So I ended up ordering the game from Ami Ami and chose the cheapest shipping option. It arrived yesterday. Ive never imported a game in my life and dont understand Japanese at all. I spent $58 after shipping and yen conversion, the most my cheap ass has spent on a game since the N64 days. It was worth every penny.
Here are some shitty pics:
This thread is about the book so Ill just talk about that. Many people have already praised it to the heavens. My expectations for it were sky high.
This goddamn book
exceeded my expectations.
Like many have said, its 352 pages, but what I didnt know due to media black out on my end is that all but 30 of those pages have at least one unique piece of art (and often more!) in one of three distinct and beautiful art styles. Theres Ghibli art, beautifully detailed fairy tale illustration, and some kind of iconic tapestry/Wind Waker intro style art that I would find a legitimate reference for if I was actually knowledgable. Each of these styles is perfect and I cant begin to describe to you the happy satisfaction you feel leafing through pages and pages of this stuff.
You know what else the game comes with? A 65 page full color manual that is also filled with art.
God bless you Hino and your crazy-ass convictions. Who cares if the game is no longer portable. This is the best gaming purchase Ive made in ages, and Ive only played an hour of the game itself. I love this book so much I would purchase it again in a heartbeat if Level 5 ever localizes it. Which will never happen because it's a miracle this thing even came out in Japan.
