Biggest cover art downgrades

[aviaovrumvrum]

Many games have multiple cover arts thought to be more appealing for a specific region, many times actually getting the opposite effect, what are some of the most disappointing cases of this happening?

I'll start with a classic:

 

[Turbo Kid]

This was a downgrade in more ways than just cover art.

 

[Rox00]

Mega Man in general had this happen a good amount with the European releases.

 

[Ferik]

For some reason I can only find a good scan of the PAL box for the last one, but it's the exact same artwork in the USA

And in a situation where I think the US actually got the better cover:

The US cover hints at the Jetpack you get in the endgame and shows off the new hub in a neat way, the Japanese cover is I guess the level from the demo disc just really blurry?

 

[Vexicrypt]

Usually japanese covers are much better than US and EU counterparts but they really messed this one up. Though I don't like the other one that much either.

(JP on the left and US & EU on the right)

 

[Turbo Kid]

Some regions get exclusive reversible cover options. I see this a lot with current day physical releases.

US:

Japan:

Also, Southeast Asian releases for Nintendo published games get clean covers with no rating

 

[Pinballbuzzbro]

Everyone always talks about Japanese box art being butchered when coming to the states, but they never talk about when the opposite happens!

 

[aviaovrumvrum]

Usually japanese covers are much better than US and EU counterparts but they really messed this one up. Though I don't like the other one that much either.
View attachment 106235View attachment 106237
(JP on the left and US & EU on the right)

PS1 era was the only time where covers like these were reasonable, since 3d games were a new thing. It's insane that to this day companies still think slapping a bunch of 3d models on the cover is a good idea...

 

[KaiserMk7]

And in a situation where I think the US actually got the better cover:
View attachment 106232View attachment 106233
The US cover hints at the Jetpack you get in the endgame and shows off the new hub in a neat way, the Japanese cover is I guess the level from the demo disc just really blurry?

I mean I don't think the Crash series is Japanese IP, so this is very much another stock example of the phenomenon the thread is about.

 

[qw90700]

It gets worse as the game travels to the west lol:

Japan:

Europe:

USA:

WTF is this shit? lolol

 

[Netra]