Mass Effect 2 Collector's Edition unboxing

We weren’t the first territory in the world to get it (for a change), but Mass Effect 2 is finally available at retail here in New Zealand! I imagine a great many of you are planning on making a dash for the nearest EB Games, JB Hi-Fi, Dick Smith or otherwise straight after work, school, university or whatever today. For those of you that have preordered the Collector’s Edition, I’ve just picked mine up, and (taking a cue from Vic B’Stard’s Assassin’s Creed II Black Edition unboxing) it looks a little something like this.

First of all, it’s packaged in a cardboard sleeve that’s two DVDs thick (much like, say, the Gears of War 2 collector’s edition).

The interior, however, is very similar to that of the Halo Wars collector’s edition, with a metallic case for the game and bonus discs and a cardboard case for the other goodies. Note how I’ve covered up my preorder code for the Terminus Assault Armour and the M-490 Blackstorm Projector heavy weapon. I’m onto you guys…

The rear of the game-disc tin.

The front of the game-disc tin, although this is a much wimpier looking Shepard than my Shepard.

Here’s the other cardboard case, pre-opening,…

…the back, pre-opening (note the nicely embossed Mass Effect 2 logo),…

…after the first stage of opening (revealing the Cerberus Network download card),…

And in the final stage of opening (revealing the limited-edition comic book and the art book).

Here’s an example of the artwork inside the comic book. I must admit, I was expecting a full-size comic, but this is still very nicely made and well presented.

And here’s an example of the artwork inside the art book.