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]

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

 

[qw90700]

View attachment 106381

More like "CRAPCOM" lolol.

 

[KaiserMk7]

View attachment 106380View attachment 106381

One has to wonder how a genuinely terrible painting was considered a better alternative to some polished Japanese art in those times. Bad Box Art Mega Man, for all the insult and project cancellations he has come to represent, looks better and more polished than the actual bad box art.

 

[Cardboardtubeknight Cardboardtubeknight]

One has to wonder how a genuinely terrible painting was considered a better alternative to some polished Japanese art in those times. Bad Box Art Mega Man, for all the insult and project cancellations he has come to represent, looks better and more polished than the actual bad box art.

Could be why they brought him back for Megaman 9

 

[Ferik]

One has to wonder how a genuinely terrible painting was considered a better alternative to some polished Japanese art in those times. Bad Box Art Mega Man, for all the insult and project cancellations he has come to represent, looks better and more polished than the actual bad box art.

I believe they actually explained this in an interview at one point, I vaguely remember reading it. If my memory serves me right bringing the game over to the US was a fight and once they finally got the green light Capcom of America's marketing lead got hold of a friend of his and they basically gave him one evening to get the cover art done. As to how it was that tragically mismanaged I do not know, but he belted that piece of work out in a couple hours.

 

[qw90700]

I believe they actually explained this in an interview at one point, I vaguely remember reading it. If my memory serves me right bringing the game over to the US was a fight and once they finally got the green light Capcom of America's marketing lead got hold of a friend of his and they basically gave him one evening to get the cover art done. As to how it was that tragically mismanaged I do not know, but he belted that piece of work out in a couple hours.

Do they also explain why they don't just use the Japanese version of the cover? Why do they change covers? Just use the shit you have SMH lolol.

 

[Netra]

Do they also explain why they don't just use the Japanese version of the cover? Why do they change covers? Just use the shit you have SMH lolol.

They think the america market don't buy game (for kids) if the cover it's too "childish".
Shit from an old era, you can't understand what the hell happen in the head of those people if you never lived those days.

 

[petran79]

Japanese cover is more faithful to the game atmosphere, but probably deemed too dark for us. Changing it was worse because it does not prepare the player for what lies ahead.
Fortunately they fixed it later in Demons Crest

but even so, why add pants to Red Arremer?

 

[Ferik]

My favorite part is how they made Red Arremer green and changed his name to Firebrand.

Firebrand is a cool name and all, but his name was his color why did you change him to green?

 

[.arkasth]

Well...