As I write this piece about Deadly Premonition Origins – Collector’s Edition, I can’t help but think about cult classics. What is it about them that so captivates groups of people? It can’t be something obvious, or they would have been considered a classic from the start. But cult classics are often only regarded as such long after their first release. And Deadly Premonition definitely qualifies, according to folks who have played it. I admit I haven’t yet, but after thoroughly checking out the packaging for this edition, I’m thinking that’s gonna happen sooner than later.
Developed by the notoriously quirky SWERY65 (aka Hidetaka Suehiro), Deadly Premonition is a game known as much for the genre it represents as the way it represents that genre. For example, it apparently holds the Guinness World Record for the most critically polarizing survival-horror game. That’s saying a lot, especially considering the large swathe of peculiar titles in that genre. The story itself revolves around FBI Agent Francis York Morgan as he investigates mysterious murders and the identity of the Raincoat Killer. The tale takes place in Greenvale, and is riddled with strange and unpredictable occurrences. But I’m not here to talk about the game itself, but instead want to focus on the Deadly Premonition Origins sweet Collector’s Edition.
Available for Nintendo Switch, this box comes packaged with a few very nice goodies. The outer box is very attractive, composed of a glossy material that reflects the light and draws the eye. The front showcases the Raincoat Killer, while the opposite side reads like the back of the standard edition. Once opened up, the outer box is a sandwich of three things – the game box itself, the map and the pin set.
The map of Greenvale is, understandably, very green, with a lot of real estate displayed. I actually couldn’t get all the details with just one picture, so I am including a couple to show it off. When folded, the map shows a compass with the town name above. When opened up entirely, you can see the main geographical features of the city, including lakes, roads and other details. Much like maps found in older fantasy novels, the map does a good job of helping frame the nature of the location while making you wonder what’s truly occurring there.
Now, while I have nothing against the Deadly Premonition Origins map, the real draw for me is the pin set. Set in a collectible matte box, with red and black as the dominant colors, the pins inside are gorgeous. Six glossy pins are included, and while I may not know all the characters from the game yet, I was immediately captivated by the art. Perhaps my favorite is the ominous Raincoat Killer pin, along with the massive axe, but they all look quite vibrant and attractive.
I thought that was it, until I opened up the game box itself, and found one more treat! Inside the box were two postcards, based off sketches by SWERY himself. They are both very disturbing looking and full of detail. One has the words “peace” clearly displayed, but a closer look shows all sorts of horrifying snippets, appearing like they were taken from the diary of a madman. The other shows what appears to be a body being tortured. Regardless, both are really unique and cool, and make and already great collector’s edition fantastic.
For $49.99, Aksys has put together a very nice Collector’s Edition for Deadly Premonition Origins. While it’s true the first iterations of the game came out almost a decade ago, I’m glad it made its way to the Switch, especially since Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is headed to Nintendo’s latest and greatest console sometime in 2020. If you’re a fan of quirky cult classics or just want to see what the hoopla is about before the sequel hits, I would recommend you check out this sweet collectible edition for Deadly Premonition Origins. I know I’m suddenly eager to visit Greenvale myself.
