that Berzerk cover is freaking tits! (as Chris Yarger would say). Hey did you miss last week? I can't remember you posting anything, but maybe I wasn't paying attention.
RETROspective: Videogame Box Art Part 2: The Best
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 On 07/23/2016 at 10:48 AM by The Last Ninja See More From This User » |
A look back at gaming's greatest covers
Box art is not nearly as important as it used to be, but I think it's still important. If you missed part one of this series (the worst box art covers), you can check it out here.
The good news is that there are a LOT of awesome VG covers! Surprisingly, there are more good ones than bad ones. I did have to trim down this list, but I settled on 25 exceptional covers which span several decades. No cringing this time, just enjoy these covers, and hopefully some of them bring back some nostalgia for you.
Berzerk (Atari 2600, 1982)
How awesome is this cover? The robot enemy is getting blown up right in our faces! You can even see bits and pieces of it flying into the air!
Joust (Atari 2600, 1982)
This cover is surprisingly exciting. The ostrich-like creature is running right at you and the guy's spear is out and ready. It looks ridiculous, but still quite good.
Mario Bros. (Atari 2600/NES, 1983)
Simply classic. The bros. are in their natural poses, and Mario is even doing his usual "Mario jump." Excellent.
Metroid (FDS/NES, 1986--Japanese cover)
This action shot of Samus in her original space suit is awesome! Too bad we didn't get a cool picture of Samus like this for the American box art.
Gradius (NES, 1986)
I looked at a lot of space shooters covers, and I must admit, Gradius has the best one. This picture is gorgeous, and all the little details are amazing as well.
The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1987)
Another classic cover. The simple emblems are profound, and the gold cart made this game even more special for gamers.
Castlevania (NES, 1987)
Konami had a lot of great covers for their NES games, but none as awe-inspiring as Castlevania. Dracula's face just above the creepy castle, Simon in the front in a heroic pose with his whip at the ready. . . perfection.
Battle Chess (Amiga CD32, 1988)
This cover really caught my attention. Look at this awesome scene: the queen is zapping a pawn with a lightning bolt from her hand! Easily the best chess cover ever.
Mega Man 2 (NES, 1988--Japanese cover)
To be honest, all the Famicom MM covers are great, but 2 might be the best for nostalgia's sake. Mega Man's cool jumping pose with all the faces of the robot masters behind him. . . it's just perfect.
Ninja Gaiden (NES, 1988)
What's not to love about this cover? It's the epitome of ninja awesomeness, which was easily defined by Ryu Hayabusa, gaming's coolest ninja of the late '80s.
The Battle of Olympus (NES, 1988)
For a kids game, this cover has quite a few ferocious monsters on it! But wait, they're not just monsters, they're mythological monsters! Yep, it deserves to be on the list.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES, 1989)
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There's a lot of excitement in this cover, which guarantees any kid to stand in awe when he sees it. It's also more epic than an action movie poster!
A Boy and His Blob (NES, 1990)
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This cover caught my attention because it's in the form of a comic, which actually explains the blob's abilities. Very inventive.
Crack Down (Genesis, 1990--Japanese cover)
Speaking of movie posters, this looks like one indeed! Talk about exciting. Also, I'm not sure if the guy in the back is gonna make it...
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi (Genesis, 1990--Japanese cover)
Another epic ninja cover, this time Shinobi, Sega's radical ninja of the Genesis era. The lightning bolt and the cracked face of the Statue of Liberty are nice details.
Rolling Thunder 2 (Genesis, 1991--Japanese cover)
Another movie-esque cover (I'm a sucker for those). This time, it looks like a James Bond knock-off, but that's not a bad thing.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time (SNES, 1992)
I have always loved this cover. It's a little busy, yes, but also intense and just cool. Everyone is snarling, and the historic features are represented perfectly in accordance with the game.
Final Fantasy VII (PS1, 1997)
A simple cover indeed, but an iconic one. Cloud's pose and the mystery of the machine in front of him simply enticed you to discover what this game was all about. Also, his sword is freakin' huge!
Super Smash Bros. (N64, 1999--Japanese cover)
Yes, the artstyle is very cutesy, but this Japanese cover for the first Smash Bros. is neat because of the different panels which show the characters fighting. It's a good way to represent a fighting game.
Spawn Armageddon (PS2/GCN/Xbox, 2003)
Spawn is one cool dude, and he looks amazing here! The flames below and the hot chicks round out the package nicely.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (PS2/GCN/Xbox, 2003)
Sure, this cover looks cool, but the details really make it shine. The cuts on the prince, the sand emanating from his sword, the face of an enemy in the sword's reflection. . . it all comes together for an awesome cover.
The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning (PS2/GCN/Xbox, 2006)
Who would have ever thought that a Spyro cover could look this epic? The determined look in Spyro's eyes, the swirl of lightning engulfing him. . . it's excellent!
Sonic Generations (PS3/Xbox 360, 2011)
This cover is great because it's neat to see retro Sonic and modern Sonic running beside each other. I think this was the perfect way to celebrate Sonic's 20th anniversary.
Halo 4 (Xbox 360, 2012)
Out of all the Halo covers, this is the best one. This is just gorgeous art! And that's the thing, it's not a 3D image, it's an actual painting!
Star Fox Zero (Wii U, 2016)
Criticize the game all you want, but SFZ has a great cover! The four pilots are nicely displayed along with the space vehicles within the backdrop of space itself.
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