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


8 months ago

Very cool list (the changes made to 3rd Strike's boxart especially will haunt me for the rest of my days 🥲). Got a couple of my own as well:

Apollo Justice 3DS: Bit of an obscure one but the 3DS remaster of Apollo Justice got a physical release in Japan with artwork never seen anywhere else (the overseas version just used the original DS version's boxart) https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/25/49/eb2549ab7987c4f348e6924f83e47ef5.jpg


Zack & Wiki The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure: This is definitely a personal gripe of mine but why on god's name does IGDB use the NA version of Z&W's boxart when the other regions look significantly better? Yeah the change isn't as drastic as other boxarts but the changes made to Zack's pose and expression do a far better job at conveying his goofball nature than NA's bland stoicness. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/Zack_%26_Wiki_-_Quest_for_Barbaros%27_Treasure_Coverart.png

Excitebike 64: This one is definitely pretty subjective so I don't blame you if you don't want to include it but I think the bold black-and-red of the Japanese cover is much more interesting/has aged significantly better than the NA/EU version https://images.nintendolife.com/82904193ba302/excitebike-64-jp.large.jpg

Also, just as a heads up, the links on AA Spirit of Justice and the 2nd version of SF Third Strike are currently broken 👍

8 months ago

@Fizza: Added your suggestions and fixed the links for Spirit of Justice and the 2nd version of 3rd Strike, thanks!

7 months ago

Might be a bit contentious but I think Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition should be here too: the regular boxart is fine and fits RE4's more action-orientated tone....but oh my god the EU one is simply GORGEOUS https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/wii/images/c/c0/Re4wiiboxart.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20070817202604

7 months ago

@Fizza: Sure, added it to the list!

7 months ago

Mentioned this in my review, but the current box art for Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2 is far inferior to the US version: https://imgur.com/ZFhMA9I

4 months ago

Some of these stem from artists having to recreate clean box art from the best high res resources available where there aren't official ones, as well as the NA priority rule. For example, I actually made some of these and while I can agree they're not perfect there's a reason they ended up that way.

And trust me, me and others really pushed for more "freedom" to avoid picking some of the uglier ones but... we lost.

4 months ago

shadow dancer is straight up a upgrade

29 days ago

Looks like IMDB just changed the boxart for Marvel VS Capcom 2 to be the Dreamcast (I think) version and I'm absolutely FUMING about it.

Like seriously: WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH THIS?????????


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