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[SuicidalSteve]

Now that i look closer Drake looks like niko but with more hair...I just can't unsee it

 

[Kup]

JP - US - Euro

Whoever decided to use black font for the logo on the European one blew it, so US wins.

I have the EU cover and it isn't black on mine - it's silver foil. So it wins.

 

[xzeldax3]

Backyard Wrestling
NA:

JP:

 

[Blues1990]

Japanese Box Art

North American Box Art

 

[Benzychenz]

Kirby Mass Attack

No way. I was so happy that we got the JP box art in PAL territories.

 

[AntiFacebook]

Mega man 1:

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

American



Japanese

I'm pretty sure the American box art was censored. This version was what most retails had:

NA:


JP:

What if I prefer blue?

 

[Alcoholikaust]

the US reverse cover for Ground Zeroes comes to mind

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

Backyard Wrestling
NA:

JP:

Come on, Japan wins there. When in doubt always bet on boobies.

 

[Diprosalic]

9/10 examples in this thread Japan wins.
makes it clear how much better their covers are.

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

Okami

Amaterasu looks so small on the JP cover and the white blank space on the bottom just looks weird.

 

[Zareka]

It's a crime no one thinks the JP Uncharted art is better because of Drake's face.

I wish we got the JP cover.

 

[TangerineCloud]

America:

Japan

 

[Dictator93]

Backyard Wrestling
NA:

JP:

The japanese cover has Juggalos and Juggs. How can it not be better?

 

[Tunesmith]

JP - US - Euro

Whoever decided to use black font for the logo on the European one blew it, so US wins.

If I recall correctly it was not black on the European cover, it was reflective silver, which was rad.

 

[Jawmuncher]

If Drake didn't have a derpy ass face I'd prefer the foreign one.

The derpy face is what makes that a classic though.

 

[redcrayon]

America:



Japan

I've never understood why games like the Tales series need to have the entire cast on the box art, it makes them seem so crowded and with no focus. Usually Japanese and EU box art are pretty cool as they go for simple, strong images over cast shots (such as the longrunning, iconic FF box art) but having a dozen characters all in outlandish costumes makes a cover seem ridiculous.

 

[ResidentDante]

I have the EU cover and it isn't black on mine - it's silver foil. So it wins.

Same here!

 

[Barrylocke]

I've never understood why games like the Tales series need to have the entire cast on the box art, it makes them seem so crowded and with no focus. Usually Japanese and EU box art are pretty cool as they go for simple, strong images over cast shots (such as the longrunning, iconic FF box art) but having a dozen characters all in outlandish costumes makes a cover seem ridiculous.

I personally like the full cast pics that Japan often gets. The art style of the recent ones is extremely pleasing to me, and people that get into Tales games often cite the characters as being a big thing that draws them back besides the battle system. I'm glad that the current trend is for America to get the same covers that Japans gotten these days.

 

[Orniletter]

You have to be kidding, the US one is as generic as they get and screams "focus testing !!!".

 

[MUnited83]

What are y'all talking about the Uncharted 2 JP cover is better...

Heck no it isn't! It doesn't fit the personality of the game!

Its a darn indiana Jones poster. It fits perfectly.

 

[Dinjooh]

Someone have to find a huge version of this one. I want it on my wall, now.

 

[HGH]

I've never understood why games like the Tales series need to have the entire cast on the box art, it makes them seem so crowded and with no focus. Usually Japanese and EU box art are pretty cool as they go for simple, strong images over cast shots (such as the longrunning, iconic FF box art) but having a dozen characters all in outlandish costumes makes a cover seem ridiculous.

You should see the Disgaea series. The Japanese covers have like, ALL the characters shown in a cast shot. The US ones usually just focus on the main character/s.

Japanese Version

American Version (is actually just the image from the JP limited edition)

And then the European one does this weird compromise by just being a really zoomed in version of the first image?

 

[TangerineCloud]

I've never understood why games like the Tales series need to have the entire cast on the box art, it makes them seem so crowded and with no focus. Usually Japanese and EU box art are pretty cool as they go for simple, strong images over cast shots (such as the longrunning, iconic FF box art) but having a dozen characters all in outlandish costumes makes a cover seem ridiculous.

Tbh, that particular trend always just struck me as the Japanese equivalent of the "tough guy walking towards the foreground + blue/orange color scheme" that was so popular in Western games last gen.

It's not creative. Nor does it tend to be particularly attractive. But it's inoffensive enough that, by implementing it, most devs can at least get a decent-looking cover without having to put in much thought.

 

[Muzicfreq]

You should see the Disgaea series. The Japanese covers have like, ALL the characters shown in a cast shot. The US ones usually just focus on the main character/s.



And then the European one does this weird compromise by just being a really zoomed in version of the first image?

Oh yikes. the JP version is bad, the EU is also bad, they both should feel bad
I think the instruction booklet in the case has the JP cover art though

Tbh, that particular trend always just struck me as the Japanese equivalent of the "tough guy walking towards the foreground + blue/orange color scheme" that was so popular in Western games last gen.

It's not creative. Nor does it tend to be particularly attractive. But it's inoffensive enough that, by implementing it, most devs can at least get a decent-looking cover without having to put in much thought.

Color me contrast

 

[xevis]

If Drake didn't have a derpy ass face I'd prefer the foreign one.

I'm led to understand he is a derp? If true, I'd say that makes the Japanese cover superior.

 

[Eidan]

Nah, he's right. Not sure what people are thinking when they say the JP version is better.

 

[Sande]

Both of those Uncharted 2 covers are pretty bad. The Japanese cover has a nice idea behind it but it's just poorly drawn. With better execution I'd certainly prefer it.

 

[Shivvy_NTL]

I dont like either the Japanese or the US uncharted 2 cover, but the us one is just a dude haging on whatever, looks generic as f###! Therefore in default the jap wins

 

[TheMoon]

Does anyone know who was making these SNES Konami covers back in the day?

Contra III and Super Castlevania IV are just amazing.

Compared with:

Robots > stupid fucking 80s dudebros

 

[royox]

America:

Japan

American: Has 2 characters. Only 1 of them is playable

Japan/European: Has 7 characters. 6 of them are playable and it's the "standard" for Tales of art-boxes.

Japan/European wins.

 

[TheMoon]

What are y'all talking about the Uncharted 2 JP cover is better...

Heck no it isn't! It doesn't fit the personality of the game!

it totally does. The Western box is just the opening scene of the game.

JP cover. Yass. Now this makes you want to play the game

This actually accurately reflects Drake's personality. His smart ass smirk is just perfect. He looks as dumb as he behaves. And it implies the location hopping and shooty bang bang gameplay.

It's a crime no one thinks the JP Uncharted art is better because of Drake's face.

I wish we got the JP cover.

I got you.

Backyard Wrestling
NA:

JP:

But but but... boobs?

Spoiler

sorry

I'm pretty sure the American box art was censored. This version was what most retails had:

What if I prefer blue?

Yup:

 

[Mr. Nice_Guy]

Guys this,

is not this,

It looks like a low budget version of it. It's too flat and has too much white space. Honestly I don't care for either box art but the JP isn't "so much better".

Spoiler

Unless this is just an elaborate troll than kudos you got me

 

[cantona222]

Bad ass American Kirby looks better than the cute Japanese one

 

[Phocks]

Japanese Box Art

North American Box Art

Angry kirby disqualifies this.

 

[Family Fry]

PS2 Castlevania, always remember the absolutely shocking EU box art in comparison to the amazing US cover.

Worth noting the Japanese cover is a good one too but that US cover just grabs me. Had a fantastic print of it, which I got with the JPN box set.

EU

JPN

US

 

[Finale Fireworker]

I wish every video game cover had artwork as good as Japan's Uncharted art. Extremely reminiscent of Drew Struzan's iconic 80s cinema art. I don't even have a problem with Drake's face, like some others do.

But you should have known what you were stirring up when you posted this. Of course the JP box art is probably some of the best game box art that a AAA game has ever had.

 

[Jazzkokehead]

Yes, it literally is speculation.

Actually...

So when we worked on the animated series, we knew just writing black and white comics for ourselves, we were actually taking the series down to a level that is meant for six and seven year olds. And so things like changing the origin a bit, changing the look of the Turtles a little bit, Pete Laird came up with the idea for the different colored bandanas.

That's a quote from Kevin Eastman, one of the creators. So I'd say that makes it a fact.

fact
fakt
noun
a thing that is known or proved to be true.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

Guys this,


is not this,

It looks like a low budget version of it. It's too flat and has too much white space. Honestly I don't care for either box art but the JP isn't "so much better".

Spoiler

Unless this is just an elaborate troll than kudos you got me

Spoiler

You don't seem to have seen the UK poster. Struzan's artwork is varied and iconic.

 

[TangerineCloud]

American: Has 2 characters. Only 1 of them is playable

Japan/European: Has 7 characters. 6 of them are playable and it's the "standard" for Tales of art-boxes.

Japan/European wins.

American:

• Focuses on the two best/most important characters. Eliminates waste.
• Main characters have bad-ass dynamic poses. Appear ready for battle. Conveys the core gameplay.
• Neatly and beautifully drawn art looks like it came from a high-budget anime.
• Mystical background that looks like a portal ready to take you to an awesome fantasy world
• Dope flamez

Japan/Euro:

• Shows too many characters. Cluttered. Unfocused.
• Art looks like a rough draft from Fujishima's sketchbook.
• Boring, static character poses
• Weird character anatomy. Judith and Estelle have baby hands. Yuri's and Judith's heads are almost as wide as their torsos.
• Doesn't convey the core gameplay. Is this an action RPG or a hentai dating sim? I can't tell.
• No wicked background portal.
• No dope flamez

You're objectively wrong. America wins.

 

[Valkyria]

Reading through this thread I now understand why the american covers are like they are, you actually people prefer them! I just don't understand it.

 

[shanafan]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)


I don't even know where they got that JP artwork from. Looks like some crappy fanart.

Well, at least JP shows all four Turtles unlike NA that just shows 4 Raphaels

 

[Finale Fireworker]

Reading through this thread I now understand why the american covers are like they are, you actually people prefer them! I just don't understand it.

People develop a taste for what they're sold. This is why most American advertising is people just standing there. It's boring. Do you remember the poll they did where people got to vote on the reversible cover for BioShock Infinite? They were all boring and static except for the one really interesting orange beaux one that was clearly going to win. But when they posted the poll results there were still people who voted for Elizabeth standing still against a sky background.

People don't know the difference between what's good and what they like, nor do they question why they like what they like over what's good.

 

[HGH]

Here's one where I'm not so certain which is better. The actual change is minimal(just lighting) but I'm not sure how to express the vibe it gives off. Which is better, focus on the menacing stuff in the background or the comical hero?

 

[Ray Wonder]

I agree with this. If they got the face right, it would be better. With the face it looks ridiculous.

 

[30yearsofhurt]

Wow controversy.
At first I would laugh at the JP UC2 cover but in retrospect it is a game that is trying to present itself as a cinematic experience. So isn't the old time movie poster style better?
Maybe it is...

 

[SMOK3Y]

PS2 Castlevania, always remember the absolutely shocking EU box art in comparison to the amazing US cover.

Worth noting the Japanese cover is a good one too but that US cover just grabs me. Had a fantastic print of it, which I got with the JPN box set.

EU

JPN

US

The JPN one kicks both their arses

 

[Son Of D]

I really like US cover of DD. damn that's such a good cover for such a great game

Yeah, that looks better than the EU cover simply because they didn't stick the RE6 demo information on the cover.

 

[lazygecko]

Yeah, cover art came directly from the 1984 comic book series. I posted an image to it above. The 1987 cartoon added coloured bandanas to make it easier to market for children.

The first TMNT game is kind of interesting because it was being made in the transitional period inbetween the release of the comic and the big merchandizing trans-media push. Konami's game was mainly derived from the original comic book but during development they were also handed reference material for the cartoon that was still in development. So the final product was this odd mixture of elements from both ends of the spectrum.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

[MGS2 covers]

JP - US - Euro

Whoever decided to use black font for the logo on the European one blew it, so US wins.

Don't know if it's been said already but the European cover didn't have black text, it was metallic silver.