Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, our increasingly erratically scheduled series of retro box art polls where we all decide the best regional variants from two or more territories.
Last time we looked at F-Zero: GP Legend for the GBA. Europe and North America ultimately duked it out for the silver medal (with Europe having to settle for bronze) while Japan brought home the gold with 58% of the vote.
This week we’re taking a look at a classic 16-bit RPG, one that’s currently Number One SNES game ever, as ranked by Nintendo Life readers. Chrono Trigger from Squaresoft was originally released in the US on 11th August 1995 — 26 years ago.
Europe sits this brawl out, as the DS version was the first time European gamers could get their hands on the game without importing it. So, let’s see what North America and Japan can produce for us this week…
North America
The North American box got a dynamic battle scene from legendary artist Akira Toriyama with a snowy terrain helping to highlight the characters as they do battle with flaming swords and chiselled grimaces.
Not much to say here, it’s a great piece. If we were being picky, there’s a big old white gap in the middle, the standardised black border takes up space that the art could be occupying, and the cool clock face logo is obscured.
If we were being picky, that is. And we are. Because we’re gamers, and we’re like that. Insufferable bunch.
Japan
More character art from Toriyama here, but this time unfettered by peripheral environmental detail or big borders. What’s whiter than snow? Nothing. No, we mean literally nothing but white — you get an absolutely blank white background here that makes both the characters and the logo really pop.
If we were being picky… nah, this is the one, innit.
Or is it? You’ve seen the options, but which one triggers your deepest respect and admiration? Click on your favourite below and hit ‘Vote’ to let us know:
Thanks for voting! We’ll see you next time for another round of the Box Art Brawl.
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