Thursday, November 29, 2012

Speaking of Japanese games with great box art ...

... here are a few recentlyish (don't worry, I know that's not a real word) revealed pieces of cover art that I can't help but find appealing.


1. Phantasy Star Online 2 (Vita)--As far as I can tell, the illustration you see above will only appear on some sort of special edition of Sega's upcoming (it's due out sometime in 2013) online RPG. I say "as far as I can tell," of course, because I know next to nothing about Phantasy Star Online 2. Based on how I feel about this particular piece of box art, though, I think I'm going to have to educate myself about it soon. (Note: I do wish this example featured about three or four fewer logos, as the bottom edge, in particular, is more than a bit cluttered at the moment.)


2. Fate/Extra CCC (PSP)--Oh, hey, another soon-to-be-released game that's as foreign to me as, well, soy sauce Kit Kats. Like Phantasy Star Online 2's cover art (above), though, this PSP RPG's packaging makes me want to know more about both it and its predecessor, Fate/Extra. (Speaking of which, have any of you played Fate/Extra? If so, would you recommend it to someone who generally enjoys dungeon-crawling RPGs?)


3. Fantasy Life (3DS)--Don't worry, I'm not going to say for a third time that I'm clueless when it comes to one of the games I'm highlighting here. In fact, I know quite a bit about Level-5's Harvest Moon clone, as I've been paying attention to it since it was first announced as a sprite-based DS title. Anyway, it's still unknown as to whether or not this one will make its way across the pond, but I'm hoping beyond hope that it is--especially if the folks at Level-5's North American arm decide to use this piece of cover art, too.


4. Disgaea D2 (PS3)--I know what at least a few of you are thinking right now: "Ugh. This one's just your typical 'crowd of characters' box art that's all too common in Japan." Although I agree with that reaction, I'm still pretty fond of this take on that tired trope--thanks in no small part to its effusive use of color.


5. Atelier Totori Plus (Vita)--Gust's Atelier series has intrigued for as long as I've been aware of it. For strange reason, though, I've yet to pick up one of them and give them a try. Considering I don't own a Vita and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon, I can't imagine I'll be starting with the beautifully packaged Atelier Totori Plus. That said, it's possible I'll buy this game's PS3-based counterpart sometime next year--assuming I also purchase the system that's capable of playing it.

What do all of you think of the pieces of cover above? Do you love them? Hate them? Or maybe you're completely indifferent to them?

28 comments:

Justin Difazzio said...

The Fantasy Life box art is amazing! So cute and epic!

thegaygamer.com said...

I know, right? I'm going to cry if it's not brought to the States :(

Kimimi said...

Oh yes those are all great! The PSO2 art is my favourite :D

thegaygamer.com said...

Me, too, Kimimi! When I saw it the other day, I nearly fainted. OK, so that's a bit of an overstatement, but you know what I mean :P

Simon Lethbridge said...

Wow, you're right,Bryan - all fantastic! It would almost be worth buying them just for their covers!

thegaygamer.com said...

My thoughts exactly, Simon! I especially feel that way about the PSO2 cover. If we're just talking about the games I'd actually like to play, though, I'd have to go with Fantasy Life.

Tom Badguy said...

Too much or not enough going on in these, IMO.

thegaygamer.com said...

Well, you know what they say, Tom: 'To each his own'! Do you like any particular recent-ish box arts?

Lizzi said...

OMG I need Fantasy Life so bad! If this game doesn't make its way to Europe I'll buy an american 3DS and if Level 5 can't manage to get this game to NA I'll have to buy a japanese 3DS... I WANT this game and I'll get it, no matter what it takes! òó

When I saw Atelier Totori on Game Stops shelves I thought about buying it because it looks so super cute. But to be honest I hate mixing elexirs or combine crystals and stuff so... I think it was the right decision.

About Disgaea: I once had "Disgaea: Hour of Darkness" (PS2) but sold it on ebay becaus (I think I told you before) I don't like strategy-games. I love Disgaea's characters and the cute Prinnys but still...

Bought the first Prinny game for PSP and love it but Disgaea is just not my kind of game.

Fantasy Star Online was (as far as I know) the only online-game for Segas Dreamcast. I always wanted to get it but it was way to expensive... apart from that I only know the NGC title and Fantasy Star Universe (Xbox360) but never was really interested in those. Have you any experience with this series?

Have you seen the super awesome looking Monster Hunter 3DS?

http://storage.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/monster_hunter_3g_3ds_bundle_thumb.jpg

Or the Metal Gear Solid 3DS with snakeskin-surface?

http://www.gamestrust.de/uploads/inline/pic-9130-popup.jpg

I just found out about the Fire Emblem Kasukei 3DS. I think I looks great, I love blue:

https://twitter.com/i/#!/Dead_Melody/media/slideshow?url=pic.twitter.com%2Fdb9fkUZm

And last but not least the DS Gundam G Generation 3DS:

http://storage.siliconera.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/SD_GUNDAM_3D_thumb.jpg

Oh I love special console-bundles.

Ok I didn't like the red Mario-Wii so much or a Resident Evil 5-Xbox360 but when It comes to handhelds I just love it.

My favourite 3DS ist still the Animal Crossing 3DS XL but I'll get my Pikachu 3DS XL soon so that should be a consolation.

Sorry for spamming all those links but I just need to share my excitement with someone who's interested in the same things.

thegaygamer.com said...

I love it, Melody. Thanks for sharing your excitement :)


As for Fantasy Life: Oh, I hope it comes out in Australia and Europe and North America, too. Sadly, Level-5 hasn't said anything yet. Maybe after it's released in Japan?


RE: Atelier Totori and other Atelier games -- I know Anne over at Chic Pixel likes these games, or has liked some of them, at any rate. I'll have to pick her brain about them eventually, because I am curious about them.


I have no experience at all with the Phantasy Star Online series, Melody. Only Phantasy Star games I've ever played were the originals for the Master System and Genesis (Mega Drive), and even then I didn't play any of them to completion.


Still, I'm curious about this latest one -- which, interestingly enough, has been praised quite a bit by Chic Pixel's Anne, if memory serves.


BTW, I like LE systems, too. Mainly just handhelds, though. I wonder why that is?

Lizzi said...

Oh right "Phantasy Star Online" is spelled with PH. *blush*

Uh you'll find a kinda whiny email in your in-box, sorry about that ^^

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, don't worry about that. It's a game with a silly spelling -- I understand why you'd want to correct it :)


Just got your e-mail and responded to it, BTW. Hope it made you feel better about things!

apricotsushi said...

Great picks, as always, Bryan! I have to say I prefer the PS3 cover of Atelier Totori, though (attached – isn't that a great feature?!)

Actually, I played and reviewed Fate/Extra a while back! http://videogamewriters.com/review-fateextra-48601 The combat system is definitely different, but as someone who isn't familiar with the series at all (it's based on some PC visual novels, and there are all kinds of game and manga spinoffs – you can totally play Fate/Extra without knowledge of the others, though) I'd say it's definitely worth a shot! The character dynamics and gameplay flow is very interesting.



And as for that PSO2 bundle – it is indeed a special edition, as the game is actually 100% free to download and play. People who buy the special retail version will get a number of paid exclusives that you can't get otherwise. Since the PC version is cross-compatible with the PS Vita version, I'm actually considering picking it up for Shaun (he's put nearly 200 hours into PSO2 so far and hasn't spent a cent!).

apricotsushi said...

I see my name mentioned a number of times here, haha!


Lizzi, if you don't like mixing potions and things like that, then you've probably made the right decision. There are RPG battles too, but you you spend a lot of your time collecting items and combing them to fullfil orders in the Atelier games

Lizzi said...

Yes it does thank you Bryan. About my name: actually I don't really care lately so you can choose :9 Lizzi or Melody, I'm ok with both. And just take your time to watch the AC-movie. I understand if you are too busy. Don't worry about that.

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, I know I'm weird, Lizzi/Melody, but I really want to call you by whichever name you prefer. Which do you go by in real life?

thegaygamer.com said...

Ha ha! Did you see the 'Anne' signal I shot into the sky -- a la Batman? I guess so :)


Anyway, thanks for adding your thoughts, Anne. I really like the sounds of the Atelier games, so I guess I'll have to try them sometime soon...

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, I have to agree with you about the PS3 cover, Anne. I've also seen another Totori cover than is a more zoomed-out look at the image that's on the Vita version. Not sure what version that's for, though...


Thanks for sharing your thoughts -- and review! -- of Fate/Extra, by the way! I guess I'll have to add it to my ever-growing 'wish list' :P


Thanks, too, for educating me about the PSO2 cover art. How funny, in a way! So, you're thinking about getting this version for Shaun? Or are thinking about getting him some other version? (Sorry if I'm confusing things...)

Lizzi said...

Ah hey Anne! The PS3-version of Atelier Totori (the one on the pic) is the one I thought about buying it. But I did not because I'm not a fan of combine and mixing things so... would you recommend it to me anyway? It looks so cute! Just as Eternal Sonata (BTW did you like it?).

Lizzi said...

Most people call me Lizzi in rl and on the internet I'm mostly Melody or Miku. What do you think sounds better or fits?

Lizzi said...

Ah yes Ithought so... Thanks :)

Lizzi said...

BTW my Wii U Deluxe Set arrived today!

thegaygamer.com said...

Interesting! Hmmm, I don't know which one I'll call you. I think I'll call you Lizzi for now, if you're OK with that, as that's your username on Discus :)

thegaygamer.com said...

So excited for you! Which games did you get with it? Regardless, can't wait to hear what you think about it :)

Lizzi said...

Well I'll wait with using it till Christmas because my family bought it for me as a present :)

BTW I bought a super cute mobilephone-case which arrived today:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/iPhone-4-4S-Nettes-3D-Melt-Ice-Cream-Hard-Cover-Case-Kostenlose-Screen-Protector-/190732697014?pt=DE_Handy_PDA_Taschen_Schutzh%C3%BCllen&hash=item2c688dfdb6

I got a Samsung Galaxy S2.

Do you know this super cute dust plugs?:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/221145529821?var=520119589156&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649


Awww I love to have a cute looking mobile phone :3

Lizzi said...

That's fine :)

thegaygamer.com said...

Ah, that makes sense. Well, then I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts *after* Christmas :)


As for your new case and dust plugs: They *are* cute!

thegaygamer.com said...

Great! :)