****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Note: I won't discuss the game itself as many other reviews will already have that covered - this review just explains the Atlas Pro's distinguishing features so that you can decide if the price is worth it for you. That said, Sledgehammer has done a very good job of picking the best multiplayer features of COD and other franchises and building on that. Fear not - this is much more BLOPSII than it is Ghosts. The campaign is familiar COD - story-driven shooting-gallery-on-rails stuff with some bombastic cutaways and semi-interactive climaxes.The Atlas Pro edition of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare marks a change from recent overgrown premium releases in that it avoids the physical add-ins that had been veering toward pricey toy gimmicks in favor of content that really adds to the in-game experience.You can immediately tell that this is the case because the box is relatively small - about the size of two game cases side-by-side. The package is contained in a cardboard slipcase that's not particularly distinguishing to look at, sporting a copy of the steelbook's cover art on the front and standard selling points and legalese on the back. There is a subtle reflective glossiness to the slipcase that looks nice, but no embossing. Inside are a steelbook case for the game and digital codes and a book of concept art and game lore. That's all - no toy helicopters or night-vision goggles or RC jeeps.The steelbook is very nicely rendered in a white powder coat with a front-and-back view of an Atlas Armored Security Trooper. It's a very detailed illustration, although not a compelling action scene. Inside the steelbook, all of the digital content is compiled into just two codes: one for in-game add-ons and a second one for the DLC season pass. This is great if you had planned to keep all of it because it makes it quick and easy to redeem (you can also you the Q-code feature if you have the Kinect); however, it also makes it impossible to pick apart DLC to sell aftermarket, so be aware if you were planning on subsidizing the cost of the game that way. The in-game content includes additional weapons, exoskeleton and helmet, and supply drops. Similar to the same concept in Battlefield 4 or a Madden Ultimate Team pack, these drops contain a random assortment of customizations and bonuses to use throughout the game. There is also a digital version of the game's soundtrack and a bonus map based on the "Pipeline" multiplayer map from COD 4. The second code is the DLC season pass, which allows you to redeem a year's worth of bonus maps and other content through four releases starting in January, 2015.The artbook is organized as a employee manual for Atlas Corporation, the private military security outfit at the heart of COD:AW's storyline. It contains interesting backstory, timelines, and explanation of weapon and exoskeleton capabilities, including Q-codes throughout that you can use to access more in-depth content on the web. It's a surprisingly nice touch for a franchise that doesn't often rely on such story detail. The pages are substantial and the print quality high; however, due to the size of the package, the book is small and the tight binding makes it somewhat challenging to flip through and read.The Atlas Pro retails at $120, which breaks down to $60 for the game itself, $50 for the season pass, and $10 for the artbook and digital content. If you are committed to the franchise and willing to overlook last year's disappointing installment, it's a no-brainer investment. There is a standard Atlas edition that removes the season pass if you want to take a wait-and-see approach to how you feel about the game.
