom 3: Collector’s Edition
Developed by: Id Software & Vicarious Visions
Produced by: Activision
The Game: If ever a game was without need of introduction, this is the one. The latest entry in arguably the most influential, most infamous videogame franchise of all time, Doom 3 is a re-imagination of the original genre-defining classic. With the developers concentrating almost entirely on the single-player element, the game features a far slower pace than its predecessors allowing tension to build as the player makes their way through the dark hallways of a military installation overrun by hellish demons. Straight-up action is the name of the game, as players do little more than navigate environments, exterminating any demonic entity they come across in the process, using a powerful arsenal composed of everything from standard armaments, to experimental technology. New for the Xbox is an online enabled co-op mode, allowing two players to make their way through newly designed levels over the net; other online modes include deathmatch and capture the flag among a few others. Coded by the legendary John Carmack, the graphics engine powering Doom 3 creates a palpable atmosphere of horror as dynamic lighting, detailed texturing, and an impressive polygon count all serve to raise the level of immersion to new heights.
The Extras: Setting a new standard in the area of extra content, the Doom 3 Collector’s Edition full versions of Ultimate Doom and Doom II, updated to support online co-op in addition to the standard deathmatch mode that made each game a LAN phenomenon across the nation at the time of release; both multiplayer modes are also available in split-screen format for those without Xbox live. Granted the games definitely show their age, with heavily pixilated sprite-based graphics, and a rudimentary gameplay model, but for those of us who actually remember buying Doom 2 upon release, the nostalgia factor alone is worth the price of admission. Speaking of which, while numerous publishers have been putting together compilation packs composed of incredibly outdated arcade games and selling them for full price, Activision is essentially offering two online-enabled first person shooters for about ten dollars. That’s one hell of a deal.
In addition, Activision has included various media such as a G4 episode of ‘Icons: Behind the scenes of DOOM 3’, various pieces of concept art, and several interviews with members of the Id Software staff. The interviews aren’t particularly in depth but they do reveal some insight into the thought processes that go into the various components of developing a highly anticipated title. More information regarding the company turmoil surround the original decision to make a new Doom game would have been nice, as would have some information regarding the port process, what got cut, and how the developers managed to get the game to run on Xbox hardware.Doom 3 serves as an indication of the direction publishers will hopefully take in the future, providing consumers with a significant amount of additional gameplay content, rather than merely relying on featurettes and a stills gallery to satiate those who put down the extra money. Regardless of whether or not Doom 3 is the instigator of such a marketing movement or not, the fact remains that the Doom 3 Collector’s Edition is the best special edition game on the Xbox, bar none.
