65 replies to this topic

[BillyHW]

I started another thread on best box art, so I thought I'd start one on worst box art too?

I'll just start it off by saying that I absolutely *hate* it when console companies standardize the "look" of their system's games box art, like Sega Master System for instance with the grid background. I realize that they are trying to differentiate their games' look from the competition, so people know what they are buying, but it just doesn't work artistically. Seriously, people aren't stupid and will buy the right game for their system or return it.

(Though, I'll say that the early NES titles, with their stylized blocky in-game graphics actually had a certain charm to them, for the first little while. But I'm glad they changed direction early on.)

The best boxes were on the later NES because: A. They were the right size. B. They were the right shape (vertical boxes). C. Except for the small Nintendo Seal of "Quality" (har har), the art wasn't ruined by logos or standardized looks.

It was a really dumb move on the part of Nintendo to go with horizontal boxes for SNES and the standardized look.

Now, would you rather play this:



or this?



Phantasy Star was by far the better game, but you wouldn't know if by looking at the box. I'm sure this played a part in Nintendo beating Sega out in the 8-bit generation.

[BillyHW]

Which would you rather play?



Both spectacular games, but one is a box art fail and the other is a box art win.

[jaybird3rd]

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

[VicViper]

Just about any US release TG16 game

[Lentzquest]

The first Mega Man U.S. box art is awful.

[jaybird3rd]

Lentzquest, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:11 PM, said:

The first Mega Man U.S. box art is awful.

Wow, you're right ... he looks like he's trying to pinch a loaf:

[BillyHW]

Mega Man 2 was pretty awful too. Mega Man 3 was awesome though.

[TwinChargers]

jaybird3rd, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM, said:

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

I'm sorry, the Phalanx old guy might be cool, but I had to look up the game to find out what it really was about, the box art gave pretty much no clues, and thats never good.

And I'm also going to pick on the Master System, what kind of crap is this?



Take the title away and what is it? The Exploding Foot Game?

[Cebus Capucinis]

I like all the Master System boxes.

[Reaperman]

well there's always the immortal classic:

[JayWI]

jaybird3rd, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM, said:

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

I just bought that game a few months ago because of the box art. I was hoping it was some sort of bluegrass appalachian roleplaying adventure.

[BillyHW]

Cebus Capucinis, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:02 PM, said:

I like all the Master System boxes.

Well, I guess if you like one, you kind of have to like them all.

[JayWI]

BillyHW, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:12 PM, said:

Cebus Capucinis, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:02 PM, said:

I like all the Master System boxes.

Well, I guess if you like one, you kind of have to like them all.

Sega was busy making good quality games. Something Nintendon't.

[TwinChargers]

Quote

I like all the Master System boxes.

They all looked uniform if you had a bunch of them, and the cases themselves were nice, but the box art is lacking.

[TwinChargers]

JayWI, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:11 PM, said:

jaybird3rd, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM, said:

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

I just bought that game a few months ago because of the box art. I was hoping it was some sort of bluegrass appalachian roleplaying adventure.

That works now when it can be found in a bargin bin for a few bucks, but as a kid who might get to pick one game at $50 a pop, banjoing old guy rarely gets the purchase.

[JayWI]

TwinChargers, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:21 PM, said:

JayWI, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:11 PM, said:

jaybird3rd, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM, said:

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

I just bought that game a few months ago because of the box art. I was hoping it was some sort of bluegrass appalachian roleplaying adventure.

That works now when it can be found in a bargin bin for a few bucks, but as a kid who might get to pick one game at $50 a pop, banjoing old guy rarely gets the purchase.

A game with a banjo would be epic. Who needs all that jazz about dragons and elves and dungeons and stuff. Bring on the bluegrass!

[high voltage]

The Sega box art for phantasy star has a hot girl with nice legs, of course that's the winner. The nes has some awful looking Dragon. Most nes box art was crap actually, and the boxes looked so cheap too. The inner plastic cartridge holder was a nice touch though.

Edited by high voltage, Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:48 AM.

[Spoon]

Rival Turf used to make me angry just looking at it...


And I remember seeing Checkers for Intellivision and feeling bad for the poor slob who got that little nugget for Christmas...

[Lentzquest]

Where's that kid's other hand??

[mbd30]

JayWI, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:11 PM, said:

jaybird3rd, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM, said:

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

I just bought that game a few months ago because of the box art. I was hoping it was some sort of bluegrass appalachian roleplaying adventure.

Maybe they were originally working on a "Deliverance" or "Dukes of Hazzard" game, developed the box art first, but then the project changed to a space shooter. For budget reasons they just kept the original box art.

Anyway, here's another terrible SMS box.

[Spoon]

Lentzquest, on Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:11 AM, said:

Where's that kid's other hand??

Delivering smiles.

[Eltigro]

I'll also go with some of the Master System box art. Especially the Sega Card games... I mean... they didn't even try.

[high voltage]

Well, it shows a Sega card, that is good info for starters, nothing wrong with that.

[Lendorien]

JayWI, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:11 PM, said:

jaybird3rd, on Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM, said:

It's almost too easy to pick on Sega Master System boxes in a thread about bad box art. I think they were all bad.

And don't anyone dare bring up the SNES Phalanx box, either. I don't care what anybody says, that old guy is awesome!

I just bought that game a few months ago because of the box art. I was hoping it was some sort of bluegrass appalachian roleplaying adventure.

What does the Old dude witht he banjo have to do with a shmup?

[BillyHW]

Quote

Anyway, here's another terrible SMS box.

This makes no sense. Why is this man wrestling his own head?