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[Morrigan Stark]

Edit: hope new link holds

I sincerely hope this is a case of misread OP because there is no way in the seven hells the US cover is better. Ugh.

Super Castlevania 4

Wow. Nice find.

Wow, that one takes the cake. The JP one legitimately looks goofy in comparison.

Agreed.

There were a few cases of Japanese Mega Drive boxes not being quite as nice as the western ones.

Japan:

West:

Japan:

West:

Wow. Are those Japanese games though?

Plus: Resident Evil >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Biohazard.

Biohazard just sounds stupid.

The hell? This is opposite land or something. Biohazard actually means something and is relevant to the game setting. Resident Evil sounds stupid as fuck and doesn't even mean anything.

NA won with this one.

Wow, indeed.

 

[Aquamarine]

Japanese cover: Simple, nothing special.

USA cover: Absolutely gorgeous. Conveys the action of the series so much better.

Japanese cover: Too much focus on the characters. Background gets washed out.

USA cover: Much more steeped in the whole fantasy aspect. Here the wonderfully-drawn forest is a highlight instead of an afterthought. And the storybook effect is a brilliant touch.

Japanese cover: Awkwardly zoomed in. Much of the beautiful box art gets cropped out in a bizarre display of carelessness. Why on earth is half of his body missing?

USA cover: Restores the beautiful box art to its full glory

 

[ppor]

Japan

US

 

[Toxi]

I actually like Resident Evil because it sounds so stupid and cheesy. It fits the tone of the games better even if it doesn't fit the content.

 

[Bergerac]

NA won with this one.

Absolutely disagree. EU/JPN cover is both more grisly and looks more like classic zombie cinematography, like a stencil from NOTLD. The zombie in the US one looks crap.

 

[Manu]

Both Dark Souls games have superior Japanese art.

Demon's does fit the thread though.

 

[jerry1594]

The Western box does a much better job of conveying the atmosphere and the plot. I don't know what's going on in the Japanese cover with that really bizarre perspective.

The Western box is just more vibrant and energised. It takes the idea of the Japanese cover and better conveys the game's wackiness through including more scenes.

The Jp fragile dreams cover looks nicer overall imo. And the western tomadochi art is so busy.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Yoshi's Island

 

[jerry1594]

this game is so amazing but i've gotta disagree the japanese artwork is way better

europe cover is cool too

What is it with Japan and Europe's covers looks so much cooler and less generic/stupid than NA's?

 

[Arucardo]

I actually have this one (the asian cover), heh: Asian (left) US (right)

 

[Aquamarine]

The Jp fragile dreams cover looks nicer overall imo. And the western tomadochi art is so busy.

Fragile is a matter of personal taste. I just thnk the artsy direction just ends up being more confusing than anything.

And being super busy is a GOOD thng for Tomodachi Life. It conveys how batshit insane the game is much more effectively.

 

[illadelph]

Japan

US

haha I actually like the Japanese art more, but it has a COMPLETELY different feel than the US one, which also looks really nice

 

[Tookay]

I actually have this one (the asian cover), heh: Asian (left) US (right)

Not a Japanese game though.

 

[Fancy Clown]

Absolutely disagree. EU/JPN cover is both more grisly and looks more like classic zombie cinematography, like a stencil from NOTLD. The zombie in the US one looks crap.

Madness. I appreciate that youu have the right RE4 cover as your avatar, but the Biohazard 2 cover--while certainly grisly and evokes low budget zombie movie fair such as Zombi 2--simply doesn't compare the menace and mystery of the zombie peeking out from behind the wall. The RE2 cover is super iconic, and if I saw that game in the store I would probably buy it even if I knew nothing about it simply because it's so good. The Biohazard cover is kind of cheap and garbled looking.

The only thing that would make the RE2 NA cover better is if the title weren't plastered all over the amazing image. The Biohazard 2 PC release actually has the best version of the cover (despite the worse title, because Resident Evil is so much better than the generic 'Biohazard')

 

[balohna]

The art on the US version (Right) just looks so much better than a guy with a tattoo...

Didn't see anyone else point this out... not Japanese. Developed in Canada.

 

[zewone]

I like the drawing of the Japanese version better, but the action in the US box art puts it over IMO

This is a good example. NA is much better. It's eye catching and it gives you an idea of what to expect. Represents the game well.

 

[halfbeast]

Elemental Gearbolt US

Japan

in the olden days lots of (us) covers had those shiny/embossed cover designs which totally got me to buy some things I wouldn't have. especially the working design games!

 

[Arucardo]

Not a Japanese game though.

Aw snap, I totally forgot about this after I saw the Sleeping Dogs covers. Sorry about that.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Elemental Master

 

[Elija2]

I actually have this one (the asian cover), heh: Asian (left) US (right)

Did they seriously make the protagonist white in Asia?

 

[zewone]

Did they seriously make the protagonist white in Asia?

He looks more Asian than white to me. Appealing to the audience.

 

[Cels]

Of the ones in this thread I'd say western RE4/revelations/trauma team covers/kingdom hearts covers are easily better than their JP counterparts. I also like lotz: tp's western cover more, but that's not as easy of a choice

 

[RyanDG]

I've always been curious... Has anyone ever tried to track down the original artist for the Mega Man 1 box art and tried to do an interview with them?

 

[balohna]

I actually have this one (the asian cover), heh: Asian (left) US (right)

Those are both bad, but yeah US is better.

 

[To Far Away Times]

Super Castlevania 4

Whoa...

 

[Mr Rivuz]

Ryu ga Gotoku 3's art was way better than the US though.

They will sure do better with 5.

 

[AlfaTrion]

Good lord the US one. I decided to make my own version using artwork from Game Fan magazine (I think?) just so I wouldn't have to use it.

my US Guardian Heroes had the Japanese cover

 

[galvatron]

Yoshi (Famicom/NES)

 

[New002]

turn in your turtles card

Lol. Beat me to it! Though I get their point

 

[fvng]

I sincerely hope this is a case of misread OP because there is no way in the seven hells the US cover is better. Ugh. .

I hope to god he misread the title

lol no.

 

[See You Next Wednesday]

Sega Saturn had the absolute worst westernized box art since the Capcom NES days.

 

[timetokill]

Edit: Oops, misread the OP.

Edit: oops misread.

Edit: Oops. Sorry, misunderstood thread.

Edit:

EDIT: Wow I read the thread backwards. I thought this was another "superior japanese cover art" thread. XD

edit: oh shit, I misread the title. Man, it's late.

Whoops....the title threw me off...I thought it read Japanese games box art superior to Western release, not other way around....

EDIT: Also ITT people can't read.
EDIT 2: Which apparently also includes me.

EDIT: Sorry, I misread the title.

Hmm. I can't seem to read today so let's try this again.

Good lord the US one. I decided to make my own version using artwork from Game Fan magazine (I think?) just so I wouldn't have to use it.

Welp. For some reason I misread this thread as games that had better Japanese art then the western art.

My apologize.

Oops. Read the OP wrong. Thought it said Japanese games that received superior box art than their western release.

This thread is an inspiration.



Also, that Etrian Odyssey cover Aquamarine posted is beautiful. I hadn't seen it before. Lovely.

 

[Scoops]

The European box for RE4

We all know what the GOAT RE4 box art is:

EU Wii Cover

 

[ResidentDante]

NA won with this one.

Nope, best one:

US box, looks like crappy fanart and the font for the title just seems misplaced, it's not even the same as on the title screen.

 

[Zubz]

So glad someone beat me to Phalanx. Apparently, when shooting the box art picture, they had some epic space image in mind, but they saw that actor who would later be playing banjo on the cover stumbling around the studio after he did a shoot as Santa Claus. They found out he was homeless, so to help him get more work, they completely changed their plans for the box art to get him in somehow, so that's why we have what we got. So not only is it hilariously bad-tier, but it gives that nice little story!

Mario Hoops (DS)

US one looks so much better.

I was gonna argue that the Japanese box looked better and cleaner, but then I noticed DK's impressive cleavage/what appear to be male-gorilla breasts for the first time despite owning the game, and my mind was changed in an instant.

 

[sphagnum]

Did they seriously make the protagonist white in Asia?

I've never played Crackdown but from what I remember there are multiple different ethnicities for the agents.

Pretty sure that Japanese boxart is by Monkey Punch, the creator of Lupin III also.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Resident Evil.

Some may disagree here, but come on, that Western art is fucking hilarious.

Roided Chris with the wandering eye is too fucking much for me to take. It's that awesome and makes a powerful statement to me.

Blasphemy.

 

[Phediuk]

US Ghosts 'n Goblins box is a lot more accurate to the game's tone.

 

[Azure Wolf]

Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal.
EU: Angry NA: Angry. JP: SO HAPPY!

Hardly surprising that they left out the Up Your Arse(nal) sub title from the UK version box.

I always wondered if this was an intentional joke or just an amusing oversight from the American developers. Either way, it's good for a puerile little chuckle.

 

[Piers]

Japan

US

That really is quite surprising.

 

[toastyToast]

We all know what the GOAT RE4 box art is:



EU Wii Cover

GC is still better. Off centre chainsaw man closer to the foreground is nowhere near as ominous. Why is he even there?

With the original is like your being funneled down this forest path and at the end you've got a crazy fucker with a chainsaw and you know he's waiting for you.

The red and black colour combo is more striking imo

 

[PhineBuyM3]

I don't know; I guess smug Drake could have his own appeal but I like the western one better.

EDIT: Also ITT people can't read.
EDIT 2: Which apparently also includes me.

I love the troll face Drake has on the Japanese cover.

 

[Stormhammer]

Bujingai: The Forsaken City Japanese box art

NA version

 

[dankir]

Who actually drew the US Megaman 1 boxart? And why aren't they immortalized in the Video Game hall of fame..

Spoiler

.we have one of those right?

 

[Takao]

Hardly surprising that they left out the Up Your Arse(nal) sub title from the UK version box.

I always wondered if this was an intentional joke or just an amusing oversight from the American developers. Either way, it's good for a puerile little chuckle.

It's a name pun. The series has a bunch:

Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time (original title was Clock Blockers, but Sony wasn't having that)
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 one (original title was 4-Play, but see above)
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault

 

[Bergerac]

Madness. I appreciate that youu have the right RE4 cover as your avatar, but the Biohazard 2 cover--while certainly grisly and evokes low budget zombie movie fair such as Zombi 2--simply doesn't compare the menace and mystery of the zombie peeking out from behind the wall. The RE2 cover is super iconic, and if I saw that game in the store I would probably buy it even if I knew nothing about it simply because it's so good. The Biohazard cover is kind of cheap and garbled looking.

The only thing that would make the RE2 NA cover better is if the title weren't plastered all over the amazing image. The Biohazard 2 PC release actually has the best version of the cover (despite the worse title, because Resident Evil is so much better than the generic 'Biohazard')

Well that version is an improvement, but it just doesn't pack the 'Evil' the way grislyface does. Ha

 

[Morrigan Stark]

But for some reason I like the US/EU cover art of Demon's Souls better than the JP version.

Japan: "look at how downtrodden and hopeless our poor knight is"
USA: "look at how badass our knight is!"

LOL, every single time. I like all the arts, mind you, but that's kind of funny.

Japan

US

Holy shit hahahaha that Japanese cover... my eyes!

 

[jackal27]

Super Castlevania 4 and Contra 3 are THE examples. Both of those have some of the best American boxart of all time and the Japanese ones look awful!

 

[Log4Girlz]

Trolling is a art

 

[Korigama]

Some of the games listed in this thread are Western-developed games with Japanese publishers (Sleeping Dogs, Contra 4).