Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Triggerheart Exelica: Enhanced is first and foremost a PlayStation 2 release built around Triggerheart Exelica, rather than a bonus disc padded out to justify a figure. That matters: the Nendoroid makes a charming first impression, but you will spend your actual play time with the game itself. If you already have affection for Exelica, this is an immediately appealing way to own it.

The “Enhanced” label gives the package a little more weight than a straight reissue, and the PS2 format suits a game you may want to revisit rather than simply admire once. There is a nice contrast here between the brisk, pick-up-and-play promise of a console game and the deliberate collector appeal of a boxed special edition. You can put it on the shelf, then actually take it down and use it.

Newcomers should be honest about what they want from the purchase. The extra figure is not a reason to buy a game you otherwise have no interest in; it is a premium attached to a series release. But if the name Triggerheart Exelica already means something to you, the set feels more personal than an ordinary copy and offers a clearer sense of occasion.

Graphics

The standout visual item in this edition is the included Nendoroid of Exelica from Good Smile Company. It gives the package a character-focused centerpiece rather than relying on the game case alone, and that is exactly the sort of physical extra that makes a limited box feel worth displaying.

Story

The special set’s story value comes from its focus on Exelica as a character. Including her figure makes the release feel like a tribute to the protagonist, not just a disc paired with a generic trinket.

That focus will land best if you already know the series or are drawn to its heroine. The box gives you a small piece of the game’s world to keep after the console is switched off, which is a more lasting bonus than a throwaway insert.

It is also a restrained kind of fan service. Rather than burying the game beneath unrelated merchandise, the set keeps its attention on Exelica and lets the figure reinforce the reason this particular release exists.

Overall Experience

This is a collector’s edition with a sensible center of gravity: a PS2 copy of Triggerheart Exelica: Enhanced and a well-chosen figure of its protagonist. Neither part feels detached from the other, which gives the box more charm than a bundle assembled simply to inflate its price.

The catch is equally clear. If you only want the game, a deluxe physical set with a Nendoroid may be more than you need. If you collect game memorabilia, though, the included Good Smile Company figure is the detail that separates this from an ordinary release and makes it easier to justify finding space for it.

For established Triggerheart Exelica fans, this is an attractive premium edition and a satisfying display item that still expects you to play the game. For everyone else, start with whether Exelica itself interests you; the Nendoroid is a lovely bonus, not a substitute for that interest.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10