Official Red Steel boxart [update 1]
by Jason Wishnov 
{ Sep 27th 2006 at 8:00AM }
That's right. It's red, and full of steely goodness.
Alas, we here at the Fanboy think it's rather uninspired. The logo remains unchanged from the serviceable "sword for t, gun for l" setup they've been showing off since E3, but the background is way too Kill Bill. Too bland? Too "I could have made that in Photoshop"? Let us know, o' judges of the box.
Oh, and a thousand pardons for the nasty, icky IGN watermark; this seems to be the only copy floating around on the web.
[Update 1: Check out IGN's compilation of confirmed Wii boxart!]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Blanko4 @ Sep 26th 2006 8:16PM
In all honesty, I actually like the fake cover that was posted previously to this one. As for my judgement of the cover itself, I think it could have been better.
Tom @ Sep 26th 2006 10:34PM
What's that blood on the blade about? I thought there would be no blood in the game, thus giving it it's "T" rating rather than an "M" rating, but the box art seems to indicate otherwise
Adrian vG @ Sep 27th 2006 5:59PM
whaaat?! No blood? Please let us turn it on from some settings menu, and lots of it! :)
Yeah, I liked the old (fake?) box art too. 3D rendered figure are not that hot, but this new one puts the game into the same category as GTA, Driver and such...
Still buying the game, though :)
jadnice @ Sep 27th 2006 9:06AM
Tom I agree with you, that game should have been rated M with blood. Why show it on the box but not as an element in the game. Hell Ninja Gaiden had blood and it would fade away.(Damn it Nintendo...)how great would the game be with that extra effects.
I prefer the other box art to this.
Pedro Van Faulk @ Sep 27th 2006 9:47AM
I like this box art. The fake art was too busy and generic looking. This is striking and eye catching. It looks quite unique.
Leave it to nintendo fans to complain even when they've got something good.
nodnetni @ Sep 27th 2006 9:48AM
It may just be me, but in looking at the box art for all the other games, it has something more to it that older systems game cases did not. I use to work in a electronics department, so I have seen a lot of cases. I didn’t realize what it was till now, it seems like the images on most of the cases really jump out at you, a real 3-D effect to them, But like I said it could just be me.
Falk Ebert @ Sep 27th 2006 9:56AM
Too "I could have made that in Photoshop"...
Shiro @ Sep 27th 2006 2:43PM
#4
We've just had it too good for too long...
:P
Silver R. Wolfe @ Sep 27th 2006 10:40AM
Absolutely horrible. Nothing about it is truly eye-catching, nor is it well done.
Oh well, not like this game looked like it was any good in the first place.
Ian Murray @ Sep 27th 2006 10:59AM
I'm in agreement with "jadnice" on the subject of liking the other bo art better. Anyone who has sufficient mastery of Photoshop, or to a lesser extent, Illustrator, could have fired this one out. Also, does anyone else notice the similarities of the figures to those used in the iPod commercials? Perhaps they are going for that, hoping the gamer will pick up on it in some dark corner of their mind, and relate the game to it.
I do not agree, however, that there needs to be blood. Yes, it would make the game that much more realistic, but when I consider the alternative - blood spurting onto the screen as I slice through the jugular of an enemy - I don't mind the lack of blood.
Besides, you can always get your hands on GTAWii for some hardcore baseball bat-on-hooker action.
Phil @ Sep 27th 2006 11:27AM
The cover makes it look like Kill Bill the Videogame.
All Your Lost Socks @ Sep 27th 2006 12:12PM
Sure I could have done that in Photoshop, but I didn't like the fake one better. It was way to busy. I actually like this - the lines are 'cleaner', if you will. Plus, I kind of like to think of the game in a Kill Bill light, so I don't think the throwback taints the game any. If anything it might make it seem easier to pick up.
Alisha Karabinus @ Sep 27th 2006 2:59PM
Yeah, I liked the fake as well and am sad that it WAS fake! Though it occurs to me -- when shopping around and looking at preorder options, the box I've seen used in images has been all black, with only the logo on it -- and I even like that better than this one, for its simplicity. I do really like the logo and it's nice to see it really stand out. But it makes me wonder why the all-black cover is everywhere and this one is rarely seen.
John Lucas @ Sep 27th 2006 3:17PM
I like it myself.
Sometimes more is just...more.
The simplicity works well in my opinion.
The Wii strip. The Red field full of sinister silhouettes. The solid strong title logo in the field of black. And the horizontal cutlines all along to signify the sword.
It works. I'd buy it based on this cover.
I bought SNES Shadowrun partially based on the cover it had. Lucked up and found one of the best games I've ever played in the process.
John Lucas
Allen Straith @ Sep 27th 2006 3:18PM
Your comments: Hmmm....I like it. But, I don' care if I like it or not. I play games, not box art. :-D
Marc @ Sep 28th 2006 5:44PM
"Tom I agree with you, that game should have been rated M with blood. Why show it on the box but not as an element in the game."
That's how they'll sell more games. More teens would buy this than a (self proclaimed) Mature gamer.
NothingShocking @ Sep 27th 2006 5:01PM
To all you "I could have made that in Photoshop" people. What do you think designers use to make box art? Is most cases it's Photoshop and/or Illustrator.
The question isn't "could it be made it Photoshop"? but "Could YOU make it as WELL in Photoshop"? It's not the tool used to create the image, but the creativity/talent of the designer behind it. I don't know about you, but most people who I've heard say that they can use Photoshop with any proficiency really can't and have no idea what good design is.
Personally, I find the stark contrast of the boxart eye catching and visually appealing. But, what do I know?
The Wiizard @ Sep 28th 2006 12:03AM
The boxart is fine! What is it with you people that always have to complain about every single detail like "Meh, I could have done that in photoshop" or "It´s too Kill Bill"?
The boxart is just fine. Its simple, its catchy, its misterious while suggesting the sword and gunplay at the same time. I quite like it a lot, I even disliked the old fake one because it REALLY was an easy photoshop of two art pieces you could have gotten from IGN or something.
acletras @ Sep 29th 2006 9:21AM
I agree with what some others have said, I MUCH prefer this version
http://www.nwiizone.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/redsteel_wii_boxart.jpg
Zohluff @ Sep 29th 2006 12:41PM
Ugh. Is the image that Acletras linked the beloved fake cover? Jesus, it sucks. It looks more fitting for a 360 title.
I like this one better. It's mysterious, a bit noir, yet it goes right to the point. The red on black contrast is eye catching and would definitely grab my attention.
The fake looks generic, uninteresting. Covers like that make me assume the game sucks and they are trying to mask it.