Image credit: Em Stonham for Kyusai
There’s something magical about physical media. While it is possible to pick up almost any game digitally, I’d argue that nothing beats being able to hold a copy of your favorite game in your hands, knowing that it’ll never be lost due to server issues or expired licenses.
I got the chance to check out the physical edition of Nine Sols, courtesy of the game team and Fangamer, and I was incredibly impressed with the unboxing experience. Here’s a detailed review of the Nine Sols Fangamer physical edition so you know what to expect when buying it; something that Rockstar could learn, given the lack of a true boxed retail version of GTA 6 at launch.
A dream for Nine Sols geeks
I’m a massive Nine Sols geek, so getting the Fangamer physical edition in the post felt like Christmas and five birthdays, all wrapped up in one.
I received a copy of the Nintendo Switch edition of Nine Sols for review, which comes with the game itself – an actual game card, not a digital key code, thankfully – along with some gorgeous game art.
My first impressions of the box itself were positive; the game art is stunning, which’ll come as no surprise to fans of the title, with vibrant, jewel-toned colors. It was wrapped up snugly in shrink wrap, and as it came with plenty of goodies inside, it had some decent weight to it.
Along with the vibrant hero art up top, there’s a smattering of game screenshots and imagery on the back, giving players a glimpse of what to expect if they’ve not played the game before. These screenshots are crisp and highlight how fluid the game movement is, which I imagine isn’t easy with smaller-scale imagery.
Inside, the initial presentation is grand, with an elegant design on the inner cover and a stack of artwork above the game card itself. The game’s color themes ran nicely throughout the package, with a mostly earthy color scheme – amber, slate gray, brown – mixed in with shocking pops of red and gold.
It’s a small feature, but I loved the design of the game card; the dark, hazy background contrasts nicely with the golden Nine Sols logo. Some game cards can look a little murky, but this one feels like it was designed with intention.
Beautiful prints, hidden inside
Alongside the game card, there are two dual-sided mini art cards, showcasing original game art and highlighting Yi.
One art card is a red, dual-faced square with Yi and Heng, with one side having a smooth, matte texture, and the other side being a glossier, shinier material. The other is a rectangular piece with two more abstract sketches, again with the two different materials.
I had initially planned to display these prints by sticking them on the wall near my desk, but as they’re equally stunning on both sides, I’m rather stuck on how best to display them. Some sort of trading card sleeve may suffice in the meantime, but they’re high-quality enough to be framed.
It’s not just the two prints in the box, either. Along with the expected warranty information slip and Fangamer pamphlet, there’s a Nine Sols game manual, with 16 pages of game tips, lore snippets, and key notes.
Just like the art cards, there’s plenty of drawings and concept art tucked away in the game manual, with thick, glossy pages, and even a small notes page at the back to jot things down while you’re reading through it.
It’s a handy inclusion for folks who haven’t played Nine Sols before and want to get to grips with the game’s admittedly complicated combat system before jumping in for the first time, but it’s also wonderful for someone who loves the game, thanks to the snippets of lore and additional artwork.
Opening up the physical edition of Nine Sols as a fan of the game was an utter delight. Not only was I impressed with the physical quality of the box, the manual, and the art cards, but I also adored the level of detail in the box design and artwork, too.
If you’re equally in love with the game and want a collector’s item to showcase this, I highly recommend the Nine Sols Fangamer physical edition. If you’re unsure about the game, it may be worth checking out the digital edition first to get a feel for it – and if you haven’t played Nine Sols yet, you’re truly missing out.
In today’s ever-digital world, where it can be hard to know if you actually own a game or other pieces of media, I’m hoping for more physical editions of games like this one. There’s something truly special about quality physical media, both as a gamer and as a collector, and I’m crossing my fingers that a renaissance is on its way. Considering GTA 6 is shipping with a code in a box, it makes releases like this all the more special.
FAQs
The Nine Sols release date was May 29, 2024.
Nine Sols was developed and published by RedCandleGames.
Nine Sols is a 2D action-platformer or Metroidvania that’s often referred to as a Sekiro-like.
The best place to check for the Nine Sols physical edition is the Fangamer EU store.
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