The vertical style SFC boxes allowed for much more interesting art than the NA/EU one. A huge chunk of the "canvas" is taken up by walls of text and empty space on the western boxes!
Definitely! Same is true with later consoles. Japanese box art in general has always been superior to me.
l think I remember reading that in the US game covers are often changed so that they have characters on the front because they sell better, or at least the publisher believes they will. Generally l prefer the Japanese versions but occasionally I think the EU versions are the best. Take the Silent Hill series for example. SH1 (JP, JP, US, EU) The JP looks more like a Biohazard game cover while the US looks like someone's first time using Photoshop and they're messing about with filters. I really like the grungey texture and rusty reds and browns on the EU version. I think they really captured the tone of the game much better here. SH2 (JP, JP, US, EU) The first JP one's a bit boring and I don't like the splodge of red in the middle while the second has far too much going on and is a bit of a mess IMO. The US one is very good though and I'm torn between that and the Director's Cut version EU box which has a red strip which contrasts better with the black than the blue. The cardboard texture of the box adds to the grungey feel. That PS2 box is actually mine which I just picked up for 95p Battered but the discs are OK. SH3 (JP, US, EU) JP version's better than the last 2 but it could do without that white splodge in the bottom right (I think it's meant to be a second 3?). The stroke on the title is too thick as well which takes away the detail of the distressing effect and makes it look softer. US version's OK. I'm not usually a fan of CG characters on the front of the box as they tend to date, but this isn't too bad. The EU version is my favourite of all of these boxes here and one of my favourite game boxes overall. Familiar ideas used with the grungey textures and limited colours, but I think they're just executed best here. There's something about the expression on Heather's face that connects and makes you want to help her. SH4 (JP, US, EU) Similar theme for all 3 here, focusing on the door but where I think the JP and US versions fall down is the heads that are overlaid. They'd be much better without them I think as just the image of the door with all those chains is a strong one, with plenty of room for the viewer to fill in the blanks as to what's behind the door. Apart from the ghostly Wednesday Addams I quite like the JP version but I don't like the US version. Door's all stretched funny and the head doesn't look very good. The effects on the EU version are a little overdone but the abstract white shape makes it look slightly fucked up and I like the black writing here. Overall I feel the EU covers capture the tone of the games the best. Just to clarify though, I don't know the first thing about art or design so if it sounds like I'm talking out my ass, I probably am lol. Just calling things as I see and interpret them.
Agreed with the EU SH1. Easily IMO the best out of the four covers. Actually, I agree with all your favorites here. For the most part the EU ones seem to stand out in subtle ways. The US covers seem to come across a tad bit plain while the JP ones do indeed have a little too much going on. The EU covers strike that perfect balance with me.
That Silent Hill 4: The Room cover kinda looks like a younger bruce willis getting shocked to death or some shit lol
