New Super Mario Bros. 2 has been out a few weeks already and I've already made significant progress in my much-loved US copy of the game, but the special EB Games exclusive edition here in Australia is starting to become difficult to find on store shelves, and I simply couldn't resist. 

This edition is the only way Australian Mario fans can get their hands on the special coin game case that UK players got as a pre-order bonus at GAME and Gamestation stores.

Simple design, not even the game's title?

Oh, there it is.

The game comes in a rather nondescript packaging that simply says "Gold Coin Edition" - if it weren't for the brief description of the game on the back of the box, those unfamiliar with Mario and the design of the coins in the series (yes, such people do exist out there) would have a hard time realizing that the box contains something Mario-related. But I digress...

Sweet, sweet loot.

Inside the box, we have the game along with the coin case in its own individual little packet. It's good to see that here in Australia, the game comes with the trendy yellow case and reversible cover art that Japan got, as opposed to the considerably bland US treatment.
That reversible cover is really nice, I wonder why the North American distributors decided to omit it, especially when they did such a nice job on the Kid Icarus cover slip.

Boring, white plastic for the US case.

Different descriptions on the backs, too.

Manual comparison, if anyone's interested.

See, that's how you use those little holes creatively!

Click on Danny's blog in the above paragraph for more pics of this cover.

And finally we get to the pièce de résistance, the gold coin itself.
It's a little surprising that Luigi is featured on the coin's packaging, with Mario nowhere to be seen. Let's open her up and take a look-see.

Luigi makes a getaway with Mario's hard-earned cash.

The reverse side.

Ba-ding!

So shiny...

Damn, is this thing shiny - it was particularly hard to photograph without a blinding flash reflection. It has a little finger gap at the bottom where you can pop it open, and the hinge lets it swing about 45 degrees.

Much like the ocarina that came with Zelda 3D last year, this bonus wasn't manufactured by Nintendo themselves, and feels a little cheaply-made. The plastic is extremely light and there are some very minor flaws in the coat of paint, but unless you're closely inspecting it, they're almost impossible to see.

I guess money really does feel empty after all.

If you so desire...

The idea is that you can store your game card inside to carry it around easily, but the interior is simply hollow with no card-shaped indentation to stop it spinning and rattling around inside. Though fairly impractical, the coin does look very cool however. I know I'm not the only one who's always wanted an actual Mario coin to hold and touch, and it makes a neat decoration with the little lanyard attached to the top that allows you to hang it from your bag. It's a little large to hang from your phone or 3DS, but who cares? It's a freaking Mario coin.

Not a bad deal at all!

I have to say I like the initiative stores like EB Games are taking to give these little bonuses, especially since the Gold Coin Edition didn't cost any more than the regular one. If you live down-under and want one of these, I'd suggest you snap it up soon before they're gone. I hope Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon comes with something cool as well, maybe a flashlight with a Luigi L logo on it? I hope you're paying attention, EB!