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.
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.
152 Games
129 Comments
your MGS link is a little broken :) fuck whoever did ikaruga
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
And yeah I had to come right back to my list as soon as I saw the other Ikaruga page lmao
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
igdb mods have proven to be entirely inconsistent, if anything
Oh god, I didn't even realize they got the MGS art. I'm looking for blood now.
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
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
List has been reorganized and description updated to reflect this, thanks!
koudelka! though this cover would require some sort of edit or cropping
https://i.imgur.com/gxAzkMY.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/gxAzkMY.jpeg
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.
Additionally, it looks like the Dragon Quest V cover was changed back.
Metal Gear Solid Integral exists as a good stand in for the PAL version of MGS1. That's what I use anyway.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Spirit of Justice changed to some key art
why cant they just be normal for 1 day...fucking hate igdb
why cant they just be normal for 1 day...fucking hate igdb
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
breath of fire 3 got changed
https://imgur.com/a/r6UhNNg
had the wrong DD cover from before https://imgur.com/a/djasUqI
Added, thanks!
put in Night In The Woods to the list, it used to have this amazing poster https://external-preview.redd.it/GmoFjn1JS-2ue1lUq3ZGAEEn_DKJExAXTCt7TXQNfvY.jpg?auto=webp&s=a5c0e1fe8858745e5b2343c1150502fae00182aa, but then it got this newer poster that's just not nearly as good https://cdn1.epicgames.com/abd29ccc8c2a4a40a31f27de63cb0603/offer/EGS_NightintheWoods_InfiniteFall_S2-1200x1600-c6e902bb51df819a40f3b3f2b8081849.jpg
Added Night in the Woods, thanks!
Added SOTN back to the list, thanks Josh
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.
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.
sfc *
Threw that one in, thanks!
Armored Core 1, Project Phantasma and Master of Arena
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/8/3/1583_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/6/0/0/1600_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/9/3/1593_front.jpg
Yakuza Fury
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/2/3/9/65239_front.jpg
Digimon World
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/4/5/2/9452_front.jpg
Ghost in the shell
https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/118401-ghost-in-the-shell-playstation-front-cover.jpg
Tobal
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/2/4/3/8243_front.jpg
Final Fantasy Legend / SaGa 1, 2, 3
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/0/2/3/21023_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/2/0/3/46203_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/0/2/6/21026_front.jpg
Yakuza
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/5/9/70559_front.jpg
Crackdown
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/6/2/0/71620_front.jpg
Last Battle
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/9/3/6/14936_front.jpg
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/4/2/3/17423_front.jpg
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/8/5/3/91853_front.jpg
Guardian's Crusade
https://archive.org/serve/psx_knigtbab/psx_knigtbab_screenshot.jpg
Onimusha warlords
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/7/5/3/689753_front.jpg
Castlevania dracula x
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/8/2/22582_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/8/3/1583_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/6/0/0/1600_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/9/3/1593_front.jpg
Yakuza Fury
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/2/3/9/65239_front.jpg
Digimon World
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/4/5/2/9452_front.jpg
Ghost in the shell
https://www.mobygames.com/images/covers/l/118401-ghost-in-the-shell-playstation-front-cover.jpg
Tobal
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/2/4/3/8243_front.jpg
Final Fantasy Legend / SaGa 1, 2, 3
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/0/2/3/21023_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/2/0/3/46203_front.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/0/2/6/21026_front.jpg
Yakuza
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/5/9/70559_front.jpg
Crackdown
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/6/2/0/71620_front.jpg
Last Battle
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/9/3/6/14936_front.jpg
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/4/2/3/17423_front.jpg
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/8/5/3/91853_front.jpg
Guardian's Crusade
https://archive.org/serve/psx_knigtbab/psx_knigtbab_screenshot.jpg
Onimusha warlords
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/7/5/3/689753_front.jpg
Castlevania dracula x
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/5/8/2/22582_front.jpg
They changed the F Zero X one from an cool ensemble cast picture in comic book style to just cars
Added all of those suggestions!
they could fix this problem in one simple way:
abandon the ridiculous "na box art only" policy
abandon the ridiculous "na box art only" policy
this shit is unfortunately going to be a never ending struggle
Well, until the day the earth cracks open and IGDB no longer exists, I suppose this list will have to document that struggle
also Blood will tell https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/box/1/3/3/53133_front.jpg
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
Most of the Mega Man X series (makes me feel bad for 3)
Mega Man I-V (gameboy)
Mega Man 7
x2, x3, x4, x5 and MM7
Drax
2 years ago
I'll keep it on the list just in case they decide they were doing the right thing and change their mind