SCF Official Review: 2008 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Football

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank to the wonderful people at Upper Deck for providing us with this box.



Product Description

1 pack per box
4 cards per pack
SRP: $89.99 - $99.99

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
- 1997 Lives!! Find one 1997 Legends Autograph Card updating the renowned 1997 Legends Set in EVERY case, on average!
- Eight to Nine (8-9) Autographs per case, including:
* Three to Four (3-4) Ultimate Rookie Signature Materials
* One 1997 Legends Update Autograph Card
- All Autographs are signed on the card!
- Look for single, and for the FIRST-TIME EVER dual, nickname or inscription signature cards!

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN
Autographed Memorabilia Cards:
- Ultimate Rookie Signature Materials (Tier 1) - # up to 99
- Ultimate Rookie Signature Materials (Tier 2) - # up to 375
- Ultimate Rookie Signature Materials Patch Parallels - # up to 15
- Ultimate Signature Jersey - # up to 45
- Ultimate Legendary Signature Jersey - # up to 25
- Ultimate Futures Signature Jersey - # up to 35
- Ultimate Dual Signature Jersey - # up to 45
- Ultimate Patch Autograph Parallel - # up to 25

Autograph Cards:
- 1997 Legends Autographs (1 per case)
- Ultimate Signatures - # up to 35
- Ultimate Legendary Signatures - # up to 30
- Ultimate Dual Signatures - # up to 35
- Ultimate Triple Signatures - # up to 35
- Ultimate Quad Signatures - # up to 10
- Ultimate Inscriptions - # up to 45
- Ultimate Dual Inscriptions - # up to 25 - FIRST-TIME EVER!
- Ultimate Rookie Trio Signatures - # up to 35
- Ultimate Six Signatures - # to 6
- Ultimate Eight Signatures - # to 8
- Ultimate Numbers Signatures - # up to 85
- Ultimate Highlight Signatures - # up to 35
- Ultimate Imagery Signatures - # up to 20
- Ultimate Signature Plays - # up to 20
- Ultimate Signature Memories - # to 1
- 1997 Legends Cut Signatures - # to 1

Memorabilia Cards:
- Ultimate Foursome Jersey - # up to 50
- Ultimate Foursome Jersey Parallel - # up to 15
- Ultimate Legendary Foursome Jersey - # up to 50
- Ultimate Legendary Foursome Jersey Parallel - # up to 15
- Ultimate Future Foursome Jersey - # up to 50
- Ultimate Future Foursome Jersey Parallel - # up to 25
- Ultimate Generations Jersey - # up to 50
- Ultimate Generations Jersey Parallel - # up to 25
- Ultimate Six Jersey - # up to 20
- Ultimate Foursome Patch - # up to 20
- Ultimate Legendary Foursome Patch - # up to 20
- Ultimate Future Foursome Patch - # up to 25
- Ultimate Generations Patch - # up to 20
- Ultimate Six Patch - # up to 15
- Ultimate Patch - # up to 40
- Ultimate Patch Parallel - # up to 15
- Ultimate Rookie Big Materials - # up to 40
- Ultimate Eight Jersey - # up to 10
- Ultimate Seasons - # up to 20
- Ultimate Seasons Patch - # up to 10

Regular Set and Inserts:
- Regular Cards - # up to 499
- Ultimate Legends - # up to 499
- Ultimate Rookies - # up to 499
- Ultimate Champions

VIDEO BREAK



WHAT WE PULLED

Base: Kurt Warner (197/275)
Rookies: Mike Hart (082/275), Trevor Laws (109/275)
Hit: Philip Rivers/LaDainian Tomlinson/Drew Brees/Reggie Bush Quad Jersey (01/50)



Final Ratings (Out of 5):
Base set: 4.5/5
Fun: 4.5/5
Overall design: 4.5/5
Value: 3/5
Re-buy: 3.5/5

Overall: 20/25 (80%)

Ultimate Collection is typically one of the premier high end sets released by Upper Deck each year. However, they changed how they released the product this year. In previous years, box contained 4 packs with 4 cards each with 4 boxes per case. This year, it's 1 pack with cards per box and 15 boxes per case.

I can see the thought process behind making it 1 pack per box as not everyone is willing to sell by the pack. However, shouldn't the case at least be equal to the amount of packs in previous years?

The base and rookies are nice. Higher end cards should be made on thicker card stock like Ultimate Collection. This helps aid in accidental damage occuring and the cards just look nicer. Also, the cards are serial numbered, which makes the sets a great chase option if one chooses to take on the challenge.

However, there's a huge lack in value due to only one hits per pack/box. While you could hit it big on one pack, the hit or miss aspect is not all that appealing. Though I'm sure economic times played a part in the change, I think Upper Deck slipped up on this one.

Once again, thanks to Upper Deck for providing us with this box and the opportunity to review it.

[doniceage]

Nice pull on the quad jersey and a good prize or whatever it is used for. That should get some people to do some tricks to get that sweet card.

DON

[Pheebs888]

Pretty quad T, i actually know 2 of the 4 players on there yay me and lol@you forgeting the knife

[hagansp]

nice quad jersey, not horrible not great...if I paid for the box I would be pretty annoyed with the results, but that's the risk you take with high end.

thanks to ud!

[dak]

Nice review and quad pull, but $89-$99 per pack of 4 cards, no thanks.

[andrewcstein]

Very nice quad!

[mikesilvia]

Nice quad card with LT!

The box is child and Tony proof!

[patriotsguy]

Thank you to UD for sending us a box of ultimate. that's a very nice quad card!

[StainLss]

I love this set, looks great! If I were a quick thrill kinda guy i would be all over this. Definitely have to trade for some though. Nice review thanks UD.
-John

[quiet-things]

Nice looking quad, I would expect a little more from Ultimate though... thanks Upper Deck for the box!