Back in the days before the Interweb let you read previews, watch exclusive trailers, check out the developer’s diary and argue with the rest of the gaming community over how great/terrible it’s going to be, you bought a game because it either had a cool sounding name (like Ninja Golf), or because the game cover looked like it might be fun. Some people got it right, like this:
Attention grabbing, good use of color, great font, illustrates what the game is about. A+
And some people…
5. Clu Clu Land
When the name of your game doesn’t tell you anything about it (unlike Ninja Golf), you rely on your box art to convey your message of a dystopian futuristic, rhythm-and-dance 2D fighter, or whatever. Judging from the 8-bit box art of Clu Clu Land, you play a one armed pink blob that juggles fried eggs under some gems and a curvy hot dog. And just to prove that 8-bit cover design is actually possible:
4. Demon Attack
If you can’t see what’s going on in the above image, here’s a close up of the most pertinent details:
A silver dinosaur with a rocket up its ass flying through space.
3. Phalanx
In DOOM, you get to play as a soldier that has to gun down hordes of demon abominations from Hell – just like it shows on the box! The bearded, banjo-playing hillbilly, prominently featured on the cover of Phalanx however is, much to my surprise, not actually a character in ‘The Hyper-Speed Shoot-Out In Space’.
2. Cock’in
I admit, it is entirely possible that I’m completely missing the intricacies of this surreal art piece, showcasing as it does, some noveau pastiche of modern society and questioning the very nature of life and mankind, while maintaining a spiritual relevance – but probably not.
By the way, never google image search cock’in.
1. Julie Finds A Way
Err. Finds a way to do what exactly? Besides tightly clutching a suspiciously phallic looking stick.
Bonus:
For those wondering:
Ninja + Golf = Ninja Golf. A++
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[...] 3. Questionable Game Art [...]
Let’s also add in the horrid Sega Master System box arts too!
http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/scans3/alexkiddmiracleworld.jpg
http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/scans3/ghosthouse_card.jpg
http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/scans3/zillion.jpg
What the hell were they thinking?
@ kwokodile
Cock’in is the result of a very poorly thought out pun on ‘Chicken’ . Anyway, the game is also known as Chicken Chase; you play as a rooster (cock’in .. get it?), and you have to run around the hen house stopping mice, foxes and snakes from getting at the eggs, all in between bouts of exhausting sex with the hen. Or something.
Yes, this is very poorly illustrated in the box art.
Here’s my contribution towards questionable game art
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Anticipation_nes.jpg
Oh yeah, the more I look at it, the more the Space Pirate guy looks like a John Rhys David clone…..
LOL at cock’in . any idea what kind of game that is?
There’s a surprisingly large amount of game art where the cover model looks like he’s either constipated or in the middle of an incredible motion.
See here: http://gameaxis.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Red_Dead_Revolver.png
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Megaman NES cover has been beaten by a dead horse, like a dead horse. Coincidentally, the American Megaman 3 NES cover has Megaman zapping Sparkman in the nuts; that’s kinda odd.
Space Pirates should get the nod for the guy’s constipated look.
http://www.1up.com/media/03/5/4/1/lg/155.JPG
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Ah yes Megaman. Personally, I like it! Plus, it always makes lists of worst game art so I thought I would give it a miss.
look awesome to me….. : )
lacking Megaman NES
http://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1104774873-00.jpg
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