Comparing Square Enix's Japanese and US boxart
by Eric Caoili 
{ Apr 27th 2007 at 4:05PM }
In a recent interview with 1UP, Square Enix's marketing communications manager gave us some insight on the process behind adapting Chocobo Tales' packaging for the US. We happen to prefer the Japanese version's modest artwork over North America's chaotic cover, but we understand that the company had a younger audience to appeal to and a different message it needed to convey.
We've collected DS covers from Square Enix's Japanese and US releases after the post break for you to compare and decide which one you like best. To its credit, the company hasn't completely mangled its DS boxarts so far (The same can't be said about Nintendo's bastardization of Hotel Dusk's cover). How do you feel about Children of Mana's simplified design? Does Final Fantasy 3's stripped packaging appeal to your western tastes? And do you agree with 1UP that publishers have been doing a better job with dressing their products?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
halobreaker @ Apr 27th 2007 6:09PM
Let's not forget the cover art differences of Dragon Warrior (US) and Dragon Quest(JPN)
US:
http://www.theoldcomputer.com/Libarary's/Pictures/NESGameCovers/D/Dragon%20Warrior%201.jpg
JPN:
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l36/glenpolsky23/Dragon%20Quest%20Famicom/4-20-2007053.jpg
Hmmm... Not quite comfortable with Eastern culture yet.
Kia @ Apr 27th 2007 5:37PM
Mmmh, I don't mind most of them. I like the Japanese FF, Seiken Densetsu, and Chocobo Tales ones MUCH better though. Especially Seiken Densetsu. I'm just glad I own the Japanese version as well, because that's a gorgeous cover. xD
Snail @ Apr 27th 2007 5:39PM
Bastardization? Without konwing what it is, I bought Hotel Dusk BECAUSE of the modified cover. If they used the nice, rainbowy, pretty Japanese one it would not have caught my eyes at all. It has a more accurate theme towards the mystery/adventure game market.
Marc @ Apr 27th 2007 5:42PM
Just to add: in Europe, SE used the same boxart as in JAPAN for FFIII. Maybe because of bad feedback coming from the US?
Kia @ Apr 27th 2007 7:13PM
I don't know, that Japanese DQ cover looks better. At least it captures the style and spirit of the game better than the attempted badassery of the American cover.
Covarr @ Apr 27th 2007 8:47PM
I totally prefer the American art for Hotel Dusk. It's much more relevant to the game.
The Children of Mana artwork is about even for US and Japan, they each have their pros and cons.
Same with Chocobo tales; the bright yellow is cool and an attention grabber, but so is the popup book.
The US FFIII art looks like a Wii game. Since the game is not for Wii, the busier Japanese logo is much better.
I prefer the Japanese art for Mario Hoops because it just looks cooler, but since the logo on the American version is so big they probably couldn't have fit it onto the Japanese art.
Nicole @ Apr 27th 2007 9:05PM
Nothing will be as bad as the change to the Ico cover (not DS, but we're still talking about box art):
From this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Box-l-jp.jpg
to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ico_box_usa.jpg
UGH.
skeletonrobot @ Apr 27th 2007 9:18PM
the japanese ffiii is way better, you want have enough amano in your life.
Shanks @ Apr 28th 2007 1:09AM
But no one has yet answered the real question: Which Rocket Slime box art is better? I vote U.S.
NeverSage @ Apr 28th 2007 1:51AM
I really would like to know how they decided on the American FFIII boxart. "Wait, wait. What if we REMOVED the cool parts of this boxart?" "Brilliant!"
I like the American Hoops boxart better, btw.
Nicoles right about that Ico boxart though. I remember seeing that game in stores many times and didn't pick it up solely for the shitty boxart. Now it's one of my favorite games once I finally played it.
tacoman @ Apr 28th 2007 3:16AM
I picked up Mario Basketball when I was living in Japan, and the box art is a lot better than the US version; what the picture above doesn't show you is the shiny silver lettering they used for the "Mario" in the background. Same thing with Mario Kart DS. Metroid Prime Hunters is much better in America though, the lenticular box looks hot.
Peter S. @ Apr 28th 2007 1:15PM
Average American Joe doesn't understand most Japanese covers' art styles anyhow.
"WHY IS THIS SO PLAIN?"
etcetcetc
At least, from living in the USA, that's what I can gather.
ssuk @ Apr 28th 2007 1:44PM
Marc: Infact, Europe uses ALL the Japanese box arts displayed there, maybe one or two are different, but Europe tends to recieve the Japanese box art for most things. Strange that FFIII's JAP box art is more detailed than the US', usually it's the other way around.