Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Inazuma Eleven 2 edition)

I don't know how many of you are aware, but Level-5's second soccer-themed--or football-themed, if you're not a North American--RPG, Inazuma Eleven 2, is set to hit the streets of Europe today.

Because I've been interested in this series since the first game was unleashed upon the Japanese public back in 2008, I thought I should devote a "Which Box Art is Better?" post to this second release.

The following piece of art will grace the cover of Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm:

The illustration below, on the other hand, will serve as the box art for Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard.

Which one do you prefer?

As for me: I slightly prefer Firestorm's cover art to Blizzard's, although I have to say I find both illustrations to be a bit busy. That said, I plan on picking up one or the other sooner rather than later--after I've acquired the first Inazuma Eleven, of course.

See also: Previous 'Which Box Art is Better?' posts

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Dead Island edition)

It doesn't take much for a zombie game to catch my attention. Really, all it has to do is include zombies--and lots of them.

OK, good box art often helps, too. After all, it kind of puts me in the mood to mow down zombies, you know?

Speaking of good, filled-with-zombies box art, I'd definitely use those words to describe the covers that have been created for Techland's Dead Island (trailers here), an open-world, survival-horror game that will be released for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on Sept. 6 in North America and Sept. 9 in Europe. (I'm guessing the Japanese version will be released in September, too, although I can't say that with certainty at the moment.)

As far as I'm aware, for instance, this piece of art will appear on all regular versions (i.e., in all territories) of Dead Island:

The following illustration, on the other hand, will grace the cover of a limited edition that will be released in Europe:

Honestly, I'd call the latter piece of box art the better of the two if it weren't a bit too close in execution to the covers that appeared on European releases of Resident Evil 4. Since that's not the case, though, I'm going to declare the stormy standard version the winner of this edition of "Which Box Art is Better?"

That's just my opinion, though. What's yours?

Pre-order: PC version, PS3 version and Xbox 360 version

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Dark Souls edition)

From Software's much-anticipated sequel to Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, is still a few months away from release--Japanese PS3 gamers will get the first crack at this action RPG when it hits the streets on Sept. 15, while North American and European PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers will gain access to it on Oct. 4 and 7, respectively--but that shouldn't keep us from playing another round of "Which Box Art is Better?" right? (The correct answer is "no," in case you were wondering.)

Let's start with the box art that's being prepped for the Japanese PS3 release, shall we?

Next, let's check out the art that seemingly will appear on the cover of the collector's edition of the North American PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. (Pre-order the former here and the latter here.)

I have to admit that I'm not at all sure which of the following illustrations will grace the covers of the European PS3 and Xbox 360 iterations of Dark Souls. I mean, some folks are saying the box art below--which supposedly will appear on the standard editions released in North America, too--will be used for these versions of the game:

While others are suggesting European gamers should keep an eye out for this cover come Oct. 7:

Personally, I prefer the blue-tinged piece of box art that's possiblymaybe going to show up on European store shelves in a few months. I also quite like the moody illustration that will serve as the Japanese version's cover art, although I understand why the folks at Namco Bandai (the game's publisher outside of Japan) decided against using it in other territories.

So, that's my opinion on the matter. What do all of you think about the Dark Souls box-art options shown above? Don't be shy!

See also: Previous 'Which Box Art is Better?' posts

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Catherine edition)

Actually, this edition of "Which Box Art is Better?" really should be titled "Which Box Art is Best?" as it includes four (rather than two) different illustrations--all of which will appear on North American covers of Atlus' upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 puzzler-platformer, Catherine.

Here, for instance, is the image that will grace the cover of the "regular" PS3 release of the game:

Gamers who consider that piece of box art to be a bit too risqué will be able to buy this "alternate" version (through Amazon.com) instead:

Xbox 360 owners will be presented with a pair of box art options, too, with the one below being the regular release:

And this one being the alternate (pre-order it here):

After much consideration, I have to admit that I like the regular PS3 cover the best, followed by the regular Xbox 360 cover. As far as the alternate covers are concerned: Once again, I prefer the PS3 iteration to its Xbox 360 counterpart.

Which one is your favorite?

See also: Previous Catherine posts

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Patapon 3 edition)

Over the next few weeks and months, the third installment of Sony's popular Patapon series will hit store shelves around the world--starting with the US on April 12 and ending with Europe on some as-yet-determined date later this year. (Japanese PSP owners will gain access to the game on April 28.)

Patapon fanatics should make note of those dates, as each region's packaging will feature a different piece of art. The following, for instance, will grace the cover of the US release of Patapon 3:

The Japanese version of the game, on the other hand, will showcase this illustration:

And when this Pyramid-developed title finally makes its way to Europe? Gamers there will have to keep their eyes peeled for this dramatic and comparatively minimalistic piece of cover art:

Although I like all three designs, I find the one that's set to appear on the US version to be the most appealing. Which one do you prefer?

Pre-order: Patapon 3

See also: Every previous 'Let's Play: Which Box Art is Better?' post

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Disgaea 4 edition)

One of the first games I'll buy after I (finally) obtain a PS3 will be Disgaea 4. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Until then, I'll stare longingly at the game's beautiful box art.

But which piece of art will I stare at--the one that graced the cover of the Japanese version of this Nippon Ichi-developed game (released in late February), or the one that will welcome Disgaea fans when the series' latest sequel appears on store shelves in the States sometime in the next few months?

Here's Disgaea 4's Japanese box art, by the way:

And here's the game's US box art:

Hold on to your hats, because I'm actually going with the US box art for once. The Japanese art is nice enough, but it's a bit too busy, don't you think?

See also: Every previous 'Let's Play: Which Box Art is Better?' post

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Scribblenauts edition)

North American gamers with a penchant for puzzlers should be well aware of the following piece of art, which graced the cover of 5th Cell's Scribblenauts when it arrived on store shelves late last year.

When the game finally hits the streets in Japan early next year, it'll feature not just a revamped title--Hirameki Puzzle Maxwell no Fushigi na Note--but revamped cover art (below) as well.

As nice as the North American art is, I much prefer its Japanese counterpart--which, in my opinion, is both cuter and more creative than the original.

What do you guys and gals think?

(Japanese box art via tinycartridge.com)

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Inazuma Eleven edition)

It's been a long time since we've played this little game, hasn't it? To tell you the truth, we probably wouldn't be playing it now if my last post hadn't prompted me to look up Inazuma Eleven's European and Japanese box art.

Speaking of which, the art that will grace the cover of this soccer RPG's European box (when it's released on Jan. 28) is below:

And this is the box art that accompanied the game's Japanese release in late 2008:

Which one do you prefer?

Honestly, I'm a bit torn. I'd go with the Euro art if I were forced at gunpoint to choose one over the other, mainly because I think it's more successful at getting the point across that the game is a soccer-focused RPG, but I have to admit that I also like how dynamic the Japanese art is.

See also: All previous entries in the 'Let's Play: Which Box Art is Better?' series

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Last Window edition)

In a few short days, European CiNG fans will be able to stroll into their favorite game shops and pick up as many copies as they want of Last Window: The Secret of Cape West (aka the sequel to the now-defunct developer's Hotel Dusk: Room 215).

Although the box art those folks will be searching for isn't all that different from the art that graced the cover of the Japanese version of this DS game (called Last Window: Midnight Promise), it's different enough that I think it warrants another edition of "Which Box Art is Better?"

Without further ado, here's the art that will appear on the cover of the European version of the game when it hits the streets on Friday:



And here's the art that appears on the already-available Japanese version of the game:



I know, I know, they're nearly identical. Still, I (slightly) prefer the darker, moodier European cover to its more colorful Japanese counterpart.

Which one do you prefer?

Buy: Last Window: The Secret of Cape West

Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (Professor Layton 3 edition)

Although European and North American gamers are still waiting for the third Professor Layton title to hit the streets in their respective territories--it'll be released on Oct. 22 in the former and on Sept. 12 in the latter--their Japanese counterparts have had access to the game since late 2008.

Have the folks in Nintendo's European and North American offices spent the ensuing years on anything other than the game's translation? If the following images are any indication, they've at least tweaked the title's cover art.

Nintendo of Europe's makeover (below) is the most extreme--especially as it accompanies a rather confounding name change.

Nintendo of America's design (below), on the other hand, is a lot less dramatic.

So, which one do I prefer? I'd go with the North American design, hands down, if screenshots didn't obscure a third of it. Of course, I'd like the European cover a lot more if it sported the logo that appears on its North American counterpart.

I guess what I'm saying, then, is "neither." Not that it matters--I'd buy the game day one even if it were sold in a plain paper sleeve.

Pre-order: Professor and the Lost Future (for European gamers) or Professor and the Unwound Future (for North Americans)

Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle edition)

Although North American gamers have been gazing the art that appears on the cover of their version of No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle for the better part of the year, their Japanese counterparts are just now getting a look at the art that will appear on their version of the Grasshopper-developed title when it hits store shelves on their shores in late October.

Did the designers at Grasshopper use the time between releases to improve upon the game's box art? Decide for yourself:



The North American box art is on the left, by the way, and the Japanese art is on the right.

As for my two cents: I like both covers, but I think I like the North American one just a bit more--mainly because it seems to convey the game's "rated M for mature" content better than the Japanese art.

Buy: No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle

Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (The Shoot edition)

When the PlayStation Move launches around the world later this year, it will be accompanied by the imaginatively--and rather wittily--titled The Shoot. (After all, players are tasked with helping film a series of Hollywood action flicks.)

Interestingly (well, it's interesting to me), Sony's designers seem to be "pulling a Kirby" (kind of) when it comes to this title's cover art.

The cover that will appear on the European version of The Shoot, for instance, will feature the following family-friendly art:

The cover of the North American version of the game, on the other hand, will feature art that's decidedly more malevolent.

If I were forced at gunpoint to choose one over the other, I'd probably go with the European cover, as it seems to do a better job of showing off the game's various enemies and environments.

See also: 'Let's play: Which box art is better? (Metroid: Other M edition)'

Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (Metroid: Other M edition)

Truth be told, I probably won't buy Metroid: Other M when it's released (in North America) on Aug. 31. Sure, it looks good--much better than the three Metroid Prime titles, in my humble opinion--but it still doesn't appeal to me. Of course, I've played just two Metroid games in my entire life--the NES original and its SNES sequel.

Still, my overall lack of interest in Metroid: Other M shouldn't preclude (you and) me from playing a little game of "which box art is better?" should it?

The North American box art is on the left, while what is presumed to be the Japanese box art (some believe it's just a sleeve) is on the right.



I don't know about you, but I much prefer the possible/probable Japanese cover. It's simple, yet striking--always a good combination. The North American cover, on the other hand, looks like a fan-made creation to my eyes.

See also: 'Let's play: Which box art is better? (Dragon Quest IX edition)'

Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (The 4 Heroes of Light edition)

Yesterday, the folks at Square-Enix announced that they'll be bringing Hikari no Yon Senshi: Final Fantasy Gaiden to Europe and North America later this year (Europeans will get it "this fall," while North Americans will get it on Oct. 5) as Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light.

So far, they've only released the cover art that will appear on the European version of the game, but I think that's enough to play another round of "Which box art is better?"--don't you?

Here's the art that appeared on the cover of the Japanese version of the game:

And here's the art that will appear on the European (and possibly the North American) version of the game:

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of either version's box art this time around. Although I like the composition of and the font used on the Japanese cover, the art itself is rather unappealing. Flip things around a bit and you have my opinion of the European cover--I like the art, but I'm unimpressed with the composition and the font.

Which cover do you prefer?

See also: 'Say hello to my next desktop wallpaper'

Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (Dragon Quest IX edition)

The folks at Nintendo have announced (finally!) European and North American release dates for the eagerly anticipated Square Enix/Level-5 RPG, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. North Americans will be able to get their grubby little hands on the DS title on July 11, while their European counterparts will be able to do so on July 23.

Although the European and North American versions of the game will retain most, if not all, of the features and qualities that made the Japanese original a mammoth hit, they will not retain that version's cover art (below).

Here's how the cover art will look on the European/North American versions of the game:

Which do I prefer? Eh, the Japanese version, I guess, although I can understand why the brass at Nintendo of America/Europe decided to change it (i.e., they probably considered the original art a bit too "Japanese" for Western audiences).

Anyway, if you want to know more about the European and North American versions of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, head over to tinycartridge.com or toastyfrog.com. Or just click on this link to see the game's latest trailer.

See also: 'Let's play: 'Which box art is better?' (PaRappa The Rapper edition)'