Anyway, thanks to said obsession, I'm thinking of picking up another Mr. Driller title. (I currently only own the PS1 port of the arcade original.)
Specifically, I'm thinking of picking up the series' DS-based sequel, Mr. Driller Drill Spirits, which was released in Japan and North America in 2004 and throughout Europe in 2005.
Normally, of course, I'd just pick up the North American version, as it's sure to be the cheapest. When it comes to Mr. Driller Drill Spirits, though, that isn't the case, as all versions of the game (European, Japanese and North American) can be purchased for between $15 and $25 right now.
Also, I'm a bit wary of buying the North American release because it lacks a few of the features that are found in the Japanese and European releases.
As a result of all of the above, I've decided to devote an installment of "Which Box Art is Better?" to Mr. Driller Drill Spirits--in the hopes that your comments and opinions will help me decide which iteration I should add to my collection.
Here is the art that graced the cover of the European version of the game:
And here is the Japanese version's box art:
Finally, here is the art that was produced for Mr. Driller Drill Spirit's North American packaging:
Truthfully, I like all of the cover illustrations that were created for this game. If I had to choose a favorite, though, I'd probably go with the Japanese one--mainly because I like its use of pinks and browns.
I'm sure most folks consider the North American box art to be the "best," thanks to the fact that it's the only one that attempts to depict this portable puzzler's gameplay, but for whatever reason it doesn't appeal to me as much as the others.
So, those are my thoughts on this (completely silly) issue. What are yours? Which version would you pick up if you were me?
See also: Previous 'Which Box Art is Better?' posts
20 comments:
IMO, I like the European box the best, but the JP box is really cute too. US box cover looks a bit cluttered
I think the European wins out for me. The Japanese one looks too cluttered, and the American one does away with anything cute.
Why are we so cute-phobic?!
The "best"? As far as I'm concerned, the NA one is clearly the worst - it's too cluttered, the title is hard to read, and poor Mr. Driller himself looks like he's being pushed out of the cover for his own game.
Having said that, it's far from a terrible cover, but the Euro cover is the winner for me. The JP version has less obtrusive rating symbols, and the title is just a tad bigger and easier to make out, but I prefer the composition and colour scheme of the EU version.
... I think. The more I look at it, the fonder I grow of the JP cover, although I'm not ecstatic about the brown background.
If it were me buying the game I would go for the Japanese version on account of the EU boxes being so bulky and unattractive, but as far as the artwork goes, I gues it's kind of a toss-up between the JP and EU ones.
I'm going to side slightly for the USA boxart
While I was looking at the boxarts I was also like: "Brown & Pink, yay!" then I read that it's the reason the JP one is your favourite as well, that made me giggle a little since ppl rarely agree with my choice of colour combinations... 8) (my kitchen is pink, orange & lime green, my living room pastel green and dark purple.. :>)
But you're right, all of the illustrations are adorable. :)
セーラ ちゃん: Ah, you and I think similarly! Between the JP and EU cover, I'm not entirely sure which one I like better, though I'm leaning toward the JP one right now. Anyway, thank you for the comment!
Justin: I think the NA one is kind of cute at least. For me, though, it's just a bit too cluttered. I'm kind of surprised so many people seem to like the EU art, by the way. I thought for sure people would pick the JP or NA art.
Thanks for the comment, Josef! You may not know this about me yet, but I actually like the bulky boxes EU DS games come in. That said, I wouldn't buy the EU *just* for another of those boxes. I'm honestly not sure which one I'll go for at this point, but sure it'll be either the EU or JP version.
miruki: Ha ha! I, too, love that we felt the same way about the JP cover's color combination. Brown and pink is a great combo, IMO, as is brown and light blue :) Anyway, thanks for commenting and helping me make up my mind as to which version to buy!
Adam: Ah! Someone prefers the NA version. That's great! I honestly thought most people would choose it. So, don't feel too bad that so many have criticized it here :)
I like the American one and all, but these days, do we have something against characters looking cute? Gotta add a "V" to their eyes to make them look "awesome"? Also I think the Japanese one is best for me.
Apparently, Motherplayer, cuteness *is* frowned upon in the States these days :( Anyway, I'm glad someone else likes the Japanese art. Brown and pink FTW :P
I just (literally, half an hour ago) traded in my NA copy to my local semi-indie game store.
Ah, how timely, Simon! Why'd you trade it in, if you don't mind me asking?
Need the money :P I just took in a bunch of stuff I haven't touched in a while, and listed some of the better titles on eBay.
Honestly these days when I'm in the mood for some drillin' I just play Raskulls on the 360.
Oh, and I never answered the question! I think the EU one is best, because it's something a bit different. Too many JP covers are just BIG HAPPY CHARACTER RIGHT IN YOUR FACE.
Shame about the ratings icons though.
That makes sense, Simon! I've never heard of Raskulls, by the way. Guess I'll have to take to Google in a minute :)
Oh, and thanks for answering the question :) I hear ya RE: too many JP covers having big happy characters that are all up in your face. Still, I like this one. Argh! I don't know which one to buy :|
Japanese and European covers are my personal favorites! They're just too cute. But if I had to choose... I think I'd go with the European one! Which is good, because I just so happen to have it ;)
I should have known you'd chime in, Anne! So, do you have the Australian version of the game, or the Euro one? Or are they basically the same?
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