Games: Bayonetta ∞ Climax Edition
Bayonetta has been out in Japan for over a month now, but it’s only just making its way West with release dates for this week in the US, EU and here in Australia. The standard collector’s edition – or “∞ Climax Edition”, as Sega’s marketing department would have you call it – includes a fairly modest set of extras, with only an art book and soundtrack CD, but in some countries Sega has also offered a replica of one of Bayonetta’s own Scarborough Fair guns as a pre-order bonus. I’m yet to fire up the game (I had a lot of fun with the demo, so I’m looking forward to it) but I have had a good look at the collector’s edition extras.
The cover on the outer packaging is really nice. The cover on the actual game case is pretty cool, but lacks the subtlety and style of the collector's edition cover. It carries through to the book and CD slip, so it would've been nice to see it on the game case in the collector's edition as well.
The art book includes an introduction by game director Hideki Kamiya (of Devil May Cry and Okami fame), but after that it's pretty much all pictures. The CD is not the full five-disc soundtrack available for separate purchase, but the six-track collection that was included as a pre-order bonus in Japan. I think a fuller (but still single disc) compilation would've been nicer and perhaps more appropriate for a collector's edition, but I suppose the ∞ Climax Edition is on the cheaper side of collector's editions.
There's plenty of great artwork in the 36-page book. It's the same size as the other art books I've gotten with game collector's editions. It's nice to see the industry following a sort of standard there, even if they are a bit small.
In addition to the more "complete" promotional art, the book also contains a little bit of rougher concept art. I like seeing how ideas and designs change over time, so I always enjoy looking at concept art. Unfortunately there's not too much for comparison in this case as the book is focuses more on the more polished promo stuff - luckily it's all beautiful.
Now, onto the main attraction: the replica of one of Bayonetta’s Scarborough Fair guns. Well, it should be the main attraction, but I have to say it’s a bit of a disappointment. The casting is sufficiently detailed with no signs of flash or factory error, it feels solid and it’s a nice size (around 20cm, which is probably a bit smaller than 1:1 but certainly big enough for display or even cosplay). So if the build is sound, what’s wrong? Quite simply, the painting is incredibly sub-par. The gold and maroon colour scheme looks good enough – I actually like that it’s darker than the more pink-ish colour in most artwork – but whoever painted this obviously never learned to “colour between the lines”. Despite the cast providing adequate guidance for all the gold detailing, the paint work just fails to follow in many areas. Strangely enough, the “Scarborough Fair” text on the barrel is painted alright; it’s the parts that should have been easier to get right that… well, aren’t right.
The sloppy paint work is evident from even a moderate distance, let alone the closer inspection it would invite on display.
Probably the worst thing about the replica is the stand. It looks alright, if more mustard than gold and lacking some of the detail of the original promotional photo, but it completely fails in its purpose. The gun sits precariously in the stand at best, and to make matters worse it doesn’t seem to be aligned correctly, so it’s ready to topple with the slightest bump (or even without). Mine fell over a few times in the mere minutes it took to take a few photos. I would not feel comfortable putting this on a shelf above anything, as falling over seems more an inevitability than a possibility.
Don't be fooled by the fact that it's standing upright - it didn't stay that way for too long.
I said earlier that this replica gun is a disappointment, but that’s not entirely accurate. I don’t think I ever had high expectations, because officially this isn’t even a part of the collector’s edition. It’s a pre-order bonus. Never mind that it’s a bonus that only comes with the collector’s edition, the fact that it wasn’t included in the official package itself should have suggested from the beginning that Sega wasn’t putting too much effort in. In a way, it’s perhaps better than expected: the foundations are actually quite solid, but are let down by some poor painting and a nearly useless stand. The more I think about it, the more I’m drawn to those solid foundations and the potential that they present. With a new – less careless – coat of paint, this replica could make quite a nice display piece, and even as is it would make a reasonable cosplay item.
In the end, the Bayonetta ∞ Climax Edition is a pretty good package for the price. Like all collector’s editions, the value is entirely dependant on how much you’re looking forward to the game itself. The art book is very nice and the sound track, while perhaps a little brief, will be a nice extra for those who enjoy the game’s music (which has been quite widely praised). It’s just the Scarborough Fair replica – technically an extra to the other extras – that doesn’t quite match up.
Had the gun been included in the official collector’s edition package and pushed the price up closer to that of the Assassin’s Creed II Black Edition, I might be more disappointed – and critical – but in perspective as a pre-order bonus it certainly could have been a lot worse. It could have not even existed at all, and it’s certainly nowhere near bad enough to wish that. If, like me, you’ve dabbled in painting garage kits or models, it actually poses a fairly interesting potential project. Time will tell if I decide to go down that route, but I’m quite pleased with the actual collector’s edition either way.
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[...] from the last two collector’s editions I’ve bought (Assassin’s Creed II and Bayonetta): when all the download codes have been redeemed and the art books and whatnot have been shelved, [...]
Hm I just get the normal Version from 3 weeks. And it’s enough for me.
The OST CD and the booklet looks nice, but as you said the weapon is…
Anyway, nice catch – beside the weapon.
I was really looking forward to the gun but now I’m afraid mines just going to be as sloppy as yours ==, and apparently though the music got high praise (maybe in Japan) around the world people seem to find it annoying when they play it again…I don’t know why I think the music is appropriate for that particular scene and level of the game I guess cause it’s looping~
I hope that my replica is an exception and the rest are painted to standard, but I wouldn’t hold my breath… I think I am going to re-paint mine myself though.
I want this game but i’ve read that it’s better on xbox. Textures on PS3 are less beautiful and some slows may occur while playing. At least that’s what i heard.
Don’t like the gun very much … but the artbook is great.
Yeah, I’ve read that about the PS3 version too. I don’t think it’s meant to be so bad that it’s not still worth getting if you only have a PS3, just that the 360 version is vastly superior.
I haven’t trouble with it at all
And graphics looks better on the3, i compaired it with my friend.
But that is just my opinion XD
I’m glad you haven’t had any performance issues on PS3! It’s a shame that version wasn’t up to scratch.
Remember though that graphics comparisons are pretty pointless unless you’re looking at them side-by-side at the same time, and ideally on the same model of TV with the same settings.
Hey, it’s well worth repainting, did one for a mate up tonight, will knock mine out on the weekend. Here’s a pic:
http://i47.tinypic.com/jubmzt.jpg
That looks amazing! You’ve inspired me to do it, well and truly. Now I’ll just have to find the right paints/colours. If you have any more pics, I’d love to see them for reference.
Are you doing anything about the stand? Mine will definitely need heavy modification or, more likely, replacement.
Thanks, my mate was quite pleased with it too. Not got any other photos yet, and I unfortunately ran of paint to complete mine, but will pick up some more tomorrow and get it done.
The main colour of the gun that I used it Tamiya PS-50 (Sparkling Pink Anodised Aluminium) which you should be able to find at any decent model/hobby shop. Goes for about 16bux, but will be more than enough for one gun.
I’m still deciding what to do with my stand. I did repaint the one for my mate in proper gold paint, but I’m thinking of picking up some ‘real’ metallic gold, like the super special spraycan’s sold at Spotlight. I think that’d look very nice.
But, as I play the game more I may get more inspired to make another display holder.
Will post pix when I get mine done soon.
Good luck!
Thanks for the advice, finding the right pink colour was the only part I was really worried about. Did you prime it first or go straight on top of the existing coat?
I grabbed my copy of the Climax edition on the ps3 on the official release date. I gotta say, this is the most wildest game I have ever played and I can’t help to be blown away each time I progress onwards. The battles are just too wicked. ^^
As for the extra contents, the artbook and cd is nice but I agree the gun is a disappointment. The paint job looks sloppy and the colours just look off from a few areas but since this was a preorder bonus, I wasn’t expecting too much as overall, it was free.
I lightly wet and dry sanded it back with P1200 grit sandpaper, then spray undercoat, then another light sanding.
The Tamiya spray colours go on super smooth and light coats built up make it really come up nice.
Just about to do mine, will post photos when she’s done.
After playing a bit more the colour of the guns seems to change radically!
Sometimes they look very, very dark, all the way through to that metallic pink.
I used the render in the back of the book as the reference point as I think the lighting
in the game itself is buggerising around with the colour of the mettallic sheen far too much to make it true.
Just be aware that colour in the photo is accurate to that render, but in-game, who can tell!
P3SS3SSOd – that repaint is awesome.
Mine also has horrific paint quality (pre-order bonus in the uk). Any ideas on a paint match for the original maroon? I don’t know if I fancy repainting the entire thing, just tidy up the gold.
You’d be hard-pressed to find an exact match for the maroon, so at minimum I’d say you’ll need to repaint at that entire colour.
Sorry for the late reply, but here she is all done.
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3986/sagedone.jpg
This colour is as exact as I can get. It uses that Tamiya Anodised Pink and it’s then coated in thinned down Tamiya Clear Red. This gives it the two-tone appearance that shows lots of differential colour between the pink highlights and deep maroon. I’ve matched it up as best I can from the official wallpaper art getting around.
The black lining is the hard yards of the paint job, but it’s well worth it to really make the colours and patterns POP!
Still looking at a new display stand.. not 100% happy with the stock one. Will have a play with it when I’ve got some time.
Good luck to any other customisers!
I was extremely excited to hear that a collector’s edition of Bayonetta was coming out because a suped up version of a game usually entails more swag related sexiness. It’s a bit weird (at least for me) to price the game at $90 and not include the replica gun because surely the cost of the bundle includes what is supposedly an item that is meant to be a bonus to the game price. In all honesty, I have bought a lot of suped up bundles of games for an exorbitant cost and the replica guns are not that bad. It could have been worse – you could have gotten a keychain and some sticker for the cost of $90.
I will have to do some touch up or pray or create my own replica guns to do the game some justice.