Judging a game by its cover: regional box art
Hardcore Gaming 101 is running a great feature juxtaposing the Japanese box art of Western games. Games include Halo, Ratchet & Clank, Metroid Prime (developed in Texas), Deus Ex Invisible War, and more. There's some interesting observations to be made, like how Ratchet and Clank look like anime characters, and that Japanese box art is usually much better. So what's We (heart) Katamari, a Japanese game, doing up there?
Right after I read the Hardcore Gaming bit, I saw Alice rejoice that the Katamari sequel was finally going to reach European shores. I guess good things come to those who wait: their box art kicks the US release's ass! We had just gotten comfortable with Japan's being better, and now Europe has to come along and remind us how sophisticated they are!
What other great box art never survived the move? I'm thinking of Out of this World for Genesis absolutely perverting the beautiful box art for the European Another World. Hey Europe! I'm gonna go play Shadow of the Colossus... again!
[UPDATE: Added in some extra links for your reading pleasure.]
[Via Opposable Thumbs]
