If ever there was a video game cover composition that illustrates the physical/emotional/social/political politics of gender, this is it.
Obviously, the discussion of gender has expanded far beyond this image, but for late-80's, or even today, it is still pretty poignant.
We still sexualize and stylize violence in art/film, etc. etc. we still rely on the tired cliches and tropes.
I think the Tokimeki Memorial cover was inspired by the romantic manga genre and the tone is pretty intense for a children's PCE game.
Context is important. In the late 1980's, the mainstream gamer was not commonly acknowledged to be anything beyond 20-40 year old otaku.
Lots of video game covers have tried to show love, but the compositions were closer in spirit to a VHS cassette sold behind the counter...
...none have the intensity of the seemingly goofy Tokimeki cover. Political politics of gender.