Games With Misleading Boxart

[Bubble_Man]

I'll start the thread with Avenging Spirit for gameboy. Its box art made it look like a mobster-themed shooter:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Zelbach/AvSPBox.png



The game is about a ghost who possesses people and plays more like a Kirby game:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Zelbach/AvSpGaPly.jpg


That's okay because the game is awesome

[PreZZ]

Bust a move on saturn... WTF??5824

[Bubble_Man]

Bust a move on saturn... WTF

Looks like some freaky Shin Megami Tensei stuff.

[PreZZ]

even worse... super bust a move on ps1!!

[jperryss]

I bought this one expecting a Guitar Hero prequel, but was sadly disappointed.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/433791/phalanxsnes.jpg

[treismac]

I'll start the thread with Avenging Spirit for gameboy. Its box art made it look like a mobster-themed shooter:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Zelbach/AvSPBox.png



The game is about a ghost who possesses people and plays more like a Kirby game:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Zelbach/AvSpGaPly.jpg


That's okay because the game is awesome

http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/box/6/1/5/585615_2493_front.jpg

The Japanese version is much more accurate and appealing as well.

[IHatedSega]

AWWWE, jperryss, I was gonna post that one.

haha

[Hawksmoor]

The first thing that came to my mind was Mobile Light Force:

http://www.abload.de/img/20068_1307043548b4lad.jpg

[SpaceHarrier]

This game is gonna be so badass and freakin METAL!!
http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/box/0/6/5/582065_85596_front.jpg

Or maybe it will just be Wonder Boy with a different name.

http://www.consoleclassix.com/info_img/Revenge_of_Drancon_SGG_ScreenShot4.gif

[Tron 2.0]

the first thing that came to my mind was mobile light force:

http://www.abload.de/img/20068_1307043548b4lad.jpg
haaaaa which is mess up since the game is really gunbird.It never made sense to me,that xseed change it's cover art in the first place.

[BlastProcessing402]

AWWWE, jperryss, I was gonna post that one.

haha

It is pretty much THE go to wtf box cover. I know it's what I thought of the instant I read the topic title.

Anyway... how about Ironsword?

5829

Actual game contains no Fabio barbarian, just a knight in a suit of armor.

[Rickstilwell1]

I'll start the thread with Avenging Spirit for gameboy. Its box art made it look like a mobster-themed shooter:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Zelbach/AvSPBox.png



The game is about a ghost who possesses people and plays more like a Kirby game:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v351/Zelbach/AvSpGaPly.jpg


That's okay because the game is awesome

Maybe the ghost possessed that guy into being a mobster. Or maybe that is who the ghost was in real life before he died and became a ghost. Or, maybe that is the guy that killed him and turned him into a ghost

[Wraith Storm]

haaaaa which is mess up since the game is really gunbird.It never made sense to me,that xseed change it's cover art in the first place.

The Awesome Xseed didn't change the cover art. The low budget XS games did.

Since you mentioned it... they do have oddly similar logos don't they?

[SparTonberry]

I bought this one expecting a Guitar Hero prequel, but was sadly disappointed.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/433791/phalanxsnes.jpg

The music genre pretty much didn't exist in 1992, so the box was intentionally strange, hoping the game would get more publicity.
I guess the marketers largely succeeded. :D

[Tron 2.0]

The Awesome Xseed didn't change the cover art. The low budget XS games did.

Since you mentioned it... they do have oddly similar logos don't they?
Ahh thought they were the same because of the logo.I all ways assume they change it's name and cover art because of capcom,that they publish it's sequel.

[Edmond Dantes]

I'm sure if I search my library, I can find a ton, but for now here's one:

Legend of the Ghost Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Lion) (can't currently upload a scan so a link will have to do)

Cover art: Maria is a buxon adult woman warrior with a sword.

Actual game: Maria is a ten-year-old girl in her jammies who has to summon spirits to fight for her. Also her hairstyle is completely different.

[Dr. BaconStein]

I bought this one expecting a Guitar Hero prequel, but was sadly disappointed.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/433791/phalanxsnes.jpgWell... It does say "The Hyper-Speed Shoot-Out In Space"... :P

Haven't played many games like this, but I'll bite:

http://i.imgur.com/U7y57.jpg

The last thing I would expect out of this is a Mega Man clone.

[Atarileaf]

When I when I was a kid I wanted this game because of the cool box art:

http://www.atariage.com/2600/boxes/b_SlotRacers_Color_front.jpg

Instead I got this:

http://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_SlotRacers_1.png

[Dr. BaconStein]

Alright I've got another

http://i.imgur.com/PwQTV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jrtQJ.jpg

Apparently what appears to be a historic archaeological edutainment game is actually just a fun Columns/Tetris-style puzzler. Who woulda thunkit?

[Haoie]

Every Atari 2600 game ever made. Can't argue with that.

[BlastProcessing402]

Every Atari 2600 game ever made. Can't argue with that.

I don't know if it's most misleading, but the weirdest 2600 art to me was the astronauts on the box of Super Breakout. HUH?

[Kiddo]

The last thing I would expect out of this is a Mega Man clone.

Of course, some would say Mega Man's box art could be terribly misleading, as well. But bad box art choices are too easy, so...

Ah-ha.

Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Features/2009/05/Totally%2080s%20box%20art/Boxes/Final/DoubleDragonIINES--article_image.jpg
(May not be the exact box but the art's what counts.)

For anyone unfamiliar: Marian is killed off in the introductory sequence.

[jperryss]

Of course, some would say Mega Man's box art could be terribly misleading, as well. But bad box art choices are too easy, so...

Ah-ha.

Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

(May not be the exact box but the art's what counts.)

For anyone unfamiliar: Marian is killed off in the introductory sequence.

Another fun fact: The US cover in your post was edited from the original to show 100% less Marian buttcrack.
http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2007/06/doubledragonII.jpg

[BlastProcessing402]

Of course, some would say Mega Man's box art could be terribly misleading, as well. But bad box art choices are too easy, so...

Ah-ha.

Double Dragon II: The Revenge.

http://static.gamesradar.com/images/mb/GamesRadar/us/Features/2009/05/Totally%2080s%20box%20art/Boxes/Final/DoubleDragonIINES--article_image.jpg
(May not be the exact box but the art's what counts.)

For anyone unfamiliar: Marian is killed off in the introductory sequence.

Maybe he's carrying her corpse. @_@

[Edmond Dantes]

Just discovered another one, guys:

http://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1158434362-00.jpg

Direct link in case that doesn't work (http://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1158434362-00.jpg)

[Genesaturn]

I'm surprised no one mentioned this yet...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/GH_front_cover.jpg/250px-GH_front_cover.jpg

I wasn't expecting a anime style action hack n slash rpg at all lol