[General Discussion] Game cover/packaging/artwork thread

Game covers/packaging/artwork is something some people care a great deal about, and something some people do not care at all about. That being said, this thread is for the people who care to post, discuss, trash, applaud game covers for current and future titles.

I'll start this off with the US cover of New Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo DS, which in my opinion, isn't spectacular.



Jam it back in, in the dark.

Easy: We Love Katamari, simple and strange, when I first saw the tan cousin, I thought it was holding a gun!


There's nowhere I can't reach.

Thread can be closed now.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I'll beat Qwarky to it, but this cover art for ICO ranks as one of the worst for the best. No wonder few gamers in North America know of this gem of a game.

Take a gander.



Now, take a look at the PAL/NTSC-JAP version:



Much nicer and cleaner, and very artistic too!

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That shit is awful.

What is that, a penitentiary.

I was speaking idiomatically.

The Castle did "act" like a penitentiary/prison for Ico and Yorda. The evil queen was one hell of a nasty warden.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Classics.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Spatula

I'll beat Qwarky to it, but this cover art for ICO ranks as one of the worst for the best. No wonder few gamers in North America know of this gem of a game.

Ah yes, the horrid ICO cover. It's embarassing to have on my shelf, let me tell you.

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Originally Posted by Godai

Ah yes, the horrid ICO cover. It's embarassing to have on my shelf, let me tell you.

For some reason when Japanese games chnage the cover for a NA release, they like to make it look crappy.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I just threw away the crappy NA version and printed off the nice PAL cover. What a relief.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Spatula

I just threw away the crappy NA version and printed off the nice PAL cover. What a relief.

Much like what my mom did with the "too sexy" StarCraft Broodwar cover back in 1999.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Same here. I printed the PAL cover for my copy of ICO, too.

And now here is the best box art that Sierra ever churned out.



I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by jRev

Same here. I printed the PAL cover for my copy of ICO, too.

And now here is the best box art that Sierra ever churned out.

Makes you want to avoid holding the cover, it could bite you!
Does anyone here own a game with a collector's edition cover? Blizzard games are notable for having those.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Here's a DS cover I like, kind of busy, but in a good way.

Seiken Densetsu DS Children of Mana


How ya doing, buddy?

Heaps better than the USA and Japanese ones. Dark, brooding as well as a feeling that you're getting yourself into one hell of a s**t situation. Lovely.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by chaofan

Heaps better than the USA and Japanese ones. Lovely.

I just happened upon that one recently and I was mighty impressed with it. Sometimes some of the best covers come out of Europe and Australia.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

You cannot have this discussion without displaying the worst box art of all time:



Jam it back in, in the dark.

I like how Mega Man is state-of-the-art.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Here's a cleaner one:



How ya doing, buddy?

Final Fantasy XI covers have been nice, and these new ones from Yoshitaka Amano are no exception.

Final Fantasy XI (360 + All Expansions)


Final Fantasy XI Treasure of Aht Urhgan (PS2)


I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Old school. I remember playing Duck Hunt at a friend's house.







I was speaking idiomatically.

Wow!! Those Amano covers are BEAUTIFUL.

I used to dig this game cover back in the NES days:


It's obviously Americanized, I'll buy a rice bowl to whoever who finds it's japanese version. Great game, you should check it out.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Yamamanama

It didn't improve much in the sequel.


Why is he holding a gun?

More importantly, why is his hand like that? (unless...*gasp!* Mega Man had two right hands?!?) And his foot! Ouch!

I'm not very fond of a lot of box art/covers, but Breath of Fire V is one of my least liked, especially in comparison to its Japanese, PAL and fan-made ones.


Official NA release. What the hell is up with the white spiral? And Nina's been inverted (since her hair and shackle thingies are in the wrong direction)


I don't know if this is the offical PAL box-art, but it looks cool nonetheless.


Made by "Kakusha." This picture is probably one of the coolest game illustrations, and it would've looked awesome as an official boxart.

FELIPE NO

Tekken's art direction has grown increasingly more stylish as the series progressed.

Good ol' Tekken 2 and 3:





What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Just some of the best this generation has had to offer.







Jam it back in, in the dark.