SNES box art across the regions

[timewarpgamer]

I recently finished my latest box art comparison feature, and it was refreshing to notice that for once the US didn't totally get the shaft. Anyway, you can find it here:

http://timewarpgamer.com/features/box_art_disparity_snes.html

I'm interested to know what y'all think. And if anyone has a good source for SNES PAL box art, please let me know. I found it REALLY difficult to track down the PAL stuff. The only semi-reliable source I found was GameFAQs.

[TonyTheTiger]

I think you were way too hard on Axelay's US/EU art. I think the title actually ends up becoming part of the action rather than interfering with it.

Batman Returns...eh. I do like the Japanese art. Very reminiscent of Denny O'Neil era Batman. But there is something to be said for using images from the actual movie the game is based on.

I disagree with Cybernator. Yeah, both pieces are pretty crappy but I can't get over how goofy the robot looks in the US/EU art. It looks like some lumbering lummox.

FFVI/III...I'm calling this one a draw simply because they're going in two totally different directions and manage to be equally successful with what they were trying to get across. I'm very partial to a certain kind of framing (Final Fantasy VII's US art does it too) where you're presented with a character from behind gazing at a breathtaking environment. There's something whimsical about that kind of composition. So, yeah, I love Amano's artwork there. But the US art gives a similar impression if only for the kick ass font. It basically says to me "this is going to be a hell of an adventure" with the utmost minimalism.

I don't think Flashback's artwork works well at all given the aspect ratio of the Japanese box, blue lines or otherwise. They really needed to do something different there. It works amazingly well for the EU version though. The US version just looks boring to me even with a Saiyan on the cover.

Power Instinct's US art is ugly. Power Instinct's Japanese art is disturbing. I don't know which I'd rather look at.

I really like the claustrophobic Blade Runner inspired art on the Japanese Shadowrun box but I can't help feel it's too busy for a cover. It looks more like a splash page or establishing shot. You almost lose the title in it. The US art would have been perfect if they just put the title on a simple flat background rather than one of those maze games kids get on restaurant placemats. The EU art is just ugly. Far too reminiscent of a crappy 90s Rob Liefeld comic book.

I think the US Soul Blazer wins hands down. I agree with you that the Japanese art is just too goofy. "I'm the hero! What? You want me to turn around? Why?"

Super Castlevania IV's US/EU art is one of my favorites in the series. Simon looks like a buffoon on the Japanese cover. And not the cool Captain N type of buffoon either.

I agree with your Super Metroid comments.

[A Black Falcon]

Axelay -- The Japanese box is definitely way better, but yeah, I like the way they did the US title too. It's the fact that the rest of the US boxart is so much worse that makes it a worse box, not where they put the title.

Batman Returns -- The US box is definitely better. I mean, it actually reflects the graphics of the game, and of the movie it's based on! That's definitely better than some random cartoon art that has nothing to do with anything in the game or film...

Cybernator -- Both are okay, but not exceptional. Maybe I'd give an edge to the Japanese one, though... perhaps just because the box is bigger so the art can be larger. :) They're pretty close.

FFVI/III - Yeah, both are good, but in different ways... I like the US "Final Fantasy III" logo a lot more than the "FFVI" logo on the Japanese box, but the background of the Japanese box is a lot more interesting. I guess that gives the Japanese box the edge, but the US box is definitely good too.

Flashback - JP/EU box is better, but which version? The taller box or the wider one? Those larger Japanese boxes definitely catch the eye... either of them are definitely better than the US box though.

Power Instinct -- Yeah, good example of bad art in the US version.

Shadowrun -- I think that the US and Japanese boxes are even here. The US box has a really cool 'circuitboard' background, while the Japanese one has a really complex cyberpunk image. I like both styles, really. I think I have to call it a draw. (The European art, however, is awful, far worse than either other. That's the kind of lame stuff I'd expect from US SNES boxes, but fortunately we got something a little more interesting...)

Soulblazer -- Yeah, definitely the US box. It's not amazing, but it's far better than the Japanese one.

Super Castlevania IV... awesome US box! The Japanese box is far behind...

Super Metroid -- You think the US box is good, until you see the even better Japanese one... really both are good, but the Japanese one is even better. Better version of the art, as you say, though I might be slightly less critical of the US version.