The worst box art.

Isak · 12-29-2010, 01:36 PM

Following the new-old threat about favorite box art I thought we could do a thread about the opposite.
So, what's your least favorite/worst adventure game box art?

My contribution is the PAL front cover for Lighthouse
Terrible colors and weird cut ins and fading of a baby and... a robot.

***fov*** · 12-29-2010, 04:29 PM

Ew! That's not what my copy looks like. I have this one and kinda like it, I've always found the blues and the light coming from the O to be striking.

I've seen lots of ugly boxes but none are screaming out as the worst at the moment. I'll have to take a look at my game shelf.

Lee in Limbo · 12-29-2010, 04:52 PM

I remember both of those Lighthouse covers for some reason, though I'm pretty sure my friend Gary had the dark cover that fov linked to.

As for my choice, at the risk of dredging up the old controversy, I give you the Mata Hari game cover, which still gets my vote for worst cover, just on sheer tackiness points.

thejobloshow · 12-29-2010, 05:48 PM

God lord, what happened to your cover of Lighthouse?

BTW, the US version of ICO.

Heh heh, it's always the US version.

Ascovel · 12-29-2010, 06:58 PM

The original cover of Toonstruck with the clown poking a needle inside a stuffed animals eye is quite infamous for nor being attractive to any audience.

My more personal dislikes:

Quest for Glory V - decently made, but totally bland concept

Broken Sword IV - plain awful

Escape from Monkey Island -such a drop in cover quality for the legendary series

Hoipolloi · 12-29-2010, 07:10 PM

I confess, I don't own a single game with ugly box art! But I've done some research & come up with a personal candidate:

Elum · 12-30-2010, 12:53 AM

The US version of Guilty.

It is so ugly I just can't find proper words to describe its ugliness. In comparison to US Gulty, even the US ICO looks interesting.

Isak · 12-30-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elum

The US version of Guilty.

It is so ugly I just can't find proper words to describe its ugliness. In comparison to US Gulty, even the US ICO looks interesting.

Ew, even worse than that ugly Lighthouse cover!

Leonel · 12-30-2010, 12:02 PM

GreyFuss · 12-30-2010, 02:00 PM

I don't know if I can classify any game box I have as "worst" but this one sure is plain and unimaginative...

Nafsika · 12-30-2010, 02:31 PM

Are you kidding that's awesome^ haha

harald · 12-31-2010, 05:57 AM

Mystery of the Druids was one of the first that struck my mind. It's ugly, cheesy and doesn't give you a good idea of what the game is like. And the embossed details only add to the plastic, unrealistic look (which, admittedly, does give a good representation of the graphics in-game).

I stole the image from GreyFuss' post in the best box-art thread.

I didn't mean to bash your personal opinion, in fact I thought of this at the same time as I posted in that other thread.

Different opinions for different people, I suppose, but I do agree on your nomination in this thread, GreyFuss.

GreyFuss · 12-31-2010, 06:32 AM

Gonchi · 12-31-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee in Limbo

As for my choice, at the risk of dredging up the old controversy, I give you the Mata Hari game cover, which still gets my vote for worst cover, just on sheer tackiness points.

Got to say I prefer it to the US version.

Actually, now that I think about it, I tend to prefer European covers over US covers.

Here's my contribution to the thread.

tastebud · 01-01-2011, 03:18 AM

more more more! all these made me laugh !

ozzie · 01-01-2011, 04:29 AM

As much as I love Azrael's Tear, but its cover seems to illustrate an "edutainment" snooze fest of a game. The American box art is also pretty terrible, but for different reasons...

I'm surprised no one has already mentioned the box art of Broken Sword here. It was called terrible a few times in this forum before. And just looking at it again...it isn't very good at representing the game, is it? What's up with this brooding, mysterious tattooed guy? Don't remember his appearance in the game...

Oh, and then there's Ring, which just looks bland and unimaginative. Showing a ring on the cover when the game is called Ring...genius! I get bored just by looking at it. Or it may just be the memories of the game resurfacing...

...anyway, that's enough for now!

Weare6 · 01-01-2011, 09:45 PM

Ha Ha... These covers are sooo bad. What were the Art directors thinking. (if there was any). I like Isak's contibution for "Lighthouse". wow its just plain weird & disturbing. Ascovel is right about "Broken Sword 4" cover... It's absolutely terrible. I'm sorry I have no cover to share at the moment but I will be sure to upload it when I find one. This thread made me laugh... keep it up.

Lucien21 · 01-02-2011, 03:14 AM

Midnight Nowhere in the UK was seriously lacking.

http://www.mobygames.com/game/window...CoverId,32906/

Monolith · 01-02-2011, 03:28 AM

Wow I was confused with the OP about the Lighthouse cover. I never knew there was another version that looked so terrible. I prefer the original one better.

GarageGothic · 01-02-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harald

Mystery of the Druids was one of the first that struck my mind. It's ugly, cheesy and doesn't give you a good idea of what the game is like. And the embossed details only add to the plastic, unrealistic look (which, admittedly, does give a good representation of the graphics in-game).

That Mystery of the Druids box art was terrible enough to spawn a whole Photoshop Phriday thread over at somethingawful.com. So at least *something* good came out of it

12-29-2010, 01:36 PM	#1
Isak The Dude Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 490	The worst box art. Following the new-old threat about favorite box art I thought we could do a thread about the opposite. So, what's your least favorite/worst adventure game box art? My contribution is the PAL front cover for Lighthouse Terrible colors and weird cut ins and fading of a baby and... a robot. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ the Theory is Sound / Rilgo. Clothes. And. Apparel. Last edited by Isak; 12-30-2010 at 11:35 AM.

12-29-2010, 04:29 PM	#2
*fov* Rattenmonster Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 10,404	Ew! That's not what my copy looks like. I have this one and kinda like it, I've always found the blues and the light coming from the O to be striking. I've seen lots of ugly boxes but none are screaming out as the worst at the moment. I'll have to take a look at my game shelf. Share Share this post on Twitter

12-29-2010, 04:52 PM	#3
Lee in Limbo It's Hard To Be Humble Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,557	I remember both of those Lighthouse covers for some reason, though I'm pretty sure my friend Gary had the dark cover that fov linked to. As for my choice, at the risk of dredging up the old controversy, I give you the Mata Hari game cover, which still gets my vote for worst cover, just on sheer tackiness points. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Lee Edward McImoyle, Author Smashwords eBooks

12-29-2010, 05:48 PM	#4
thejobloshow Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 303	God lord, what happened to your cover of Lighthouse? BTW, the US version of ICO. Heh heh, it's always the US version. Share Share this post on Twitter

12-29-2010, 06:58 PM	#5
Ascovel Spoonbeaks say Ahoy! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 1,053	The original cover of Toonstruck with the clown poking a needle inside a stuffed animals eye is quite infamous for nor being attractive to any audience. My more personal dislikes: Quest for Glory V - decently made, but totally bland concept Broken Sword IV - plain awful Escape from Monkey Island -such a drop in cover quality for the legendary series Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ A Hardy Developer's Journal - The Scientific Society's online magazine devoted to charting indie adventure games and neighboring territories

12-29-2010, 07:10 PM	#6
Hoipolloi Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 95	I confess, I don't own a single game with ugly box art! But I've done some research & come up with a personal candidate: Share Share this post on Twitter

12-30-2010, 12:53 AM	#7
Elum Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 10	The US version of Guilty. It is so ugly I just can't find proper words to describe its ugliness. In comparison to US Gulty, even the US ICO looks interesting. Share Share this post on Twitter

12-30-2010, 12:02 PM	#9
Leonel Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 6	Share Share this post on Twitter

12-30-2010, 02:00 PM	#10
GreyFuss Grue Master Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: GreyFuss Castle Posts: 237	I don't know if I can classify any game box I have as "worst" but this one sure is plain and unimaginative... Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Don't Hate Me Because I am Beautiful....There Are Many Other Reasons. " http://home.earthlink.net/~greyfuss/

12-30-2010, 02:31 PM	#11
Nafsika Banned User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: In your head...and it's rent free Posts: 236	Are you kidding that's awesome^ haha Share Share this post on Twitter

12-31-2010, 05:57 AM	#12
harald Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 301	Mystery of the Druids was one of the first that struck my mind. It's ugly, cheesy and doesn't give you a good idea of what the game is like. And the embossed details only add to the plastic, unrealistic look (which, admittedly, does give a good representation of the graphics in-game). I stole the image from GreyFuss' post in the best box-art thread. I didn't mean to bash your personal opinion, in fact I thought of this at the same time as I posted in that other thread. Different opinions for different people, I suppose, but I do agree on your nomination in this thread, GreyFuss. Share Share this post on Twitter

12-31-2010, 06:32 AM	#13
GreyFuss Grue Master Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: GreyFuss Castle Posts: 237	Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Don't Hate Me Because I am Beautiful....There Are Many Other Reasons. " http://home.earthlink.net/~greyfuss/

01-01-2011, 03:18 AM	#15
tastebud Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 364	more more more! all these made me laugh ! Share Share this post on Twitter

01-01-2011, 04:29 AM	#16
ozzie Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 726	As much as I love Azrael's Tear, but its cover seems to illustrate an "edutainment" snooze fest of a game. The American box art is also pretty terrible, but for different reasons... I'm surprised no one has already mentioned the box art of Broken Sword here. It was called terrible a few times in this forum before. And just looking at it again...it isn't very good at representing the game, is it? What's up with this brooding, mysterious tattooed guy? Don't remember his appearance in the game... Oh, and then there's Ring, which just looks bland and unimaginative. Showing a ring on the cover when the game is called Ring...genius! I get bored just by looking at it. Or it may just be the memories of the game resurfacing... ...anyway, that's enough for now! Share Share this post on Twitter

01-01-2011, 09:45 PM	#17
Weare6 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sydney, AUS Posts: 244	Ha Ha... These covers are sooo bad. What were the Art directors thinking. (if there was any). I like Isak's contibution for "Lighthouse". wow its just plain weird & disturbing. Ascovel is right about "Broken Sword 4" cover... It's absolutely terrible. I'm sorry I have no cover to share at the moment but I will be sure to upload it when I find one. This thread made me laugh... keep it up. Share Share this post on Twitter

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01-02-2011, 03:14 AM	#18
Lucien21 Psychonaut Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5,114	Midnight Nowhere in the UK was seriously lacking. http://www.mobygames.com/game/window...CoverId,32906/ Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ I'm not insane, my mother had me tested!

01-02-2011, 03:28 AM	#19
Monolith Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 974	Wow I was confused with the OP about the Lighthouse cover. I never knew there was another version that looked so terrible. I prefer the original one better. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Oggi abbiamo erediteranno la terra! Domani, ci distruggiamo!" -S. B. Newsom http://www.sbnewsom.com/