Red Steel 2 (Pre-Order Edition)

The Wii era gave us motion controls, and Red Steel 2 was arguably the best reason to actually use them. The Red Steel 2 Pre-Order Edition for Wii was a US GameStop exclusive that bundled the standard game with a 20-page art book and four bonus in-game weapons, all held together with nothing but plastic wrap and the promise of a good time.

There's something charming about how barebones this edition's packaging was. No fancy box, no embossed slipcover. Just extras slapped onto the regular case and shrink-wrapped for your pre-ordering pleasure. But what it lacked in presentation, it made up for in substance. That art book showcases the stunning cel-shaded world Ubisoft Paris created, a genre-bending mashup of samurai tradition and dusty frontier justice that deserved way more attention than it got. The four bonus weapons, including the Tataro .357 Magnum and the beautifully named Nihonto Hana Blossom Sword, gave early adopters a little extra firepower in a game built entirely around the satisfying rhythm of slicing and shooting.

Red Steel 2 required the Wii MotionPlus to play, which limited its audience but made it one of the most responsive action games on the platform. It sold modestly, which is collector-speak for "good luck finding the extras." The GameStop exclusivity narrows the pool even further. For Wii collectors who appreciate the console's hidden gems over its mainstream hits, this pre-order edition is a quiet flex that says you were paying attention when everyone else had moved on.