James Cameron's Avatar The Game (Special Edition)

Movie tie-in games rarely get the collector's edition treatment, which makes the James Cameron's Avatar The Game Special Edition on Xbox 360 an oddity worth noting. This version comes in a standard plastic case and includes a code unlocking three weapon packs, each containing four weapons, giving players twelve additional tools to carve through Pandora. The Special Edition sits in a curious spot for collectors.

It's the entry-level upgraded version, below the full Limited Collector's Edition with its figurine, but above the bare standard release. For those of us who collect based on completeness rather than hype, these mid-tier editions are actually the ones that slip through the cracks most often. Everyone remembers the big box with the figurine.

Fewer people bother tracking down the variant that just had some extra download codes. And that's precisely what makes it interesting years later. Avatar's cultural footprint is massive, and whether the game lived up to the film is beside the point.

On the shelf, this Special Edition fills a slot that completionists need and casual collectors overlook.