Worst box art ever?

[boatofcar]

This seems like a thread we should have, but searching has turned up nothing. So...let's see them! What game has the worst box art of all time? My pic:


http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2788/sms05054qq4.jpg

So bad, I thought it was a joke originally. Nothing says "rent me" like a white box with a foot on it!

[digitalpress]

There are so many, but the first that springs to mind:

http://www.videogamegazette.com/tg16cd/tg16fightingstreetc.jpg

[Kid Ice]

http://intvfunhouse.com/intellivisioninc/box/pga-100.jpg

[diskoboy]

And still reigning champion for the 20th year in a row.... (US) MEGA MAN!!

http://mekhaye.net/temp/megaman.jpg

[ROTS MKII]

That one is not so bad. Karate was advertised with fighting using your feet.

This tops

I mean just stop it this is hurting the Anime I soaked up over the years
http://www.racketboy.com/retro/beggarprince-cover.jpg
It looks like a "fanmade" Shining Force cover. All it needs is the Shining Force Logo on it.

There was this other "homemade" Atari cart that looked good but then I wented ugh.


And still reigning champion for the 20th year in a row.... (US) MEGA MAN!!

Propaganda MM still looks more visable then the cover I choosed. I mean just look at the knees.

[joshnickerson]

http://www.consolemad.co.uk/shop/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/ff58fc167842aac75d27b7743e3a2565.jpg
In space, no one can hear your banjo...

[k8track]

I know I answered this before in this thread:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98740

That was more of a "so bad it's good" thread, but I didn't realize that and answered seriously. Here are mine, again:

The WORST: Escape, Arcadia 2001

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/Escape_1.jpg


Runner-Up: Ghouls'N Ghosts, Sega Master System

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/smsghouls.jpg


2nd Runner-Up: Scrapyard Dog, Atari 7800

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/scrapyarddog.jpg

[Flack]

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/776/776279/top-25-tuesday-most-awesome-covers-20070327025738995.jpg

[RadiantSvgun]

http://www.codiekitty.com/File/Covers/Elemental.jpg

http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/gba/lu02/scans17/norules.jpg

[-_-Nintendo-_-]

Karnaaj Rally

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/undeRCoveR_Pirate/karnaajrally1.jpg

[ScourDX]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/scourdx/Cover/758548_GS_L_F.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/scourdx/Cover/hardpin.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/scourdx/Cover/top-25-tuesday-most-awesome-cove-6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/scourdx/Cover/top-25-tuesday-most-awesome-cove-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/scourdx/Cover/top-25-tuesday-most-awesome-covers-.jpg

[Magnum]

Runner-Up: Ghouls'N Ghosts, Sega Master System

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/k8track/smsghouls.jpghmm?

that one's pretty awesome looking in this thread

[boatofcar]

That one is not so bad. Karate was advertised with fighting using your feet.


You're right, out of all the awesome karate pictures they could have shown, in a meeting someone just stood up and said, "How about we just show some random leg? People will love it!"

Also, I've always liked the A8 Pac-Man art. Sure, it's not really indicative of the game inside, but so was the art on the arcade marquee :)

The Mega Man art is pretty awful.

EDIT: The INTV Golf is so 70's kitsch it's awesome. Probably my favorite INTV artwork :)

[ROTS MKII]

The megaman reminds of this cyborg movie.

Not

Cyborg
Cyborg Two
Steel American: Cyborg

Or that movie where the whole place was western and this one guy had a machine everything for body parts and wanted to transfer hiself into a babies body. Not Ghost busters.

The movie that come to mind. where his brother was frozen and then they choped his arms off and replaced it with metalic arms. and put something in his head to control him.

They had a prototype model which was Chinese ( most likely Japanese) and had a big camera thing on his head. During the last scene he was on a motocycle and hit the head of the prototype head off.

That MM art looks almost like it.

[Push Upstairs]

"Ninja Golf" has an awesome cover...."so bad it's good".

If there ever was a game that needed a modern console remake it is "Ninja Golf".

[spoon]

Bomberman Tg-16
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Hitokiri-Izo/bomberman_front.jpg

Trouble Shooter Genesis
http://kidfenris.com/tshootercover.jpg

Some good ones on here:
http://xbox.ign.com/articles/776/776392p1.html

My personal favorite
http://kidfenris.com/wbmonsterland.gif

Also, El Viento and Deadly Moves come to mind.

[venturousviking]

http://www.consolemad.co.uk/shop/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/ff58fc167842aac75d27b7743e3a2565.jpg
In space, no one can hear your banjo...

There's just something about this one. What the hell is it supposed to represent? The cover was the reason I never played, bought, or rented it. Has anyone that played it give us any insight to what the cover means or is it just a random picture?

[Magnum]

http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/776/776279/top-25-tuesday-most-awesome-covers-20070327025737730.jpg

ahahahahaahaha

[Tron 2.0]

Valis III for the Turbo-CD did some one say zena warrior princess lol
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/valis/valis3-tg162.jpg
Of corse the cover isn't any better for the genesis version as well.
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/valis/valis3-genesis2.jpg

[DeputyMoniker]

Valis III for the Turbo-CD did some one say zena warrior princess lol
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/valis/valis3-tg162.jpg
Of corse the cover isn't any better for the genesis version as well.
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/valis/valis3-genesis2.jpg

The Genesis version doesn't have a transvestite on the cover. So yeah, the Genesis version is better. XD

[Tron 2.0]

The Genesis version doesn't have a transvestite on the cover. So yeah, the Genesis version is better. XD
I don't know is it me or does yoko face for the genesis version look like a,Rose O'Donnell :p

Still i don't like either covers at all.

[Mayhem]

Just about everything from Phoenix Games for the PS2...

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/

This is probably the most infamous of the lot, there's so much wrong with it (morally and double entendre filled) I don't know where to begin :D

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/images/packshots/animalsoccerworldbig.jpg

[Ruudos]

There's just something about this one. What the hell is it supposed to represent? The cover was the reason I never played, bought, or rented it. Has anyone that played it give us any insight to what the cover means or is it just a random picture?

I remember reading that they made this cover to stand out of the other standard shooter covers they had that time.

[HYB]

http://mekhaye.net/temp/megaman.jpg

There is nothing worse than these megaman covers. OH GOD.

This was exactly the reason why I didn't want to play megaman in the first place. I mean the game is awesome but the cover art is so bad. Even from an artistic standpoint. Or is it especially from artistic standpoint. Who knows, it's just BAD.

[Cornelius]

This one has always bugged me. The picture isn't the greatest, but the guy/boy? looks like he's about 12 in the face, but he's totally ripped except for his tiny legs.

http://www.rfgeneration.com/PHP/watermark.php?type=bf;ID=U-027-S-02380-A&sizex=200

[2Dskillz]

Thanks for the link to these guys. I think every game I see on their page is its own joke.


Just about everything from Phoenix Games for the PS2...

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/

This is probably the most infamous of the lot, there's so much wrong with it (morally and double entendre filled) I don't know where to begin :D

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/images/packshots/animalsoccerworldbig.jpg

[Cambot]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Roadavenger.jpg

[Rob2600]

If there ever was a game that needed a modern console remake it is "Ninja Golf".

Isn't Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am for the PlayStation 2 supposed to be similar to Ninja Golf?

[chrisbid]

what was wrong with INTV golf? it isnt fashionable in today's market, but there was nothing awful about it either


anyway, i say phantasy star II for genesis

[Rob2600]

what was wrong with INTV golf? it isnt fashionable in today's market, but there was nothing awful about it either

Nothing is wrong with it. I actually like that art style very much. It's similar to early Atari 2600 games.

[DDCecil]

I still don't get what's wrong with Phalanx's box art. Alien probes, anyone? Well, that's what I always thought it represents.

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/0/524170_44439_front.jpg

Great game, stupid box art.

[Terminusvitae]

Prehistorik Man was obviously very well-equipped.

[boatofcar]

Nothing is wrong with it. I actually like that art style very much. It's similar to early Atari 2600 games.

Exactly. The early picture label carts for the VCS had some really nice work.

[diskoboy]

what was wrong with INTV golf? it isnt fashionable in today's market, but there was nothing awful about it either

I agree... I like the old Inty boxes.

The art just screams "70's", but the artwork is still good, none the less.

[The 1 2 P]

I wish I could upload some bad box cover art but the insert image link never works for me:( Anyone have any helpful suggestions?

[-_-Nintendo-_-]

I wish I could upload some bad box cover art but the insert image link never works for me:( Anyone have any helpful suggestions?

I believe you can just type this:

insertlinkhere

[ssjlance]

There's just something about this one. What the hell is it supposed to represent? The cover was the reason I never played, bought, or rented it. Has anyone that played it give us any insight to what the cover means or is it just a random picture?

It's actually a decent Shmup. Good on a day when you need to kill a couple of minutes. Although to my knowledge, the guy with a banjo is nowhere to be found in the game.

[Push Upstairs]

Isn't Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am for the PlayStation 2 supposed to be similar to Ninja Golf?

Don't know, I wasn't even aware there was a ATHF game for PS2.

[outsider]

I always thought the box art for Suikoden was horrible:

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/3/198843_28033_front.jpg


I remember buying it soon after it was released and thinking that it was the ugliest cover I'd ever seen.

[Zap!]

There are so many, but the first that springs to mind:

http://www.videogamegazette.com/tg16cd/tg16fightingstreetc.jpg

What was wrong with that one?

[diskoboy]

Just about everything from Phoenix Games for the PS2...

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/

This is probably the most infamous of the lot, there's so much wrong with it (morally and double entendre filled) I don't know where to begin :D

http://www.phoenixgamesgroup.com/images/packshots/animalsoccerworldbig.jpg

Wow - lets blatantly steal the art from almost every Disney movie ever made!


And if this is a PAL game, why is it called 'Soccer' instead of 'football'?

[Cornelius]

And if this is a PAL game, why is it called 'Soccer' instead of 'football'?
Maybe 'soccer' means 'exhibitionist animal sex' in PAL countries?

[acem77]

my votes, but the mega man box art is very bad. I think its funny to see a nes games advertised as high resolution graphics.
any how what is the legality of that term?
http://www.greatlakesvista.com/forum/badcovers1.jpg
http://www.greatlakesvista.com/forum/badcovers2.jpg

[darkhades]

I always considered Phalanx (SNES) to have one of the worst box art. What does a old man playing a banjo have to do with a space shooter? Now, with that being said, I consider it to be a fantastic shooter.

[FantasiaWHT]

I always considered Phalanx (SNES) to have one of the worst box art. What does a old man playing a banjo have to do with a space shooter? Now, with that being said, I consider it to be a fantastic shooter.

I dunno, I've always looked at it and thought about the stereotypical person who has claimed to see a UFO, which is, I suppose, what you are flying in the game.


Maybe 'soccer' means 'exhibitionist animal sex' in PAL countries?

Best quote of the year (so far)

[Three-P]

Karnaaj Rally

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/undeRCoveR_Pirate/karnaajrally1.jpg

Bad box art, good racing game. I heard that the box was so bad, that Seanbaby, himself, refused to play it for quite a while.

[The 1 2 P]

I believe you can just type this:

insertlinkhere

Nope, it doesn't work. On ebay it's so simple(just click add a picture) but here it's damn near impossible. Is there something I need to do to enable my computer to upload on this site? Is there a certain setting I have to use on the options for this site?

[Buyatari]

We see the same boxes over and over.

What about the worst new generation box art (wii,Ps3,360)?

[Ryaan1234]

In all of it's glory:
http://ryaan1234.googlepages.com/1037411462-00.jpg
(This could be an illustration of what happened to Action 52's game testers when they said "This game sucks.", eat Action 52 (player 1)dragons, game testers!)

I feel bad for that kid. How would you feel if you were attacked by all of the games in Action 52? There are other strange things about this cover. For instance, the jet's flame is charbroiling that ninja's foot. Notice how the dragon appears to have no eyes. If you look closely, the kid is missing his left (foot) shoe. I like how it has a "suggested retail" price of $199.00. Who suggested that price? Did they play it? Also, how do you suppose a ninja, a dragon, an eyeball robot, and a starfighter managed to fit through that little hole in the TV set? I'm glad to know that this game has the Active Enterprises' "Seal of Quality Assurance" (AKA the Active Assurance Seal or A.S.S.) Finally, this game proudly states that it was "Made in AMERICA". Yes, this game lets us know that Action 52 is a product of the U.S, because if it didn't say that I would sure think it looks like a crappy Asian 52 in 1 pirate. According to that little map, Utah and Nevada joined together to form Utada.

/end rant

[PsychoCandy]

I feel as if I've suffered more then that kid for actually attempting to play action 52.

[Push Upstairs]

According to that little map, Utah and Nevada joined together to form Utada.

Little known fact: From January 25th, 1990 to September 4th, 1992 Utah and Nevada became a single state.

Thanks to the makers of Action 52, this interesting time in U.S. history will be with us forever.

[boatofcar]

Nope, it doesn't work. On ebay it's so simple(just click add a picture) but here it's damn near impossible. Is there something I need to do to enable my computer to upload on this site? Is there a certain setting I have to use on the options for this site?


Go to imageshack.us and upload the photo (resizing it to a minimum of 640x480 if it's bigger (use the drop down menu to select the size). After it's finished uploading, scroll down to the bottom of the page and find the address in the field "Direct Link to Image." Copy that address. Back here, use the [img] tag with the address you copied.

[Thrillo]

http://www.consolemad.co.uk/shop/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/ff58fc167842aac75d27b7743e3a2565.jpg
In space, no one can hear your banjo...
I actually like that cover because it was so different. It's a nice change of pace from the generic flying spaceship covers which adorn most shooters.
I think that it was meant to be artsy. The stark contrast between the simple hillbilly and the futuristic spaceship shows just how advanced the world in the game is supposed to be, and it really catches your eye.

[aaron7]

Where is the guy's head on the pro wrestling cover??
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Box-l-jp.jpg/256px-Box-l-jp.jpg

http://scottthong.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/pro_wrestling_box.jpg

[Rob2600]

Where is the guy's head on the pro wrestling cover??

Clearly, he chopped off his own head and is giving himself a headlock.

Seriously though, with box art like that, it's no wonder the NES outsold the SMS in the U.S.

[LOL]

Where is the guy's head on the pro wrestling cover??
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Box-l-jp.jpg/256px-Box-l-jp.jpg



are you crazy? that artwork is for the european release of ico, and it is goddamn beautiful. in case you didn't know, its based on the work of a spanish painter called georgio di chirico. i'd go so far as to say its one of the greatest game cover images ever.

apparently the original cover was too sophisticated for american audiences though so they slapped this awful bullshit on it instead:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Ico_box_usa.jpg/150px-Ico_box_usa.jpg

[smork]

are you crazy? that artwork is for the european release of ico, and it is goddamn beautiful. in case you didn't know, its based on the work of a spanish painter called georgio di chirico. i'd go so far as to say its one of the greatest game cover images ever.

apparently the original cover was too sophisticated for american audiences though so they slapped this awful bullshit on it instead:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Ico_box_usa.jpg/150px-Ico_box_usa.jpg

Gotta agree, the US cover is awful and makes me want to avoid the game. The Euro cover -- I want to frame and put on the wall, let alone tear it open and play it.

[mailman187666]

I actually like that cover because it was so different. It's a nice change of pace from the generic flying spaceship covers which adorn most shooters.
I think that it was meant to be artsy. The stark contrast between the simple hillbilly and the futuristic spaceship shows just how advanced the world in the game is supposed to be, and it really catches your eye.

I agree with this. It almost looks as if the Hillbilly was out on his porch at night strumming the banjo and hears the ship passing by in the sky and is looking up with an almost suprised look on his face as if he is saying, "honey, what the hell was that" , "I don't know Abner maybe just one of dem dare passenger planes again." and would go back to strumming the guitar because the thought of a shooting space ship is far beyond his farming comprehension.

[Terminusvitae]

Blah. Forget it. It's not worth getting into a argument over something so trivial.

[jajaja]

Clearly, he chopped off his own head and is giving himself a headlock.

Hehe, thats what i thought when i first saw it too. I was trying to figure out how the cover was designed. I mean, there is a body without a head and the body holds a head, is it his own head or what? Hehe.

[FantasiaWHT]

are you crazy? that artwork is for the european release of ico, and it is goddamn beautiful. in case you didn't know, its based on the work of a spanish painter called georgio di chirico. i'd go so far as to say its one of the greatest game cover images ever.


I have to agree with the original comment on this artwork... it looks like it came straight off the mold for 1970's sci-fi paperbacks.

[Rob2600]

A good closeup of the U.S. Mega Man cover is available here:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/mega-man-/cover-art

It is a horrible drawing, regardless of the fact that it has nothing to do with the game. Look at the trees in the background. Look at the horrendous faked perspective applied to the building.

I don't understand it. It really looks like it was drawn by a nine year old child. The PAL version is much better.

[Hawksmoor]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Mobile_Light_Force_2.jpg

[boatofcar]

Clearly, he chopped off his own head and is giving himself a headlock.

Seriously though, with box art like that, it's no wonder the NES outsold the SMS in the U.S.

No kidding. I think the ratio of horrible artwork to good was higher on the SMS than any other major system in history.

[ThoughtBomb]

I'm surprised nobody did this one yet:
http://www.gamesasylum.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/stridercover.jpg

[colicub]

Where is the guy's head on the pro wrestling cover??

http://scottthong.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/pro_wrestling_box.jpg

THANK you! I was about to post the same thing! There were a lot of truly awful SMS box covers - look at Action Fighter. Or Transbot.

[Tron 2.0]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Mobile_Light_Force_2.jpg
I never did figure out what does chariles angels have to do with that shmup lol !

[boatofcar]

FantasiaWHT, you're saying this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Ico_box_usa.jpg/150px-Ico_box_usa.jpg

is better than this?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Box-l-jp.jpg/256px-Box-l-jp.jpg


O_O

[FantasiaWHT]

FantasiaWHT, you're saying this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Ico_box_usa.jpg/150px-Ico_box_usa.jpg

is better than this?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Box-l-jp.jpg/256px-Box-l-jp.jpg


O_O

Actually, no, I'm not saying anything of the sort. Where did I claim that the American cover was in any way superior?

Here's my own contribution:

http://www.phantasy-star.net/art/covers/cover2main.jpg

Hey! Come play this 60-year old guy and his 40-year old girlfriend! The rest is ok, but man those characters are hideous.

[Rob2600]

FantasiaWHT, you're saying this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/64/Ico_box_usa.jpg/150px-Ico_box_usa.jpg

is better than this?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/Box-l-jp.jpg/256px-Box-l-jp.jpg

The U.S. cover looks like a messy, amateur Photoshop collage. The Japanese cover art is far superior, but I've still seen better.

[Push Upstairs]

The only cover I can recall being better in the U.S. is the one for "Revenge of Shinobi".

[TheRedEye]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/scourdx/Cover/top-25-tuesday-most-awesome-covers-.jpg

Why does this one come up in these conversations? I think it's a really nice cover, it's got some personality to it.

[Rob2600]

Why does this one (I Want My Mommy) come up in these conversations?

Because these lists are written by insecure, immature gamers in their 20s. To them, if a game doesn't involve graphic violence, crime, heavy metal music, or contact sports, it's lame.

[mailman187666]

Because these lists are written by insecure, immature gamers in their 20s. To them, if a game doesn't involve graphic violence, crime, heavy metal music, or contact sports, it's lame.

I could see where you are right about certain covers being called lame because it didn't include the violence ect. I think a lot of these covers inside this list though are rushed jobs and poor atristry. Games like SMS Black Belt obviously had no thought or care in it, and ones like Strider have these wierd looking dudes on the cover. Box art like I Want My Mommy and a couple others though could possibly be due to the fact that people are insecure about things that aren't 'manly' or 'violent' and whatnot.

[Rob2600]

I could see where you are right about certain covers being called lame because it didn't include the violence ect. I think a lot of these covers inside this list though are rushed jobs and poor atristry. Games like SMS Black Belt obviously had no thought or care in it, and ones like Strider have these wierd looking dudes on the cover.

You're right. Many of those covers deserve to be on "worst covers" lists, but the artwork on a game like I Want My Mommy is fine.

Most of the U.S. Sega Master System covers are frighteningly horrible though. :)


Box art like I Want My Mommy and a couple others though could possibly be due to the fact that people are insecure about things that aren't 'manly' or 'violent' and whatnot.

Exactly.