One of the discussions I have constantly found myself in the middle of is which package art looks better. Do a search on just about any video game package in Google images and you may see several different box illustrations.
This is largely because, as my marketing bugs tell me, each territory has different tastes and styles. Fair enough. I would argue that while there certainly are differences, they may not be as pronounced as I have been led to believe. For example, the nearly legendary Mega Man 1 box art was probably created under the same logic but I don't ever remember wanting to play as a fifty-something holding a laser pistol and standing in an incredibly awkward pose. However, I am happy to say that the US/European box art and the Japanese box art do feel very similar.
To me the Japanese one feels like it has a large anime accentuation to it with softer lines and brighter colors. The US/European art conveys the brooding side of Spencer along with that air of mystery.
[I also notice that the Japanese Spencer stands up straighter and has much better posture - Gearoid]
Even our localization team split about 50/50 between which version they liked - not to mention the fact that the Japanese BC even has a slightly different logo. I'm curious as to what you guys think? Vote on the new poll on the front page and let us know. It won't change anything... but it'll make us feel good!
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They both look awesome!!...
...But im leaning more towards the JAPAN BC art.Japan
I would chose the Japan version because it has more detail, the smoke looks better illuminated by the play of light,at least to me.I also think the contrast of a Bionic Commando in a natural environment looks interesting and would grab my attention more than a dark backdrop,although there is something cool about the shadowed eyes.Not Japan * lighting not realistic - than again its a game *
Not Japan is not realistic. The lighting is not realistic he's got more shadow on left side of his body(viewers right)suggesting that the light source is from his right(viewers left)yet the light reflection on the backdrop is more reflective on his left(Viewers right),if ya follow me. Its as if somebody took the BC artwork added black shadow and than juxtapose it with a backdrop that was a separate piece of artwork.With the amount of shadowing this is not obvious its subtle.But who buys a book based on the cover? and how many people are that inexperienced with video games to do the same?Hmm...
The Japan version really pops it's a lot brighter with the whole jungle background and I do like the logo better on it...but I'd have to say the Not Japan would probably do better in the US market (I'd think) just because it looks cool. The whole light in the eyes in the Japan version IMO makes him look possessed.U.S.
At first glance, I like the Japan version better, for its high contrast between glowing red and neon green. Really cool.But I don't like Japan's background because BC is not a jungle adventure. I also prefer the U.S. version's backlight contrast to focus on the arm rather than Japan's highest contrast spot being on the head. Japan's title placement with title logo overlapping illustration's shirt logo looks out of place.
Jungle Adventure
The new BC is a jungle adventure in part. Check the pictures and video clipsI take that back
did i say jungle,I meant (central?)Park :-) by the way was reviewing the story and wow it actually sounds really good im now really anticipatingI take that back Pt 2
this game -- oopsmega man - what about Yo Bro (TurboGrafx-16) Wally bear and the no! Gang (NES)
I'm old enough to remember the mega man artwork.Wow it really sucks hey if ya like that checkout: Yo Bro (TurboGrafx-16) Wally bear and the no! Gang (NES) http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/january03/covers/index2.shtmlOr almost any of the Sega Master System Games
checkout no #2 on their list. Can you guess what no #1 is? http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/january03/covers/index3.shtmlI'm 50/50
I like the US/Europe one because of the fact he has that darkness to him I like the Jungle one because it shows him how he's really wild now and not the same clean cut one line spitting cocky punkIt's all in the logo
It's a toss up for me which cover I prefer. But there's just something I like more about the JP logo, quite possibly the almost glowing letters.Like someone else posted, it'd be much better if it was just the logo on the cover and possibly wih a red hue to it similar to Re Armed.