Treasure Hunter October 2014– Stylish Killer Samurai Shadow Warriors (Part 2)

Part two of this month’s Treasure Hunter is here. There’s even more anime, a special edition Xbox One and some PS4 ports with the title “Warrior” in them. Mostly, I look at Europe in unabashed envy at their release of Bayonetta 2. Oh, Nintendo of America, why do you do this to us? Anyway, on to the collectables. Here is part one of this column, just in case you missed it.

 

 

Kill la Kill Volume 2 | Release: October 21 | Price: $59.98 | Publisher: Aniplex of America

Kill la Kill was easily the most hyped anime of the fall 2013 season. Given its Gainax roots how could it not be? The same team responsible for Gurren Lagann created this series and that instantly propelled it to everyone’s “must watch” lists. Unlike a lot of hugely anticipated anime series, Kill la Kill did not disappoint fans. (Alex even gave it a glowing review.) It comes as no surprise Aniplex of America would license this series before it even aired on Japanese TV. Nor should anyone be surprised by the price of the Kill la Kill Volume 2 Limited Edition, it is Aniplex we’re talking about. If you’ve got some cash to burn on this limited edition DVD/Blu-ray combo pack, you’ll receive episodes 5 through 9, a “Making of Documentary” on DVD, a postcard set, a double-sided poster and a Bushiroad’s Weis Schwarz PR Card (aka a rare trading card). The first volume of Kill la Kill was released in July for the same price of $59.98. There are most likely going to be six volumes released so I’ll be talking about Kill la Kill for a while.

 

Samurai Warriors 4: Special Anime Pack | Release: October 21 | Price: $74.99 | Publisher: Tecmo Koei

How many Dynasty Warriors spin-off games can a dedicated fan take within the span of a month? Only a Warriors fan can tell you! Last month saw the release of Hyrule Warriors and this month Samurai Warriors 4 is releasing. If you missed out on the Zelda Wii U exclusive for whatever reason, this PlayStation 4 port has your back. In addition to getting your Warriors fix, you can also get your Sengoku period history lesson in the form of a hack and slash game. The Samurai Warriors 4: Special Anime Pack is exclusive to the PS4 and contains the game, the Collector’s Edition packaging, the Samurai Warriors: Legend of the Sanada anime on BD, the soundtrack on CD, and special DLC costume packs. To be honest, the extra $15 for this version of the game is pretty reasonable.

 

Shadow Warrior | Release: October 21 | Price: $39.99 | Publisher: Majesco

The title, Shadow Warrior may sound familiar to older gamers. It was developed by 3D Realms and released by GT Interactive in 1997. In 2013 Flying Wild Hog rebooted the first-person shooter for PC and Devolver Digital published it. The reboot once again stars Lo Wang, a bodyguard for Zilla Enterprises who turns against his evil employer. The 2013 reboot is receiving a PS4 and Xbox One port. Fans who pre-order at GameStop before October 21 will receive a Shadow Warrior t-shirt. It may not be the most inspiring design around, but I’m sure it would make a great work or sleep shirt.

 

Bayonetta 2 | Release: October 24 | Price: Sold Out!/Varies | Publisher: Nintendo

We really like Bayonetta here at Damage Control. Both Geoff and Joseph have written a review for the first game, and Geoff has written numerous articles covering the franchise. We were all shocked to discover Bayonetta 2 would be a Wii U exclusive and saddened (but unsurprised) to learn the game sold poorly in Japan. Things could theoretically turn around with better sales in North America and Europe but no sane person would hold their breath over it. Even with all the gloom surrounding Bayonetta 2, Nintendo of Europe decided to release a First Print Edition of the game. This extremely limited edition includes both Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2, a 3D embossed “The Book of Angels Leather,” and a smaller “The Art of Bayonetta 2” book. As of this writing all copies of the First Print Edition have sold out in Europe. Alas, Nintendo of America decided this edition wasn’t worth selling to North American fans. If you really want to try and find a copy of the European only First Print Edition there are a few floating around on eBay for roughly $200.

 

Sunset Overdrive | Release: October 28 | Price: $399.99 | Publisher: Microsoft

Remember a few years ago when dark and gritty third-person shooters were all the rage? I’m looking at you, Gears of War! Sunset Overdrive is a strikingly colorful change of pace. Add to the mix Insomniac Games’ knack for creating colorful games, and you have a title worth keeping an eye on. The premise for this open-world game is already ridiculous. A new energy drink has caused people to turn into mutants and the survivors must band together to escape what has been deemed the “Awesomepocalypse.” Special editions for Sunset Overdrive may be lacking, but Microsoft is releasing a special Xbox One bundle for one of the most highly anticipated games on the system. The bundle includes a digital copy of the game, special DLC, a white Xbox One, and a white controller. Unfortunately, the hard drive is the standard 500GB version instead of the 1TB that comes with the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Xbox One. Standard hard drive aside, there’s something classy about this white console.

 

Otorimonogatari: Nadeko Medusa | Release: October 28 | Price: $49.98 | Publisher: Aniplex of America

If you’re a fan of the Monogatari series you probably already have your eye on Otorimonogatari. It is the third arc to the second season of Monogatari and was adapted from the 2011 light novel—the tenth in the series. That’s a lot of Monogatari! In this story Nadeko is approached by a giant snake who claims to be Kuchinawa, a deity. If she’ll aid the snake deity by finding an object of worship he needs, he’ll grant her wish. Nadeko finds the object of worship and swallows it, over the concerned protests of her friend, Koyomi. The object gives her a serpent-like appearance and the desire to kill Koyomi. The Otorimonogatari: Nadeko Medusa Limited Edition contains the first four episodes of the series on Blu-ray, a deluxe booklet, and a pinup postcard set for avid collectors.