Kickstarter Update #86 - Reward Preview

First up, I hope there will be some sort of spoiler-free thread here eventually when the game comes out about people's overall reactions/reviews, because it'll likely be a long while before I get to play the game after getting it in the mail, but I'd be curious to know about the core community's impressions after such a long wait together--I mean, beyond the demo material, of course.

That said, I almost didn't want to look at this update and spoil the slipcase, but I decided to look anyway. So, I'm just going to be gut-reaction honest here, and obviously everyone will feel differently, but I think the slipcase is only "okay." It's foil and has the flower iconography I expected, which is all good, and the idea of having a character and a campaign backer label is very cool. The main problem I have is that the art is underwhelming. It's not terrible by any means, and I can see how its use of light and dark serves the foil material, but it just looks a little third-party "pop art-ish" compared to previously seen, moodier or more stylish art from Inti Creates and Mana. Something like this Yuji Natsume piece wouldn't work with the foil, but the energy and aesthetic and linework is more of what I would expect if a character was involved: cdn3.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Bloodstained-309x425.png Not a big deal, though. Like I said, I don't find it unappealing, just not my cup of tea in terms of wowing me.

That shirt has a great composition, though I woudn't wear something quite that loud and edgy in public. lol. I don't have to worry about that, however, since I wasn't in that tier.

Regarding the Shanoa/Miriam/Zangetsu debate...Of them, I think Shanoa has the best design overall. She looks regal, tough, Gothic and, for the most part, functional in the freedom of movement department. Miriam isn't bad, and I really like that we'll get some visual customization options in the game at some point, but there is something a bit awkward about her basic look...like there's a touch of cosplay in there versus stylized reality. In terms of Zangetsu, he comes off as a tad bit "overdesigned" and/or clunky. Maybe it's the mixing of the samurai aesthetic with the Gothic motif and the chains and eyepatch and paper charms. I don't know what it is, but like Miriam, I've never really thought, "I love that design!"--just, "It's fine and works well enough." I think it might be that there feels like some indecisiveness in his design. By comparison, I think that the anime/manga Drifters has comparable designs to Zangetsu that are a little sharper overall: img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire3/e4a199c41265cd60b6b4cac0dff62ef01456235720_full.png and rei.animecharactersdatabase.com/uploads/chars/5688-1574458002.png Again, just some thoughts. In the end, I think everything is good enough, and I am looking forward to the game being something special.

They could always use the design of the shirt from the original Kickstarter to sell through Fangamer I'm happier with the Gremory one we are getting but that one wasn't bad either.



I DEFINITELY want a Zangetsu shirt though... and a Vepar shirt.

What's everyone else's weigh in on the shirt and ideas for more?

Yes it would be wrong...

But I understand, it is kinda cool that it looks like a book cover almost.

The shirt is marvelous.

Can't say the same thing for the slipcover though. Based on the limited amount of detail, colors and overall art design of the front piece I think it would have been a better match for a smaller piece of merchandise like say one of those metal Zippo lighters rather than the main game's slipcover.

The following would have made a much better pick imo:



Not a show stopper but certainly a missed opportunity none the less.

Can't wait to see the Kojima art piece though.

Well I like it. It's simple yet makes a statement, It's cool the use of the whip to go to the back and front. and the art is spot on.



EDIT: And Miriam looks badass!

That could be correct (not sure myself) but since Mana created the piece it should legally belong to Art Play and not Inti Creates. What's done is done but at least those of us that backed at the $100 level or above get to hide the slipcover in the box with the Kojima artwork so I'm not loosing any sleep over this

Wow, I really like the t-shirt. Of course, such things will always come down to individual preferences, but I really appreciate the effort for making something special, and not just slapping over-used logos/graphics like other Kickstarter campaigns!

I really liked the slipcase, I'm a sucker for foil effect on things.

I have a question about that same foil effect though, is it embossed or does it sit on the same level as the black part? I'm not sure if "embossed" is the right word for it, but I'm talking about this kind of thing:

So, thoughts.  The slipcover, I like.  The not-quite-minimalism design works for me, and it kind of strikes me as something you'd expect to see on the cover of a limited print of a comic book.  I also happen to like simple, striking designs, so yeah, it's good in my eyes.  I could see people who prefer something more involved looking being disappointed, but I'm the kind of guy that would rather have a well done vector silhouette on my desktop than a painting.

The shirt is also great.  The monochrome design is a good fit for Gremory, I think, and I like the inclusion of the castle in the background.  It almost looks like something you'd see on the cover of a metal album.  I don't usually wear much red, but I think I'll actually wear this from time to time.

Man, only eleven days left.  Now the real question:  do I play Order of Ecclesia in preparation for this, or do I re-watch the first two seasons of Legion before season three comes out on the 24th?