A dwarf statue that stirs memories, lovingly crafted collectibles, and plenty of nostalgia: the Collector's Edition of 'World of Warcraft: Forever' thrills me. There is just one thing Blizzard forgot about the past.
Note: At the end of this article, you can win the Collector's Edition of «World of Warcraft: Forever» shown here.
I don't know how many times I've watched the very first cinematic for «World of Warcraft» by now. Dozens of times? Hundreds? No idea. But I still remember exactly how I felt when I first saw that dwarf hunter standing on a snowy mountain with his rifle. Beside him: his loyal bear. Bruno, as I eventually christened him in my head.
Don't ask me why. That's just his name to me.
Over twenty years later, the two figures are now standing on my desk. Not as pixels on a screen, but as a small, surprisingly detailed sculpture. I can touch them, turn them, and look at them from every angle. And as I do, my thoughts drift back to where my love for Azeroth first began.
That is exactly what makes a good Collector's Edition for me. It doesn't just sell me a few pretty items. It reminds me why I love this game in the first place. And Blizzard? They understood that surprisingly well with the Collector's Edition of «World of Warcraft: Forever». At least, almost.
The packaging alone is impressive. A large, elaborately decorated box that, with its golden ornaments and iconic Warcraft design, immediately evokes memories of earlier collector's editions. The whole thing feels less like an ordinary game package and more like a small treasure chest from Azeroth.
Inside awaits the real centerpiece: a roughly 19-centimeter-tall statue of the legendary dwarf hunter and his bear.
Anyone who thinks of the original intro to «World of Warcraft» will recognize them immediately. The dwarf, the rifle, the mighty bear – it is one of the first images with which Blizzard introduced us to its new fantasy world back then. Long before we ourselves roamed the forests of Elwynn for the first time or fought wolves in Dun Morogh.
The fact that Blizzard chose this specific motif for the Collector's Edition is therefore a bullseye. After all, «WoW: Forever» doesn't just want to be another chapter of «World of Warcraft», but also to remind us of the feeling that drew us to Azeroth for the first time back then.
And the statue itself? It turned out truly beautiful.
The bear's fur, the folds in the dwarf's clothing, his long beard, the small decorations on the armor: I discover new details everywhere. Added to this is the bronze-colored surface, which gives the whole thing almost the feel of an old, venerable sculpture.
For me, it is the heart of the entire edition. More than that: I would argue that the box is almost worth it for die-hard «WoW» fans for this statue alone.
Of course, there is more in the box. Two collector's pins, for example, an Azeroth compass, and the emblem of the new Skyborne race. Actually trifles, but the kind I like to pick up. They have a pleasant weight, shine nicely, and are cleanly crafted. No cheap plastic junk, as one unfortunately finds again and again even in expensive collector's editions.
I especially like the two art prints with landscape motifs from «WoW: Forever». They come already in sturdy, black presentation frames, ready for the shelf or the wall. I would have liked a proper artbook, as was common with the old Collector's Editions, nonetheless. On the other hand: how often do I actually still leaf through my old artbooks? Exactly. The two pictures, however, I could look at every day.
Then there is a nicely embossed notebook, which I personally can't do much with, and a mousepad that turned out a bit small and dark for my taste. But well, that's complaining at a high level. Overall, Blizzard has put together some really nice collector's items that I am happy to keep and display.
With all the enthusiasm, however, there is something I miss: proper game packaging.
Yep. You read that right. Game packaging. Because as beautiful as the Collector's Edition is, the actual game is only included as a download code on a small card. No DVD, no classic game case, nothing.
Yes, I know. «World of Warcraft» is an online role-playing game. A disc would be little more than decoration today, especially since I would have to download gigabytes of updates anyway. And yet: Do you remember the original «World of Warcraft» box from 2004? The fold-out cover with the night elf and the dwarf, behind which more images from Azeroth were hidden? The many CDs that you had to constantly change during installation?
Okay, I don't necessarily miss the CDs. But that feeling of discovering a small piece of the world you were about to dive into just by unpacking it? Damn, I miss that.
Especially «WoW: Forever», which lives so much from the nostalgia of the original game, could have wonderfully picked up on this memory. How nice would a small replica of the original packaging have been? With the old fold-out cover, a few artworks, and, for all I care, just the download code inside. I wouldn't even have needed a disc. Just that one piece of the past that I could hold in my hands again.
Instead, there's a card. Functional, practical, contemporary. And somehow also damn boring. Sure, I'm an old nostalgic who still enjoys cardboard boxes while the gaming world has long since gone digital. Maybe so. But if there is one place where such memories should still have a place, it's in a Collector's Edition of the game that explicitly wants to take us back to the early days of «World of Warcraft».
With the dwarf hunter and his bear, Blizzard has proven how beautifully that can work. It's a pity that the nostalgia stops exactly at the packaging of the game itself.
Blizzard is asking for about 140 francs for the Collector's Edition, depending on the exchange rate. Sounds like a lot of money at first. But in addition to the physical collector's items, there is also plenty of digital content: «WoW: Forever», «Warcraft III: Reforged» including «Forsaken Kingdom», and 30 days of WoW game time. Plus exclusive mounts, pets, transmog sets, and other cosmetic extras.
Especially for those who play both «WoW: Forever» and modern «World of Warcraft», there is a lot on offer.
Of course, the value of such extras is difficult to quantify. What is completely irrelevant to one person is a coveted collector's item for die-hard fans. Added to this is the detailed dwarf statue, which would not be a cheap pleasure on its own. Overall, I therefore consider the 140 francs to be quite fair.
Would I recommend the edition to everyone? No. Anyone who just wants to play «WoW: Forever» doesn't need it. A running WoW subscription is enough for that, especially since the digital bonuses can also be purchased individually or as a package.
However, anyone who has been roaming through Azeroth for years and enjoys physical collector's items should be quite happy with the box. I, at least, am. Despite the missing game packaging. Because the most beautiful addition of this Collector's Edition is, for me, something that cannot be quantified in francs anyway: nostalgia.
The Collector's Edition of «World of Warcraft: Forever» was provided to me by Blizzard. For the unboxing, I opened the box that is being raffled off here.
To win, answer the following question: How many times can you read the word "Forever" in the images of this post? It is enough if the word is only partially visible. The deadline for entries is Friday, November 6th, at 3:00 PM. The winner will be notified by email. Good luck with counting and participating!
The competition has ended.
I write about technology as if it were cinema, and about films as if they were real life. Between bits and blockbusters, I’m after stories that move people, not just generate clicks. And yes – sometimes I listen to film scores louder than I probably should.
This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.
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