English Games with better box art.

[Black Tiger]

I think only the two PCE aniki games are good ones.
rest is either crap, a cheap spin-off or/and no fun at all.

sounds like you're cho aniki fan? is this game's visual and concept cringing ?

The PCE Aniki titles are gorgeous works of imaginitive art. Ai Cho Aniki in particular is one of the best looking 16-bit console games. It's not so much of a gay theme as a body builder themed game. There is a culture of men who are only interested in other men who push their bodies to their limits.

That PSP cover is amazing and no different than similar over the top fighting game covers.

Do you honestly believe that homosexuls are created by playing games as children? Do you also believe that violent video games make people violent?

Do yourself a favor and never watch a Terry Gilliam film.

[esteban]

DEVIL'S CRUSH

Speaking of trannies, I wish the Japanese Art for Devil Crash was more fierce/bolder because it does not hold my interest. I'm ok with "subtle" and "nuanced" compositions, but the female face (maybe it's the dead eyes?) falls flat and is boring. A bit more intensity (get rid of the lifeless eyes, lips*) and it could have been a haunting, intriguing cover. THEREFORE, despite the horribly goofy green demon-devil on the US cover, US wins.

* If the intention was to draw "lifeless" eyes and lips, well, damn, a real artist would have achieved this without the final result being so "blah"...I really feel a slight tweak or two would have made all the difference.

Seriously? This...



over this ...



I have to say that most of the US and, in fact, most western, releases of console games in the 80's and 90's was inferior to the Japanese artwork. I don't know why - perhaps the thinking was that the more adult nature of most Japanese cover art wouldn't suit Europeans and Americans. It was all just so damn cartoony. I don't think it was until well into the MD/Genesis and SNES life that art seemed to stop being so crap.

Yeah, I feel that Devil Crash falls short, and, sadly, a few tweaks could have saved it from "passionless, limp" and transformed it into a truly "haunting, captivating" gem...

Read my posts in the old thread—I argue that 80's & 90's western art falls into a few categories ("goofy/corny" is one of them), but that simply because a NA cover is goofy does not preclude it from being an effective/interesting piece if art.

My main thesis: TG-16's art, on average, was NOT NEARLY AS OFFENSIVE/PATHETIC as art found on its contemporaries (NES, SMS, SNES, Genny). Why? Because a lot of TG-16 art, ultimately, is rather uninspired/bland/juvenile (a bit goofy), but other consoles are home to THE FAR WORSE OFFENDERS.

ALSO: Japan had a lot of crappy/generic/blah covers that folks give a pass on, simply because they are of Japanese origin.

DISCLAIMER: obviously, art is subjective, but I am glad that, from the vantage of 2014, we have several pieces of art to appreciate (per game) instead of just one, monolithic composition that was recycled for all markets worldwide.

GOOD STUFF ALL-AROUND: I dig the generic mech for Sidearms (JP), but I actually have more fun viewing the goofy NA cover (it is a classic western formula for fantasy/sci-fi). We should enjoy both.   

[imparanoic]

I think only the two PCE aniki games are good ones.
rest is either crap, a cheap spin-off or/and no fun at all.

sounds like you're cho aniki fan? is this game's visual and concept cringing ?

The PCE Aniki titles are gorgeous works of imaginitive art. Ai Cho Aniki in particular is one of the best looking 16-bit console games. It's not so much of a gay theme as a body builder themed game. There is a culture of men who are only interested in other men who push their bodies to their limits.

That PSP cover is amazing and no different than similar over the top fighting game covers.

Do you honestly believe that homosexuls are created by playing games as children? Do you also believe that violent video games make people violent?

Do yourself a favor and never watch a Terry Gilliam film.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%B6%85%E5%85%84%E8%B2%B4

the wiki in Japanese specifies elements of gay culture, even subtitles of bit ver states ''The Legend of Holy Protein'' which u can suss out the meaning

BTW, I wasn't being serious in my last comments nor was I being anti-gay, sexual orientation is a personal thing, freedom of choice of one's orientation

[Arkhan]

Both Devil Crush/Crash have retarded box art, so it's not a big loss really.

Dragon's Fury boxart kicked it right in the balls.

[ElSeven]

i always thought davis cup tennis had much better cover art for the NA release.  looking back on the threads that compared all the cover art, there are just so many horrible choices.  moto roader and cosmic fantasy 2 are hilariously terrible.

ElSeven, you know I love you, but DAMN. MotoRoader?

YOU JUST MESSED WITH THE WRONG CINDERFELLA (namely, me). 

The Japansese cover is totally meh generic. It isn't horrible, but it is hilarious that you would elevate generic pap above THE TRULY CREATUVE, GLORIOUSU, UNIQUE NUART.

you think I jest (gratuitous use of "U" has that effect), but, sincerely, I am not goofin'

Here's the old thread:

https://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=13928.msg280215#msg280215


But, even better, instead of ranting a new rant here in this thread, you can read about my take on the "Japan has better art" trope:

https://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=13928.msg278949#msg278949

(I make a few posts before I argue that MotoRoader's cover is the Magritte of TG-16 art...)

ha yes i remember that thread but ....i just can't agree, i think even Final Zone II is better than motoroader's shitstain of a cover.  I can see the point you are making about magritte tho, but even he would turn his back and blush when confronted with the awkward cover art chosen for the US version of this game.

[greedostick]

Late one stormy night in the PC Engine marketing office:

Boss: Hey Kevin, we need to release some Japanese PC Engine games in the United States. But there is a problem! We have all these excellent Japanese covers already made, but no American cover art. It just makes perfect sense to spend time and money re-doing all these cover arts. In case you haven't noticed you are the only American here and we need an "American" style art that will appeal to your mongoloid race. Have you ever done art before? Preferably shitty air-brushed art of women that look like dudes?

Kevin: No sir.... but my 9 year old son is an amazing artist!

Boss: Perfect! That's the target age of our gamers! I'm going to give you some art supplies so your son can FUBAR these covers all up. Now make sure he knows that Americans are very immature, stupid, and can not handle violent the Japanese style of art. Make sure he knows the covers must be very "American" and look as shitty as humanly possible.

Kevin: Yes sir! You can count on me!

Boss: Great! Now get out of here you bucket of turds before I Judo Chop! you in your throat! REMEMBER! AS SHITTY AS POSSIBLE! WOMEN THAT LOOK LIKE DUDES! AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE AIRBRUSHED AND LOOK LIKE THE HAVE MRDD!

Kevin: Thank you for this opportunity sir! These covers are going to be so Shiteous, everyone is going to love them!

[warpig227]

i personally like the american air zone box art better. something about the colors and simplicity

[esteban]

i personally like the american air zone box art better. something about the colors and simplicity

Air Zonk? Yeah, I can see that.

CONTINUING: I personally prefer US Ordyne vs JP Ordyne.