Showing posts with label street fighter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label street fighter. Show all posts

Monday, November 23, 2015

Loot Crate - November, 2015 - Combat

Hey, peeps! Mike here, and I just couldn't resist going back to Loot Crate again after seeing the photos of the incredible boxes in September and October. I mean, wow, they upped their game! So, now I'm a Looter again and, after a painstaking wait, my Crate finally arrived!


For those of you who haven't heard of Loot Crate, it is a monthly subscription box that caters towards "nerds" and "geeks". Each month, subscribers get a themed box of 6 to 8 items. What's interesting is that Loot Crate has different subscription programs. Here's a breakdown with shipping to Canada included:

1 Month Plan - $29.95 USD / $37.00 CAD per month
3 Month Plan - $84.00 USD / $104.00 CAD per 3 months
6 Month Plan - $162.00 USD / $200.00 CAD per 6 months
1 Year Plan - $312.00 / $385.00 CAD per year (includes Bonus T-Shirt)

As some of you who have read my blog in the past have probably noticed, the cost for this program has gone up significantly for Canadians, probably due to our weak dollar at the moment. Regardless of the reason, though, this hurts. One can only hope the items are still worth the price tag.

NOVEMBER - COMBAT

As a fan of fighting games like "Street Fighter" and "Mortal Kombat", I was excited to learn this month's theme. Of course, "Combat" could mean so much more. So many different kinds of games and franchises have various types of fighting in them. There's just so much potential for amazing items! So, did what came in the Crate live up to my expectations? Let's start to look into that with a list of what I got:

- Loot Crate Mini Magazine ($2.50 CAD)
- Loot Crate Theme Pin ($0.75 CAD)
- Loot Crate Gift Tags ($0.50 CAD)
- Mockingjay Pin ($10.00 CAD)
- Blizzard Cute But Deadly Figure ($12.00 CAD)
- Blizzard Cute But Deadly Magnets ($5.00 CAD)
- TMNT Shredder Sunglasses ($10.00 CAD)
- Street Fighter Hyper Looting #1 ($4.50 CAD)
- Vault Boy Bobblehead ($25.00 CAD)

Loot Crate Custom Box


You already know I'm a fan of custom boxes and this one featuring a post-apocalyptic design is pretty cool. The sewer pipes with ooze coming out are a nice touch.

Loot Crate Mini Magazine


Ah, it's nice to finally get a mini magazine again. I didn't realize how much I missed these! This month, there is a great article about epic video game rivalries, an interesting interview with WWE's Kyle Edwards, and more. The cover is pretty cool, too.

Loot Crate Theme Pin


This pin's design comes from the cover of the mini magazine, but unlike most cases in the past where they just took a part of the cover and shrank it, whoever designed this pin actually made this different by taking the characters out and only leaving the bus. I think it's a cool pin and one I'm quite happy to put up on my cork board.

Loot Crate Gift Tags


With Christmas around the corner, Loot Crate wanted to help people with their gift giving by included these nifty tags. I really appreciate that.

Mockingjay Pin


Alright, alright! This is what I call an awesome item. I'm a huge fan of "The Hunger Games" and this pin doesn't just hit the mark with my fandom, but also fits the Crate theme extremely well. Nice!

Blizzard Cute But Deadly Figure



This item is going to get a mixed review from me. On the one hand, I love Blizzard games and I love blind box vinyls. In fact, when I took this out of the Crate, I was jumping up and down with excitement. However, on the other hand, I was stopped abruptly when I realized the box was rather damaged.


As you can see, it was squashed prior to being put into my Loot Crate. This made me worry about the figure inside, so I opened it immediately and found this.


That, friends, is Ghost Arthas (from "World of Warcraft"), which is one of the three mystery figures you could get and, in my opinion, the best of the three. His helmet is supposed to have a large spike decoration. What you see on the middle-bottom of the above photo is that very spike, which has broken off the figure. Here is a closer look at things after I put the figure together.


This is my favourite item in the Crate, yet I am left with a bitter sweet feeling because Loot Crate's lack of quality control resulted in a broken figure. And, not just any figure. No, it just had to be Ghost Arthas! If I write to Loot Crate and show them the damage, I'm quite certain that they'd send me a new figure. But, since this is a blind box set, I most likely won't get another Ghost Arthas. That really, really sucks. Now, I'm sure you're probably thinking I can just glue the spike back on. I will do that and I will be happy with the figure. However, the fact remains that I received an obviously damaged item. Whoever packed my Crate could not have missed the fact that the box had been crushed. That, to me, is unacceptable.

Blizzard Cute But Deadly Magnets



I love magnets and my fridge is covered in them. So, getting Blizzard magnets is pretty awesome. My only complaint is that these kinds of magnet sheets are pretty much for decoration only. The strength of the magnets are extremely weak, so don't expect to be able to hold much with them. It's a shame because as a teenager, I remember using much stronger magnets with awesome nerdy designs to hold photos on my locker door. These Blizzard magnets would never have been able to do the same job because they would have just flown off if I closed the door too strongly. I would have honestly preferred getting less but stronger magnets.

TMNT Shredder Sunglasses



You know how Loot Crate gave its subscribers gift tags? I'm going to use one for this item since it's pretty much useless to me. I honestly don't see myself ever wearing them. Ever.


Ever again. I meant to have "again" in there to begin with. Yep. Honest to God...

I look ridiculous. Kids, however, would probably think these are super cool and run around the house with these on, so into my niece's Christmas stocking this goes.

Street Fighter Hyper Looting #1



This was not the kind of fighting game item I was hoping fore. I mean, I love comics, I love "Street Fighter" even more, and I really appreciate getting a "#1". However, a comic about characters from "Street Fighter" teaming up with Loot Crate employees to fight evil? I'm sorry, but this should have been a part of the mini magazine and not an actual item. To think, this is the only fighting game item! What a complete waste and an utter disappointment.

Vault Boy Bobblehead



As a fan of the "Fallout" series of games, I was blown away by what I think is the coolest item in this month's Crate. The quality is very high and the packaging even has some foam inside the box to protect the head. The most interesting thing about this bobblehead, however, is the supposed price. In my research I found that this bobblehead is a part of a series with Vault Boy in different poses. Various web sites sell them for anywhere from $25.00 CAD to as much as $70.00 CAD! That's insane. Even $25.00 CAD is too much for it, in my opinion. I guess that's what happens when you have a super hot franchise like "Fallout". Sigh.

OVERVIEW

I don't know what the heck happened this month, but Loot Crate really dropped the ball. Like I said before, I was blown away by the Crates from September and October. "Doctor Who" sporks? Pikachu winter hats? Doc Brown Pop! figures? Replica mini hoverboards? Those are ridiculously awesome. I envy those who stuck with Loot Crate and got them. This month, I rejoined and got a damaged item, an obvious gift item to make use of the included gift tags, a disappointing comic, and a bobblehead with an insanely high price tag that is clearly here for Loot Crate to say, "Hey, Looters, look at this super expensive item! See! That's value! Just ignore the fact that everything else is really cheap. *Cough*"

I've never been this let down by Loot Crate before. I get that no subscription box can be epic every single month, and I honestly don't expect that. Loot Crate, however, has always delivered boxes hovering between "fantastic" and "out of this world". This time around, they broke the trend and dropped to "just okay". I honestly hope this is a one-time thing because I'm staying with them for December due to their promised "Galaxy Quest" item. If they slap subscribers in the face again, however, I'm done with them for good.

If you want to learn more about Loot Crate, you can check out their web site HERE. Use the code SAVE10 to get 10% off a new subscription.

As always, thank you for checking out my blog. Stay tuned for more nerdy reviews!

~ Mike

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Loot Crate - November, 2014 - Battle

When I went to get the mail yesterday, I was expecting to find a bunch of bills, some flyers, maybe a few coupons, and potentially something from Amazon that I ordered. What I didn't expect to find was a Loot Crate. But, that's not the most surprising part of this story. What was more shocking to me was that the tracking information was sent to me a couple of hours after I picked up my box! But, apparently, that wasn't enough for Loot Crate. No, they had to put this on the side of their box:


It took every bit of willpower for me not to stand there in the freezing cold and rip the thing open to see what the notice was all about. I also had to stop myself from running home since dress shoes and icy sidewalks do not get along. After a slow, slippery walk back home, I finally cracked open my Loot Crate and this is what I was met with:


Yeah. I know. I drooled a little, too. Now, for those of you who haven't heard of Loot Crate, it is a monthly subscription box that caters towards "nerds" and "geeks". Each month, subscribers get a themed box of 6 to 8 items. What's interesting is that Loot Crate has different subscription programs. Here's a breakdown:

1 Month Plan - $19.37 USD / $29.95 CAD per month
3 Month Plan - $55.11 USD / $84.00 CAD per 3 months
6 Month Plan - $105.99 USD / $162.00 CAD per 6 months

NOVEMBER - BATTLE

When Loot Crate announced their November theme on their Facebook Page last month, I was ecstatic. "Battle", to me, had to involve "Street Fighter" in some way, and that is my favourite fighting game series of all time. I made the conscious decision to not visit their Facebook Page after the announcement because I really wanted to be surprised by what I found in my box when it arrived. So, what did I get yesterday? Here's a list:

- Loot Crate Mini Magazine ($2.50 CAD)
- Loot Crate Theme Pin ($0.75 CAD)
- Pirates vs. Ninjas T-Shirt ($15.00 CAD)
- Loot Crate Exclusive MegaMan Mini Helmet ($12.00 CAD)
- Mega Bloks Halo Drop Pod Figure ($5.00 CAD)
- Assassin's Creed Unity Coin ($15.00 CAD)
- Loot Crate Exclusive Street Fighter Headband ($10.00 CAD)
- Free Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Coupon ($20.00 CAD)
- Free MegaMan Digital Comics Coupon ($5.00 CAD)
- 50% Off Lichdom Battlemage Coupon ($22.00 CAD)

Custom Loot Crate Box and Loot Crate Mini Magazine


Once again, Loot Crate sent its subscribers a box with a custom design. But, this month, they added a little message on the outside that got me super excited. When you first open the box, it looks simple. However, as the exterior note mentions, the Mini Magazine holds the key to what makes this Crate so special. Behold!


Yes, that's right. The Loot Crate box turns into a diorama for the cardboard cutout Ryu (from "Street Fighter") and MegaMan figures included in the Mini Magazine! Whaaaaaat?! The box and magazine are a fantastic one-two punch combination that truly makes this month's Loot Crate a thing of beauty. I really appreciate the thought and effort put into designing the diorama. Absolutely fantastic! Oh, and here's the Mini Magazine's awesome cover.


Loot Crate Theme Pin


The pin design this month is colourful and fun. Plus, this is the first time that the orange ring around the pin actually matches the rest of the design. Very nice.

Pirates vs. Ninjas T-Shirt


Ah, the never-ending debate over whether Pirates or Ninjas are better finally arrives at Loot Crate with this month's spectacular T-shirt design. I love that it's not just a bunch of words making two characters, but also a Yin-Yang symbol. It's incredibly creative. In addition to this, Loot Crate took the design process one step further by including a post card with exclusive art on one side and a description of the whole Pirates vs. Ninjas thing on the other. Check it out.


Loot Crate Exclusive MegaMan Mini Helmet


This MegaMan mini helmet is one of four randomly packed in this month's Loot Crate. Subscribers could get blue, red, this green one, or black, each of which represents a different power in the game. I think it's a cool exclusive Crate item, but I personally find it to be kind of boring. Don't get me wrong. I love MegaMan, but I think a MegaMan figure would have been a better item. I do appreciate that it's different, though. You definitely wouldn't expect a MegaMan mini helmet, kind of like how you wouldn't expect a MegaMan air freshener (see August, 2014).

Mega Bloks Halo Drop Pod Figure


I'm a huge fan of Mega Bloks' series of "Halo" figures and building sets. I have a relatively impressive collection, though I've stopped adding to it for over a year now. A few months ago, I saw these Drop Pod figures start appearing at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us stores, but never bought one since the price is, in my opinion, too high for a figure with a pod. Still, I wanted one and I'm very happy to receive one in my Loot Crate. It's super cool!

Assassin's Creed Unity Coin


I have never played an "Assassin's Creed" game before, but I think this coin or medallion from their latest game, "Unity", is pretty awesome. It doesn't look very large, and it isn't, but the thing is weighty! When I checked online for pricing information on similar coins, they were selling for anywhere from $15 CAD to $40 CAD! Whoa! I love the pouch this coin comes with, too. It's a nice addition to an already great item.

Loot Crate Exclusive Street Fighter Headband


Ryu is my second favourite character from the "Street Fighter" series of games. He's so awesome that I cosplayed as him several years ago. With that said, you can probably imagine how loud I squealed when I found this Loot Crate Exclusive Headband in my box. Yep. I'll leave it at that.

Free Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Coupon


Giving us great items from a game is one thing. Giving us the actual game is something else altogether. I was blown away by this coupon card. I own "Street Fighter IV" on PS3, but now I can get it for free on Steam! This item is also great for introducing or re-introducing people to the "Street Fighter" series. Good on Loot Crate for teaming up with Capcom and Valve like this.

Free MegaMan Digital Comics Coupon


On the back of the "Street Fighter" coupon card is a promo code for 2 free digital issues of the "MegaMan" comic book series. Way to make both sides of the same card epic, Loot Crate!

50% Off Lichdom Battlemage Coupon


I'm not familiar with the game "Lichdom Battlemage", but I checked out the game page on Steam and 50% off the price brings it down to around $22 CAD, so it's definitely more affordable if I decide to buy it. I like that Loot Crate gives us these kinds of discounts. I may not buy any of the items the discounts are for, but some people definitely will, and saving people money is pretty awesome in my book.

OVERVIEW

The November Loot Crate was quite possibly the most impressive subscription box I've received. Every single item, even the mini helmet, was fantastic and the overall value of box blows the price of entry out of the water. I especially liked the incredible amount of thought that must of have been put into making this month's Crate truly unique. The box-diorama-magazine-figures combo is epic on so many levels and giving people a game to allow them to fully experience the inspiration behind current and maybe future items is plain awesome. All-in-all, this is the kind of box that keeps people coming back for more. I'm one extremely satisfied customer!

So, what's coming up next month? Christmas is fast approaching, so will Loot Crate put together something that will fill our hearts with Yuletide spirit? I don't know! Why? Because my Crate arrived so early that both the Loot Crate Web Site and Facebook Group are still talking about the November "Battle" box. Heck, right now, you still have 1 day to subscribe, and if you use the code BATTLE, you get $3 off your new subscription. Don't worry, though. When the peeps over at Loot Crate HQ finally reveal December's theme, I will be sure to update this entry. So, stay tuned!

As always, thank you so much checking out my blog. See you again soon!

~ Mike

UPDATE: The December Loot Crate's theme has still not been revealed, but there is now a new savings code! Use SAVE3 to get $3 off new subscriptions. I'll update again once more information about the December Crate becomes available. Cheers!

UPDATE 2: The peeps over at Loot Crate HQ finally announced their December theme, which is Anniversary! On their Facebook page, they mention an exclusive Marvel item that has me extremely excited. Their new code to save you $3 off a new subscription is ANNIVERSARY. Happy Holidays!