Awful video game box art

[Mirage]

Why do some publishers insist on totally ruining the boxarts of some games when they release them in for example North America. In europe, we seem to usually get the same box art as was used in Japan, and I must say it is usually much more aesthetically pleasing.

Some examples:

EU/JP
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Suikoden_packaging01.jpg

NA:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1132077/images/suikoden.jpg

EU/JP:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/Box-l-jp.jpg

NA:

http://www.gamershell.com/static/boxart/large/5166.jpg


Other than this there's of course the often cheesy Final Fantasy boxes vs. the classy and minimalistic box arts that we get in japan and europe.

What is the worst box art you've ever seen? Do you agree that japan/europe often gets the better deal?

Oh of course, you're welcome to post side by side comparations too.

[Jibril]

I will never get tired of that Suikoden box art. Coincidentally it is the worst box art I've ever seen

[Vermachtnis]

American Kirby is Hardcore. (http://www.brawlinthefamily.com/?p=288)

[Slothy]

The first thing I thought of when I saw this thread was Ico. Hands down one of the worst covers ever. I wouldn't be surprised if it's part of the reason it sold so poorly. It completely undermines the games artistic brilliance to package it in something quite the opposite.


Other than this there's of course the often cheesy Final Fantasy boxes vs. the classy and minimalistic box arts that we get in japan and europe.

I agree with this to an extent. They weren't so bad in the SNES era, and I really liked the limited edition case art for XII.

The original Mega Man got pretty well ganked in cover art. I don't have time to track down a picture right now but I'm sure someone will oblige for those who haven't seen it.

[Jessweeee♪]

Shikigami no Shiro translated to Mobile Light Force 2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg/250px-Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Mobile_Light_Force_2_Cover.jpg

Nothing on this box is at all related to the game. Well, you shoot things, but it looks like this:

http://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/reviews/ps2/mobilelightforce2_1.jpg

Not only did they butcher the box art, but they also completely removed the ENTIRE PLOT and a couple of other features. It's still fun, but it'd be nice to have a story to play through.

[Mirage]

Nice find gurl!

[Flying Mullet]

I wonder if the anime-style box art found in Japan and Europe would sell less in North America or if the action-y non-cartoon box art is a stereotype from the 80s about the United States and no one will let go of it.

[Bunny]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Phalanx_Coverart.png - I have no idea what this cover is trying to convey.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/nes/IRONS-1.jpg - I..is.. that Fabio?

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/atari-st-games/164-1.jpg - ...?

To name a few.

[~*~Celes~*~]

just another reason to be embarrassed about my country. :(

[Dreddz]

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1090/alexmiracle.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/3888/wonderj.jpg

Back in the days when people didn't even try.

[Momiji]

Shikigami no Shiro translated to Mobile Light Force 2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg/250px-Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Mobile_Light_Force_2_Cover.jpg

Nothing on this box is at all related to the game. Well, you shoot things, but it looks like this:

http://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/reviews/ps2/mobilelightforce2_1.jpg

Not only did they butcher the box art, but they also completely removed the ENTIRE PLOT and a couple of other features. It's still fun, but it'd be nice to have a story to play through.


Darn, you beat me to it. :P

[Bunny]

just another reason to be embarrassed about my country. :(

Congratulations.

[black orb]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1132077/images/suikoden.jpg

>>> Lol, that one is awesome, I can recognize most of the characters there.:D http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/rodv/Luca-Walk-Front.gif
left side:Barbarossa, Ted, Windy.
middle: Futch and Black.
right side: Luc, Leknaat, random monster.

[LunarWeaver]

Yes, that Ico situation was rather disappointing :sad:

Hmm, here's one that's cool and then not so cool:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/LunarWeaver/resident_evil_4_-pc-okladka_2d_pl-4.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i29/LunarWeaver/re4pcfront.jpg

Though honestly I have no idea which countries got which.

[Barraza]

http://www.dpad.cl/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/boxart-mm1-jp.jpg
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/6228/706729-mega_man_box_art_super.jpg

I mean, the first sucked too, but I digress...

[Slothy]

The first one you posted would actually suit a good survival horror game well Noctiluca. But since RE4 wasn't neither a good game nor survival horror, it doesn't fit at all.

Anyway, the Japanese art for Crazy Taxi may not have anything to do with the gameplay, but it's preferable to the North American crap.

Japan:
http://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvRHJlYW1jYXN0L1JhY2luZy9DYXI=/crazy_taxi_frontcover_large_7g98vnhHwGYWD6I.jpg

North America:
http://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvRHJlYW1jYXN0L1JhY2luZy9DYXI=/crazy_taxi_frontcover_large_ONcB0Up4fESlRSc.jpg

[LunarWeaver]

Capcom could've at least tricked fans into thinking it's horror-oriented with that. I know I would have. :greed:

[Shattered Dreamer]

http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/atari-st-games/164-1.jpg - ...?

Is this guy constipated or what's the story? That facial expression is unnatural even if you had a badly broken jaw:D

[scrumpleberry]

OMG crazy taxi! I never understood what the hell the little cushion with teeth logo thingie was meant to be though lol :|

[Christmas]

I think nowadays video game box with boobies will be considered the best one for most. :bigsmile:


http://www.thenoobcomic.com/headquarters/comics/00186.jpg

[Vermachtnis]

Shikigami no Shiro translated to Mobile Light Force 2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg/250px-Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Mobile_Light_Force_2_Cover.jpg

Nothing on this box is at all related to the game. Well, you shoot things, but it looks like this:

http://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/reviews/ps2/mobilelightforce2_1.jpg

Not only did they butcher the box art, but they also completely removed the ENTIRE PLOT and a couple of other features. It's still fun, but it'd be nice to have a story to play through.

That's what that game is? I see it everywhere, thought it was some horrible Charlie's Angels/ Fighting Force knockoff.

[Momiji]

Shikigami no Shiro translated to Mobile Light Force 2

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg/250px-Shikigami_no_Shiro.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/Mobile_Light_Force_2_Cover.jpg

Nothing on this box is at all related to the game. Well, you shoot things, but it looks like this:

http://www.thunderboltgames.com/s/reviews/ps2/mobilelightforce2_1.jpg

Not only did they butcher the box art, but they also completely removed the ENTIRE PLOT and a couple of other features. It's still fun, but it'd be nice to have a story to play through.

That's what that game is? I see it everywhere, thought it was some horrible Charlie's Angels/ Fighting Force knockoff.

No, it's actually a decent game, that was a victim of being horribly, horribly butchered.

And let's not forget the original Mobile Light Force as well
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/1/14755/1046650-front_cover_large.jpg

The game is actually Gunbird, a shmup that is actually pretty good, but it was butchered as well.
http://www.shootershrine.co.uk/saturn/gunbird.jpg

[I Don't Need A Name]

They even used the same picture for both!
And Nocti, Europe got the red cover of Resi

[Moon Rabbits]

Poor ICO.

The game is still one of my favorites, despite being hideously packaged.

[JKTrix]

http://i46.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/fn6xz9.jpghttp://i47.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/1zv4zlx.jpg

[G13]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Phalanx_Coverart.png - I have no idea what this cover is trying to convey.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/EricMiller_photos/phalanx-sfc.jpg

Here's the Japanese cover art. Better, if you can look past the ship's phallic shape.

[Raistlin]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Phalanx_Coverart.png - I have no idea what this cover is trying to convey.

Ahaha, that one's so bad it's awesome. Who the hell thought of that?

[Moon Rabbits]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Phalanx_Coverart.png - I have no idea what this cover is trying to convey.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/EricMiller_photos/phalanx-sfc.jpg

Here's the Japanese cover art. Better, if you can look past the ship's phallic shape.

How can you look past that? All I think of when I see that is PENIS PENIS PENIS.


http://i46.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/fn6xz9.jpghttp://i47.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/1zv4zlx.jpg

This game got remade? What what. The SNES version is one of my favorite games.

[G13]

I'm trying not to see the wang. The back section of it looks like a Lambda class shuttle from Star Wars, so I'm just gonna go with that.

[Kyros]

that mobile light force's gameplay makes me think of castle shikigami o.o

[Yeargdribble]

http://www.dpad.cl/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/boxart-mm1-jp.jpg
http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/6228/706729-mega_man_box_art_super.jpg

I mean, the first sucked too, but I digress...
Beat me to it.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Phalanx_Coverart.png - I have no idea what this cover is trying to convey.


I dunno why, but I always had a fondness for the pure WTFness that is the Phalanx box art.

[Sephex]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Phalanx_Coverart.png
"The box art designers later admitted that they had deliberately chosen this theme in order to attract the customer with something original considering there were many space shooters in the market that looked alike." It's on the wikipedia page. Although it has a [citation needed] thingy after that, I remember reading that in an old EGM.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/scans3/ghosthouse_card.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e230/hart704/konami-best.jpg

What.


http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk85/ChaoticJack/Random/tommylasordabaseball.jpg

This terrified me as a child.

[Mirage]

Whoa it looks like a fat bill clinton

[Kyros]

I'm not seeing the big deal about the Castlevania box art, is it the light brown haired guy looking stupid, or is it just the fact I've never played a Castlevania and should expect a different look from the series?

[Jessweeee♪]

that mobile light force's gameplay makes me think of castle shikigami o.o

It's part of the series P:

[Sephex]

I'm not seeing the big deal about the Castlevania box art, is it the light brown haired guy looking stupid, or is it just the fact I've never played a Castlevania and should expect a different look from the series?

I have no problem with the box art. I have a problem with a picture of the DS case ON it's own Case as the box art!

[Mirage]

That's common with "best of" releases.

[G13]

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk85/ChaoticJack/Random/tommylasordabaseball.jpg

This terrified me as a child.

I lol'd. Hehheh :D

[Sephex]

That's common with "best of" releases.

Oh, I know. It makes me mad when I see it, still.

[Meat Puppet]

http://www.playwares.com/xe/files/attach/images/63433/046/271/008/Left_4_Dead_2_UK_cover.png

[Levian]

Megaman 2 is pretty horrible too!

http://blutt.rymdraket.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/mm2.jpg

Could've at least put up a more memorable character than a fish from Bubble Man's stage.

[Croyles]

http://www.gamewad.com/gw_images/worst_game_covers/ninja_golf.jpg

http://www.gamewad.com/gw_images/worst_game_covers/reachforthestars.jpg

http://www.gamewad.com/gw_images/worst_game_covers/pacman.jpg

http://www.gamewad.com/gw_images/worst_game_covers/donkey_kong.jpg

[Slothy]

http://www.playwares.com/xe/files/attach/images/63433/046/271/008/Left_4_Dead_2_UK_cover.png

I might be one of the few who knows what you're talking about there.

[Flying Mullet]

http://www.gamewad.com/gw_images/worst_game_covers/ninja_golf.jpg
This intrigues me...

[black orb]

>>> More hideous box art here.. (http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/slideshow/278111/video-game-box-art-gallery-best-worst/?image=1)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/rodv/Luca-Walk-Front.gif

[Raistlin]

>>> More hideous box art here.. (http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/slideshow/278111/video-game-box-art-gallery-best-worst/?image=1)http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/rodv/Luca-Walk-Front.gif

http://cdn.idg.com.au/cw/gim/id/14672/res/17

...

[Slothy]

That's just badass.

[Raistlin]

My favorite from that link:

http://cdn.idg.com.au/cw/gim/id/14669/res/17

[Momiji]

http://www.gamewad.com/gw_images/worst_game_covers/pacman.jpg



wtf is this :bou::bou::bou::bou:

my perception of Pac-Man is now ruined :(

[Moon Rabbits]

What??? That Pac Man boxart is fucking awesome!!!!!! Same with the Donkey Kong ones and those two really creepy monster ones just posted.

What I don't get is why the L4D2 boxart is so bad. Sure it's kind of boring, but ... ?

[I Don't Need A Name]

What I don't get is why the L4D2 boxart is so bad. Sure it's kind of boring, but ... ?

It's meant to be the other way around. It got censored because two fingers up with their backs facing is an offensive sign, so the art was reversed. Personally, I think the European cover looks better than the American anyway On second thoughts, the original version looks a bit better
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/ba/Left4Dead2.jpg

[black orb]

http://i46.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/fn6xz9.jpg
http://i47.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/1zv4zlx.jpg
>>> The guy who drew the non-anime art was very faithful to the original character design, is not bad at all is just a different style.http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/rodv/Luca-Walk-Front.gif

[Formalhaut]

My Eyes My Eyes!

[Breine]

It's only fair that Europe gets prettier box art than North America! You guys get so much that we miss out on - plus the games are released earlier in NA! :(

[Jessweeee♪]

If that's true then why don't I have the Trace Memory sequel ;_;

[Mirage]

>>> The guy who drew the non-anime art was very faithful to the original character design, is not bad at all is just a different style.http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/rodv/Luca-Walk-Front.gif

The artwork isn't poorly made, no, but I do prefer both the style and atmosphere of the first. THe second just screams "OMG BUY ME CAUSE IM FUCKING HARDCORE FIGHTER YO".

[Kyros]

I like the American L4D2 box art better, and Ive never heard of holding fingers like that meant something offensive *cough*retarded*cough*

[I Don't Need A Name]

It was around a long time before your middle finger equivalent.

[Flying Mullet]

Also, the L4D2 box art was included for good box at, not bad box art. The page includes good and bad and that cover is classified as good.

[Depression Moon]

There were a lot of ugly boxart back in the day. I don't understand either why an old hillbilly stereotype is on the front of a sci-fi shooter.

[Quindiana Jones]

I like the American L4D2 box art better, and Ive never heard of holding fingers like that meant something offensive *cough*retarded*cough*

It's because English longbowmen used to rape the French with their arrows of doom. If the French did get hold of a bowman, they chopped off those two fingers, as they are the ones that pull the bowstring. The sign essentially says "HAHAHAHA WE STILL HAVE OUR FINGERS SO WE CAN FUCK YOU UP!".

And if it weren't for your obviously limited intelligence, you'd have realised that holding any fingers up in any arrangement to mean something offensive is retarded.

[Croyles]

I like the American L4D2 box art better, and Ive never heard of holding fingers like that meant something offensive *cough*retarded*cough*

It's because English longbowmen used to rape the French with their arrows of doom. If the French did get hold of a bowman, they chopped off those two fingers, as they are the ones that pull the bowstring. The sign essentially says "HAHAHAHA WE STILL HAVE OUR FINGERS SO WE CAN smurf YOU UP!".

And if it weren't for your obviously limited intelligence, you'd have realised that holding any fingers up in any arrangement to mean something offensive is retarded.

Thats a myth. I cant remember what the real reason is though.

[Kyros]

I like the American L4D2 box art better, and Ive never heard of holding fingers like that meant something offensive *cough*retarded*cough*

It's because English longbowmen used to rape the French with their arrows of doom. If the French did get hold of a bowman, they chopped off those two fingers, as they are the ones that pull the bowstring. The sign essentially says "HAHAHAHA WE STILL HAVE OUR FINGERS SO WE CAN smurf YOU UP!".

And if it weren't for your obviously limited intelligence, you'd have realised that holding any fingers up in any arrangement to mean something offensive is retarded.

I still dont see anything offensive about it.

[Raistlin]

Are you talking about the V-sign? That's the equivalent of the middle-finger in the UK (yes, to everyone else it's just "2").

[Evastio]

It's not exactly awful, but the original NES Bomberman box art was rather, misleading.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/0/563390_29002_front.jpg

They make him look realistic and body proportional when he's really more of an anime cartoon kind of character.

http://www.mooncat.ne.jp/blog/archives/bomberman.jpg

Even though anime is more of a Japanese thing than a North American thing, I still think they should still stick with the same artwork if the cover has an anime-ish look to it. It's much less deceiving that way.

[Sir Lancealot]

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/0/563390_29002_front.jpg



Looks like Samus.

[Moon Rabbits]

That's why the L4D2 box was censored? I heard it was because they originally had the two other bent fingers bitten off too, but the ESRB thought that was too hardcore to put on a box.

[Raistlin]

I heard that somewhere too, but that doesn't really make much sense. Although "sense" has never stopped the gaming industry before.

[Old Manus]

Moon Rabbits is right, iirc.

Would you put a hand flipping the bird on a game box? Two fingers is the UK equivalent.

[Slothy]

Yes, it is true that the L4D2 hand originally had the other two fingers ripped off as well. I guess a thumb is fine, but don't touch the pinky and ring fingers. Frankly, I think it makes a bit more sense if the hand actually has four fingers than two but meh.

You can see the original design here for the most part:
http://www.beefjack.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/l4d2boxart1.jpg

[Old Manus]

Oh right, I see what people mean now. That's not offensive at all.

Also:

http://www.dabbledoo.com/ee/images/uploads/gamertell/fatal_frame_box.png

This one makes me lol every time.

[Rase]

http://i46.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/fn6xz9.jpg
I think that is better than the American one.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/3/925583_94826_front.jpg

[Mirage]

Wasn't the NA one actually posted earlier anyway?

[Quindiana Jones]

That's a myth. I can't remember what the real reason is though.

I've heard there is yet to be a definitive origin for it. There are a variety of theories, none with any real evidence. The French one makes me happiest though, because I get totally hard over magnificent displays of badassery such as Agincourt. :D

[guffman]

are we forgetting the Madden games? the box art is not bad necessarily but it is cursed... that seems worse than anything else to me.

[Yeargdribble]

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/0/563390_29002_front.jpg



Looks like Samus Boba Fett.

FTFY

[Momiji]

Wasn't the NA one actually posted earlier anyway?

In the exact same post Rase quoted, no less!

[Depression Moon]

This one's bland compared to our version

http://23.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kqu7taJCa01qzurbto1_500.jpg


Manhunt 2's is also pretty ugly.

http://blog.newsweek.com/photos/levelup/images/original/Manhunt-2-Wii-box-art.aspx

[Rase]

Wasn't the NA one actually posted earlier anyway?

In the exact same post Rase quoted, no less!
All I'm aware of is there only being the Japanese one when I quoted the post, or at least it's the only one that showed up for me and appeared when I quoted it. Meh.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/0/573960_33840_front.jpg

[Jiro]

Yes, it is true that the L4D2 hand originally had the other two fingers ripped off as well. I guess a thumb is fine, but don't touch the pinky and ring fingers. Frankly, I think it makes a bit more sense if the hand actually has four fingers than two but meh.


I remember seeing cover art for L4D2 where there were four fingers, but the pinky and ring were bitten off. Kind of like the one I Don't Need A Name posted, but obviously more painful looking. That was the best cover imo.

[Mirage]

Hell yeah. (http://kotaku.com/5446049/another-perfectly-good-piece-of-box-art-ruined-by-americans)

[LowCaloriePie]

http://www.geeksix.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/7-irritating-stick.png

[Yeargdribble]

Hotlinking for now.... Will fix broken tables when I get home from work.

http://www.hustlegaming.com/Libraries/Hustle_Gaming_Images/2z3vpg3.sflb.ashx

vs. PAL

http://www.hustlegaming.com/Libraries/Hustle_Gaming_Images/500x_rainuk.sflb.ashx

Looks like Heavy Rain is getting the Ico treatment.

[Flying Mullet]

Isn't that what Mirage just linked to?

[Slothy]

Isn't that what Mirage just linked to?

Yep. And to be honest, that's not half as bad as it could be. I doubt it will move a lot of copies, but I doubted Heavy Rain would be a million selling title anyway.

[Mirage]

It's not half as bad as it could have been, but it's still considerably worse.

[AntRid]

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk47/AntRid/duckhuntin.jpg

A happy place where ducks and giant dogs roam

[BG-57]

Wow, I'm amazed the original Breath of Fire hasn't been mentioned yet. The characters including Ryu and Nina are quite recognizable, yet he doesn't look like Conan the Barbarian in-game.

[Madame Adequate]

Man, these guys are hard core

http://kidfenris.com/rivalturf.gif

[Clo]

That game is so hardcore it needed to display it with an exclamation point at the end of the title.

[BG-57]

Reminds me of the dancer gansters in Beat It.

[LunarWeaver]

I'll buy anything with
simultaneous
TWO
player
action!

[Jings]

http://www.destructoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/Planescape-Torment.jpg

Shame really. It's an epic game.

[Madame Adequate]

Haha, just found a pretty precious one;

http://ui31.gamespot.com/1086/lonesoldierps1_2.jpg

The cover itself isn't especially bad for the early PS1 era. What's bad is the little stuff at the bottom right.

Though I commend them for using only one '!'

[Vermachtnis]

Looks like Barrett.

[ReloadPsi]

I never cared for the realistic covers on the NES game cases, though some of them were kinda funny.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/diehure/elway.jpg

Someone should probably have remembered to tell him how to hold the controller as well as to wear all the other stuff that goes with the helmet. Just the helmet on its own would probably do more harm than good, would it not?



BONUS BOX!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v681/diehure/elwayteeth.jpg

Next time I hear a yank joke about the English having bad teeth, I SHALL REMEMBAR THIS!