Games where IGDB ruined the box art

Look what they did to my boy.

This is a collection of games that have "better" box art with different regional releases (often the original Japanese release, for instance) but since IGDB is very focused on using Western Box Art, there's a very noticeable change when the box art is replaced. I'm not actually certain if all of these games originally had the Japanese Box Art over the Western Box Art for the record (or sometimes even PAL Box Art), so this is more or less a list of the fad in general.

Obviously this is a very subjective list, so suggestions will happily be taken. Looking for some great discourse here. Bonus points if you include a link to the original (better) box art, I'll link to it via notes. See here for some broader examples.

UPDATE: Thanks to Pangburn, we now have a better understanding of the games in this list that were actually a victim of IGDB's more controversial box art changing edits. They have been moved and sorted to the front of this list. Everything after Metal Gear Solid does not appear to have been a direct victim, but have been included as an example of this trope and are here for your viewing pleasure.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Back on the list for another round because IGDB's done it again!

Originally looked like this (PAL): https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Castlevania_SOTN_PAL.jpg
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OnMAAOSwKqJgRUpW/s-l500.jpg
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
https://i.imgur.com/9sN1oun.jpeg
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
https://imgur.com/a/djasUqI
Kirby: Squeak Squad
Kirby: Squeak Squad
ANGERY EYEBROWS

(not going to list every Kirby release since this is more or less the trope within a series)

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/9/9b/KSqSq_Boxart_J.jpg
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
https://imgur.com/a/9MPozA1
Star Fox
Star Fox
Degraded the US box art with borders, here's the JPN box art for a different comparison: https://images.nintendolife.com/a1e655ebf6688/jp.large.jpg
Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve
Less egregious than the others on this list though the color sat is strange, also slightly different placing of Aya

https://imgur.com/a/PD1Vyg5
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX
Remaster of the original with worse box art

https://neverendingrealm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Final-Fantasy-IX-Box-Art.jpg
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
https://images.igdb.com/igdb/image/upload/t_original/co3bb5.png

Note that igdb also split the page into its previous original release on PSP/PC and into the "remaster" being released this September.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Why did they change the Super Famicom page to the 2015 iOS release lol
Mega Man Legends
Mega Man Legends
https://imgur.com/GHomdRq
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition
PAL: https://www.wiisworld.com/images/news/re4wiibox.jpg
Castlevania: Dracula X
Castlevania: Dracula X
JPN Box Art: http://www.boxequalsart.com/draculaxxbig.jpg

(Also known as Vampire's Kiss)
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/8/2/22582_front.jpg
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI
The actual art on Steam looks like this
Pilotwings
Pilotwings
Low quality scan from IGDB, here's the original: https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/24153-pilotwings-snes-front-cover.jpg
Breath of Fire III
Breath of Fire III
https://imgur.com/a/r6UhNNg
Ikaruga
Ikaruga
Who made a separate page for the ports...
Blinx: The Time Sweeper
Blinx: The Time Sweeper
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518ZWQPP0ZL.SY445.jpg

129 Comments


2 years ago

On the bright side it looks like they fixed the box art for SOTN?

I'll keep it on the list just in case they decide they were doing the right thing and change their mind

2 years ago

your MGS link is a little broken :) fuck whoever did ikaruga

2 years ago

Oh jeez, I have no idea what happened to the MGS link, thanks for pointing that out.

And yeah I had to come right back to my list as soon as I saw the other Ikaruga page lmao

2 years ago

the sotn one is really confusing me, i can't see the comments for other people's edits so i don't really understand the rationale. it's a good move at least but i wonder if another admin will change it back as some point

2 years ago

igdb mods have proven to be entirely inconsistent, if anything

2 years ago

Oh god, I didn't even realize they got the MGS art. I'm looking for blood now.

2 years ago

alright, here's the actual list of "messed up" igdb covers based on this list

ico: change old cover
suikoden: change old cover
mega man legends 2: change old cover
mgs4: change old cover
mega man: change old cover
mega man 2: change old cover
lost odyssey: change old cover
resident evil outbreak: change old cover
silent hill homecoming: change old cover
final fantasy xii: change old cover
einhander: change old cover
sotn: change old cover (though this was obviously reversed)
mega man x: change old cover
cvs2: change old cover
parasite eve: change old cover (though the american art was actually the original in this case, and at one point fan art was used)
mgs3: change old cover (though the american art was used first, and this jp edit looks pretty meh)
ace combat 3: change old cover
gunstar heroes: change old cover (I personally like the american art better for this one tbh)
silent hill: change old cover
silent hill 2: change old cover
silent hill 3: change old cover
tron bonne: change old cover
mega man legends: change old cover
mega man 3: change old cover
mgs: change old cover

2 years ago

List has been reorganized and description updated to reflect this, thanks!

2 years ago

koudelka! though this cover would require some sort of edit or cropping
https://i.imgur.com/gxAzkMY.jpeg

1 year ago

To be fair, Metal Gear Solid 1's original cover is the sleek one we already have. And Final Fantasy has always had a beautiful format to it up until Final Fantasy XV.

Additionally, it looks like the Dragon Quest V cover was changed back.

1 year ago

Metal Gear Solid Integral exists as a good stand in for the PAL version of MGS1. That's what I use anyway.

1 year ago

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Spirit of Justice changed to some key art

why cant they just be normal for 1 day...fucking hate igdb

1 year ago

dual destinies became key art as well i think(seems like they are on a warpath here with AA series since most share the same style of old boxart)
breath of fire 3 got changed
https://imgur.com/a/r6UhNNg

1 year ago

had the wrong DD cover from before https://imgur.com/a/djasUqI

1 year ago

Added, thanks!

1 year ago

Added Night in the Woods, thanks!

1 year ago

Added SOTN back to the list, thanks Josh

1 year ago

ftr there's a new page for dq5 on dfc here:

https://www.backloggd.com/games/dragon-quest-v-tenkuu-no-hanayome

fucked up a lot of logs and reviews here, but at least we do have a proper page (and box art) for it still.

1 year ago

sfc *

1 year ago

Threw that one in, thanks!

1 year ago

They changed the F Zero X one from an cool ensemble cast picture in comic book style to just cars

1 year ago

Added all of those suggestions!

1 year ago

they could fix this problem in one simple way:

abandon the ridiculous "na box art only" policy
this shit is unfortunately going to be a never ending struggle

1 year ago

Well, until the day the earth cracks open and IGDB no longer exists, I suppose this list will have to document that struggle

1 year ago

they did a lot of the jp to us changes and you can see the previous ones on igdb.

Most of the Mega Man X series (makes me feel bad for 3)
Mega Man I-V (gameboy)
Mega Man 7

1 year ago

x2, x3, x4, x5 and MM7


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