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[BY2K]

http://kotaku.com/5876315/american-box-art-makes-kid-icarus-look-angrier-than-he-should

I...just...you know...sigh. Whatever. Stuff like this won't stop anyone from buying Kid Icarus on 3DS. But stuff like this does make me wonder who the hell is getting paid to make pointless decisions like this.

On the left, the Japanese box art for the upcoming Kid Icarus: Uprising. Note the childish smile because this is a Nintendo game, and he's a cute kid. On the right, the American box art. Same cover, mostly, but the smile has been removed, and replaced with a scowl.

Note there's also less pink on the American cover.

So, for 2012 smiles and sunsets are out at Nintendo of America!

My reaction: MEH

 

[nckillthegrimace]

That's hardly a "childish smile." It's more of a cocky grin. The NA boxart just makes him look determined, not angry. This isn't like Kirby where he becomes a rage monster.

 

[Xater]

I would love to be a fly on the wall during the meeting where decisions like this are being made.

 

[Papercuts]

Atleast he already had angry eyebrows.

 

[saunderez]

Why would Pit be smiling when he's being chased by eyeballs? Maybe it's just me but the American cover art looks more suitable considering the scene.

 

[Slamtastic]

Excellent.

Now bring the balls back to Kirby.

 

[John Rabbit]

i actually prefer the changes. i've never understood the penchant for japanese characters to be smiling on the box when they're depicted as being in the middle of a combat scenario.

 

[jooey]

the girl in the one on the left is pretty cute.

 

[Mama Robotnik]

Did we ever find out which pillock was responsible for the Kirby angry eyes thing?

 

[Hours Left]

At first it was kind of funny, but now it's just silly.

NoA is constantly ridiculous.

 

[stuminus3]

Why would Pit be smiling when he's being chased by eyeballs? Maybe it's just me but the American cover art looks more suitable considering the scene.

He's not being chased, he's gleefully murdering them. The US box art isn't trying to be hardcore, they just don't want any back-lash from parents who don't want their kids to be psychopaths. Also the reason the eyeballs appear to be bigger on the US boxart.

 

[ShineALight]

Give him some muscles and shave his head and then we're talking.

 

[inky]

the girl in the one on the left is pretty cute.

Dude... she's obviously like 12 or something.

The kid on the right means business otherwise, and he looks like a manly boy. I'm getting my son THAT version.

 

[tsab]

the girl in the one on the left is pretty cute.

Her name is Icarus

 

[Raitosaito]

I need to work in the art department for NoA.

 

[Dynamite Ringo Matsuri]

Heh, at least they didn't make him angry like Kirby

 

[GrayFoxPL]

Japanese Pit is faster flyer, American is slow so the eyeballs get and devour him.

 

[entremet]

For some reason, I think this game is going to bomb. Hopefully not.

 

[Slamtastic]

Hell, they should have gone all out with it.

 

[Durante]

i actually prefer the changes. i've never understood the penchant for japanese characters to be smiling on the box when they're depicted as being in the middle of a combat scenario.

Murder time fun time.

 

[HylianTom]

Let's take this to the Mountain Dew-flavored extrrrreeeeeeeme: I wanna see a photoshop of Dudebro Pit. Popped collar, a keg or two of Natty Ice floating in the background, either a bald head or some spiky hair on Pit, some busty angels jiggling around in the background & touchin' each other, an automatic weapon in each hand..

And soundtrack could be whatever crappy rock kids are listening to these days.

Nintendo shouldn't half-ass this kind of thing. If they're gonna pander, they should go all out..

 

[PigSpeakers]

The capitalization on "Pink" made me think this was about music, and that American Pit was a band or music show.

I think I'll name my band American Pit.

 

[Keru_Shiri]

The cropping is also slightly different. I wonder if it's meant to zoom in closer on the monsters in the background.

 

[Zero-Crescent]

To be fair, the monsters are closer to him in the US boxart, so he probably decided to take the situation more seriously so he could deal with the close threat.

 

[AceBandage]

Hell, they should have gone all out with it.

The game that almost was...

 

[joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

At first I was like then I was :|

 

[Keru_Shiri]

On second glance, I see the Nintendo logo was chopped in half, so disregard my last comment.

 

[Kusagari]

Why is he aiming the bow the wrong way?

 

[Hot Coldman]

I assume us Euro folk will be getting the Japanese cover then

 

[LQX]

Why is he so happy about killing things? Looks better to me.

 

[jj984jj]

Does Sakurai request this or something? XD

 

[wrowa]

The game that almost was...
http://i.imgur.com/2gGIP.png[IMG][/QUOTE]

And nothing of value was lost.

 

[durrrrrrrrrr]

i think the changes do make the cover more appealing to North American users, especially removing the pink.

 

[angelfly]

Really stupid changes. I'd like the person who requests these types of changes to come forward and show themselves and explain their reason.

 

[TreIII]

Does Sakurai request this or something? XD

It is funny how this much only happens for franchises Sakurai is associated with...

 

[Sadist]

I assume us Euro folk will be getting the Japanese cover then

It's good to be Euro

 

[Datschge]

The sky looks too flat without the pink.

 

[GDGF]

That pink made for a more eye catching cover.

 

[Watch Da Birdie]

From what we've seen of this game, Pit looking like a cocky 90s action hero actually fits.

Spoiler

This game is going to be fucking awesome.

 

[scitek]

Why would Pit be smiling when he's being chased by eyeballs? Maybe it's just me but the American cover art looks more suitable considering the scene.

I don't see the problem. The JPN boxart looks worse IMO. I get being a little puzzled at the West's obsession with violence and masculinity, but this is tame.

 

[JWong]

It's called localization.

Culture difference.

Check Ratchet.

 

[leroidys]

As much as a hate hate hate the new pit design, I guess it is slightly less shit than the others


Seriously though, the new one is so bad. To me, it's like if they had brought mario back as Shonen Mario for NSMB.

 

[Anticitizen One]

America = Serious Business

 

[richiek]

The way Kotaku describes it makes Pit out like some grimdark character designed to appeal to dudebros.

 

[scitek]

Must be nice to be able to post what should be a tweet and get hundreds of views. I'm jealous.

 

[Hours Left]

The sky looks too flat without the pink.

That pink made for a more eye catching cover.

This.

 

[Snuggles]

All he needs is an Uzi in one of his hands and I'm sold.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Kinda hard to associate the thread title with Kid Icarus: Uprising boxart difference between JPN and US versions...

 

[Josh7289]

Glad I have a Japanese 3DS!

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Not different enough to justify a news story about it.