Metroid fans may finally feel validated this year after a long drought and a goofy spinoff nobody asked for, but there is yet again drama in the fanbase. Nintendo has revealed special edition versions of Metroid: Return of Samus for 3DS and… let’s just say anyone not living in Europe is feeling pretty sad about region-locking right now. In North America, Metroid: Samus Returns comes with a nice little soundtrack CD. In Europe, Metroid: Samus Returns comes in a set called the Legacy Edition, and it comes with a whole pile of neat Metroid paraphernalia.
The Metroid: Samus Returns Legacy Edition comes with what appears to be the same 25-track soundtrack (with cooler art on the slip cover). It also comes with a Morph Ball keychain, a 40-page art book, a Samus insignia pin, and a Steelbook case designed after the original Metroid II: Return of Samus Game Boy cart. You even get a Virtual Console code for Metroid 2: Return of Samus . It’s quite a set and considering Metroid is one of Nintendo’s smaller IPs, a set of merchandise of the like not commonly available.
Understandably enough, there’s a lot of salt and envy flowing around North America, as the Metroid fanbase feels a bit shafted. Obviously Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe are two different companies, with two different budgets and marketing strategies. Regardless, region restrictions would render importers unable to play easily, but despite that I imagine the secondhand market price on this thing is going to be out of control.
Source: Polygon