If so: surprise!
Anyway, folks who have done their best to ignore Sony's first handheld while it was still au courant may be shocked to hear this, but the PSP has showcased some pretty great examples of box art since it hit store shelves nearly eight years ago.
My favorite such creations were produced for Japanese PSP games, of course, so those are the ones I'm planning to focus on in this post. (Oh, and look for me to highlight five more of my favorite pieces of Japanese PSP cover art in a follow-up post that'll be published next week.)
1. Final Fantasy Type-0--I nearly didn't include this one here simply because I'm still mad that Square Enix has thus far failed to release it in North America in any form. In the end, though, I just couldn't leave such a beautiful piece of cover art off of a list like this.
2. Hyakumanton no Bara Bara--This piece of box art is the main reason I wish Patchwork Heroes had received a retail release here in the States. Also, it's the main reason I'm constantly finding myself this close to picking up a copy of the Japanese version. Do I really need two copies of this adorable action-puzzler? No, but, man, I'd sure like to be able to look over and see this box sitting on my (non-existant) game shelf.
3. Parodius Portable--I'm pretty sure only folks who have hearts of stone fail to be impressed by Parodius Portable's colorful cover illustration. OK, so people who have phobias related to flying pigs, mustachioed octopi or bunny girls riding oversized bullets are likely to be unimpressed, too, but everyone else should grin from ear to ear upon catching a glimpse of it.
4. Rockman Rockman--Although there's absolutely nothing wrong with the imagery that appeared on this title's North American packaging (note: it's known as Mega Man Powered Up here), I can't help but wish we'd received the box art that greeted Japanese gamers when they went searching for it in early 2006 instead.
5. Yuusha no Kuse Ni Namaikida--How's this for strange? Although the North American version of this wacky strategy game features basically the same art as the Japanese original, I've always preferred the latter. I guess I just find Yuusha no Kuse Ni Namaikida's logo more appealing than that of Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do To Deserve This? Whatever. Both are pretty darn attractive--and do a great job of giving buyers a peek into the title's retro-inspired gameplay.
See also: 'Five favorites: Japanese DS box art' and 'Five favorites: Japanese Wii box art'
I actually LOVE all of these! Whoa.
ReplyDeleteI checked my boxes, and I have to say ZHP is the clear winner, though I am quite fond of Gurumin as well (best PSP game ever, too).
ReplyDeleteBTW, I think I'm going to try posting here as Steve Pixel instead of warp now.
First of all: I hope you enjoyed your birthday!
ReplyDeleteSecond of all:
I am a big Final Fantasy fan, really... but I always thought the illustrations of Yoshitaka Amano look kinda strange. I really can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's the fact that every guy drawn by him look as if he wears lipstick or that the paintings are really colourless (in most cases). But the box-art of FF Type 0 looks really nice. I love it. But there are some of Amanos paintings I don't like at all (as the FF 8 box-art or some of the FF 10 illustrations). I bought the Final Fabtasy X-2 (I know... not the best title) Visual Arts Collection with character-artworks, landscapes and outfits in it.
https://twitter.com/i/#!/Dead_Melody/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2FHaJyaj2v
(there are Visual Arts Collections of FF 9 and 10 too).
About the Parodius box-art: maybe my hearts is made of stone because I don't like this box-art at all. I think it looks like one of those cheap "we have not enough time, money and motivation for our produktion"-anime. I'm so sorry Bryan :(
Usually I love super cute box-arts but this one...
I don't know.
I don't like the way they draw the faces and the figure of the girls. It look's like there is no love in the picture (in my personal opinion). I mean I loooooove penguins! But still...not my cup of tea.
But what I like is "What did I do to deserve this my Lord?!". This game is so awesome! But it's a bit hard to find the right strategy.
BTW: Did you get the 4 AC-parts and does it work?
Huzzah! I say that, Justin, because I'm surprised that I was able to impress you with all five of my picks. Hmmm, but will I impress you with the next five??
ReplyDeleteHey there, warp! Er, I mean, Steve Pixel! Hey, does that mean your name is Steve? If so, nice to finally know your real name, warp :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, although I agree with your choices of ZHP and Gurumin, those are North American box arts. I decided to focus on Japanese box arts in this post. Maybe I'll cover NA box art in a future post, though :)
Oh, I understand not quite loving Amano's work, Melody. It's definitely ... interesting. That said, I love it. Oh, and I especially love his kind of fey/feminine depictions of men.
ReplyDeleteAlso, no worries at all that you don't like the Parodius Portable box art. We don't all have to agree around here!
I'm glad to hear you do like the What Did I Do To Deserve This, My Lord?! (man, that's a hard one to type out) box art, though :)
As for the AC movie: Yes, I got the parts, but I haven't been able to try them yet due to being overly busy with work. I'll check them out tonight, though, OK?
Oh, and thanks for sending them my way!
Ah true, I was so excited to go thru my old PSP games I forgot. The Japanese art is pretty good too, tho. Here's ZHP. And here's Gurumin. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteAnd oh yeah, my name really is Steve and anybody that wants to can friend me on FB if they click my avatar.
Ah, well, good to finally know you by a real name, Steve. Although I have to admit I'll miss being able to call someone 'warp' :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links to the Gurumin and ZHP Japanese box arts. Strangely, I was under the (incorrect) assumption that Gurumin had the same box art in both NA and Japan. Although I like the NA box art well enough, I much prefer the Japanese art!
As for ZHP: I think I actually prefer the NA art this time around. Strange, I know...
OMG, I just remember I saw the (IMHO) all-time greatest PSP box art on andriasang right before it died. Check this crazy shit out:
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong! I love feminin looking men like Link in Zelda Skyward Sword or Final Fantasy/Kingdom Hearts characters. But the drawings of Amano let them look so cold and stern. In combination with the makeup they look just strange. And not only the men, the women aswell. They always look slightly hermaphrodic. More like the heroes of a saga on the wall of a temple of an old culture that doesn't exists anymore. What I want to say is that his drawings never look real. Like real humans. Hmm does anything of this make any sense?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, take your time to watch the movie, I just wanted to know if everythings alright and if it works :)
Oh, I hear what you're saying, Melody, and I agree with you to a point. Still, I like Amano's stuff. That's OK, though--we all have different tastes!
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, I like that one, too, Steve. In fact, I'm pretty sure I mentioned it in a catch-all post earlier this year. I considered including it here, but didn't for some reason :|
ReplyDeleteOh and about great japanese psp boxarts:
ReplyDeleteI also love the boxart of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Dissidia FF and those on the pictures.
Oh man, I forgot Cho Aniki Zero. I mean that goes without saying, right? Hopefully I'm not ruining your future lists! ;>
ReplyDeleteI like the Persona ones, too, Melody--P3P, especially. Also, how did I forget that Venus & Braves was released for PSP? And not only that, but its box art is BEAUTIFUL! Hmmm, I may have to add it to my 'part 2' post. But which box art will I kick out in favor of it??
ReplyDeleteHa! I considered it, but in the end I only kind of like it, you know? Still, thanks for pointing it out :)
ReplyDeleteyeah i know, the boobies kinda ruin it for me too! ;>
ReplyDeleteHa! No, that isn't what I meant, silly. I guess it's just the overall design/layout. I think it's nice, but I wouldn't call it a favorite.
ReplyDeleteWow, the Japanese cover for Gurumin is so much better than the NA one! I love all the yellow
ReplyDeleteGreat picks, Bryan! I've gotta add the Grand Knights History cover, which might be a sore spot for some considering its canceled localization... I like the "antique" feel of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Anne! I like the NA art, too, but not as much. BTW, I really need to buy a copy of this game soon :|
ReplyDeleteYep, I love that art, too, Anne. In fact, it may appear in my next post on this subject ;)
ReplyDeleteWhoops! Should've waited until your next post to add my favorites
ReplyDeleteNo, that's OK! I asked people to share their favorites. As such, some of them are sure to pop up in my next post on the subject. That said, this is the first to be mentioned--and even then I haven't fully decided which games I'll be featuring in that post yet :)
ReplyDeleteI'm diggin that FF art. Does Yoshitaka Amano still do them? Seems like his stuff.
ReplyDeleteThis one's definitely Amano's work, Tom, but I don't know if he still does the covers for all of the mainline games. Anyway, I dig it, too :)
ReplyDeleteneed to mention:
ReplyDelete1. Venus & Braves
2. Grand Knights History
3. FF Series (All series have a nice art, except crisis core)
4. Dead Head Fred *Japanese cover version
5. Elminage Series (The art and the game I'm loving it)
Hey there, Aki Aki! I agree with all of the suggestions you shared here except for Dead Head Fred, and the only reason I don't (or can't) agree with Dead Head Fred's inclusion is that I've never seen it. Off to Google!
ReplyDeletethis one, i love the art and the idea
ReplyDeleteAh! Very interesting :) Have you played the game, by the way? Is it fun, or otherwise worthwhile? I'd honestly never heard of it until very recently.
ReplyDeletethe game so creative and fun to play. with changing head, you can have different ability. one of my best collection to play with.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, this makes it sound similar to that old Genesis game ... what was it called? Decapattack?
ReplyDeletedecap attack can't change different heads and different abilities like fred. You should see the review :D
ReplyDeleteOK, I'll look up a review!
ReplyDeletethe voice acting are so good
ReplyDeleteYou're really trying to get me to want/like this game, aren't you? :P
ReplyDeletekinda :p
ReplyDeleteSadly, I've still yet to look it up! :|
ReplyDelete