With that said, let’s check it out, shall we?
From the Top
Here we have the Master Edition being opened for the very first time. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to save the outer case from damage as the sticker refused to yield and took some of the finish with it.
A neat feature I noticed right off the bat was that the spacer at the top actually had a triangle cut out of it – almost as though we’re unboxing the Triforce itself. While it’s by far the least impressive feature of this collector’s box, it was an interesting choice in terms of attention to detail that I’m sure Legend of Zelda fans will appreciate.
The Case of the Sheikah Slate
The first item to catch my eye was the Sheikah Slate carrying case. While not entirely apparent in images revealed so far, the case is actually detailed with sinking and rising features, and isn’t just a print job like I suspected. The details are actually really nicely done, and the plastic doesn’t feel cheap like other alternative cases.
The reverse side is similarly well finished. It has a matte coating that can’t really be done justice in images, since the white balance changed the color from a much deeper brown to…whatever this orange mess is. The exterior of the case also features a carrying grip, as well as a metallic black zipper with the same Sheikah Eye pattern seen above.
The interior flap of the case features two holding areas. One is for your Nintendo Switch cartridges, and the other is for accessories such as earbuds. Up to 12 Switch cartridges can be stored in this way, and there’s more than enough room inside the accessory pouch for a decent pair of earbuds. It’s actually large enough for a Nintendo Switch game box or a large smartphone - if you really wanted to cram it in there.
On the flipside we have the space for the Nintendo Switch itself. For those wondering, both this and the HORI cases can actually hold the Nintendo Switch with the Joy-Cons attached. The JoyCons themselves will not activate the Nintendo Switch unless constant and consistent button pressing happens, so don’t worry about the battery running out while it’s in the case.
Not completely shown here is the velcro strap that keeps the Switch held in place (near the bottom and the middle). The velcro is actually really fine and non-abrasive, so don’t worry about your screen getting scratched while inside. Overall, it’s a fairly nice carrying case, and perfect if you have either special editions of Breath of the Wild.
An Assortment of Goodies
Kept in a blue tray is the soundtrack CD, Sheikah Coin, and map. They are all individually sealed with plastic wrap – loose for the map, shrink for the CD, and a case for the coin. There’s not much to look at with the coin, so we’ll focus on the other two items. It should be noted that the coin is metal, and has a fairly nice gleam to it.
The Map
The map included in the Special Edition and Master Edition is among some of the most remarkable inclusions I’ve opened. I had expected this map to be made of rather gloss poster paper or card paper at best. Nope. The map is actually made of an almost leather-like material. Mind you, it’s not actually leather, but it feels like it in almost every way.
It is also artistically faded in various areas to give off that “lost map” feel. None of it looks as though someone intentionally did this, and instead it looks as though it’s one of the dungeon maps Link might find on his journey (despite being an overworld map).
On the flipside we have Calamity Ganon being surrounded by guardians, Link, and four strange beasts. It’s a nice touch, and great to have as a flipside. However, I think I will be framing the map over this side since there’s not really much to look at here.
The CD
Included in all versions of the Breath of the Wild collectors items, the Sound Selection CD has various songs from non-spoiler areas of the game. I was actually listening to this while writing this article, and it’s almost relaxing to listen to. This is thanks to Breath of the Wild’s minimalist style, with the sounds acting almost like a background to nature itself.
Images of the CD and its case are below:
The Front
The Back
CD and Inner Flap. Not shown here: Zelda underneath the CD
The Master Sword of Resurrection Statue
Last but not least is the Master Edition exclusive Master Sword of Resurrection statue.
I’d like to take a moment to just admire the simplicity of this box in and of itself. It’s white card, just like the spacers inside the greater Master Edition box itself. However, this time we have several logos on its outside.
On the left we can see the original Japanese logo. It was designed to look like the original found on the Nintendo Family Computer, and so the style will be completely foreign to those outside of Japan.
On the right is the international logo. Still impressive in its own right, but I still feel as though the Japanese logo is more of a nice touch than the English one. Perhaps I would feel differently if they used the old NES logo design, but as-is, that’s all I have to say about it.
The Statue
Boxed in with styrofoam casing and a plastic bag is none other than the Master Sword of Resurrection itself. It’s actually fairly heavy, and funnily enough the base when placed on a table sounds as though it is made of stone. My guess is that it’s actually ceramic, but it’s a nice touch.
Unlike the one shown during the Nintendo Switch presentation earlier this year, the statue is actually quite sturdy. The Master Sword doesn’t budge without significant force, and the flower is quite sturdy as well. Ballparking the weight by holding it alone, I would say it weighs about 2 to 4 pounds.
It’s a nice statue, and despite my initial skepticism, I think I might actually keep this safe until I have a nice space to keep it.
And that’s it!
So is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Master Edition worth it? At $129.99 USD, you could get a lot worse than this nostalgia-fueled bundle.
The Master Sword of Resurrection is what really makes the difference between the Special Edition and Master Edition, and so if you really want the statue then I would say it’s a sure buy. However, if you don’t care much for the statue, save the $30 USD (almost $70 CAD) and get the Special Edition instead.
But what do you guys think? Is it worth the price in your region of the world? Did you manage to get your hands on one of these elusive collector’s items? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
