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It's no secret that America used to suck at 'translating' Japanese box art, especially when the art was usually perfectly fine in the first place. Things are a bit better these days, particularly with games developed in America, but even recent and upcoming titles like the highly anticipated Mass Effect (for Xbox 360) have laughably bad cover/title art. Even though there has been some fairly good art recently, it's going to take a thousand more Okamis and Shadow of the Colossuses to make up for the horrific accident that we call the 'Mega Man I box art debacle of the 1980s'.

Never has the issue of bad American box art been more apparent than in this video (above). It starts off as a simple slide show, first showing the Japanese game art and then following with the American version (as well as some European art). It's all set to an operatic score for maximum impact, and you'll squirm in your chairs as you see the disastrous translations of what were once good game covers.

The second section of the video focuses solely on the Mega Man universe. Of course, the previously mentioned Mega Man I art kicks things off, but the video does not let up. Be warned that as an American citizen and resident, you may blush in embarrassment for your country when viewing this section.

The last two minutes or so of the video are dedicated to American animated versions of popular Capcom properties like Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Darkstalkers. Morrigan calling Demitri a "bat-faced fool" and then blasting him with a fireball has to be one of the worst moments in animation history.

Lastly, no collection of bad American translation would be complete without a little Link (The Legend of Zelda) action. The video maker put just enough in to really sum things up towards the end. Really, it speaks for itself.

Was there ever good American box art? Should America make a response video?

Continue: More Mega Man stories





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73 comments | showing # 51 to 73

BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 12:50
BluDesign
@savagealadin

calm down. No one hates america. The posts were acting weird and was filtering america for some people.

Personally as an American, I hate America as it is now. I wish our country wasn't run by a bullying jerk and his band of ultra-rich hooligans, but I live in a red state so my hands are tied when I line up to vote.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 13:12
Sharpless
*raises hand*

Um, sir? I hate America. Don't forget me.
solidunit's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 13:40
solidunit
Many Konami games had great American boxart. Contra, Contra 3, Castlevania I,II,III,and Super Castlevania IV come to mind
DrRockso's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 13:56
DrRockso
I happen to like the American artwork on Earthbound. :/

The most head-asploding change in my opinion is Dragon Ball to Dragon Power. I realize the show hadnt been licensed in America yet, but come ON.
UNDERSTAR's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 13:56
UNDERSTAR
"....after saving the Triforce from evil, the hero get his award. *Bitch Smack*" Man, I missed my childhood!!!!!!!
ridley80's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 14:14
ridley80
*fire in background*...BISOOOOONNN!!

That's classic! I'm going to start blaming Bison for everything and hopefully flames will appear in the background
Altair78's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 14:40
Altair78
I think I shall do the same, Ridley80
KyleGamgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 14:54
KyleGamgee
This one time a vietnamese lady came to church. She wore her nicest shirt. It was pink and had sparklies. The sparklies spelled "Fuck".
Churchhills Dog's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 15:23
Churchhills Dog
I can't agree entirely that the some of the Japanese art was much better but the animation stuff at the end just reinforces my contempt for people who pine for 80's era Saturday morning toons such as Transformers and the rest of its ilk.

Back to the box art though, lets keep in mind that much of the art is a Japanese company's stereotypical view of what America/Europe is/wants. Big, unintelligent lumbering characters.
MisterMingo's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 15:51
MisterMingo
This makes me think of ICO..

Japan:


USA:


God Bless America.
Jecrell's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 16:10
Jecrell
The Japanese ICO box art is great in its simplicity.
Grimspoon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 16:14
Grimspoon
This video shows Breath of Fire 3 Jap PSP box art vs BOF 3 PAL / Eur PS1 boxart. Who's the one who fails now?
Tron Knotts's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 16:23
Tron Knotts
Where can I get the "Fuck God in teh Face" and sparkly "Fuck" shirts? Do I have to go to Japan?

Anyway, what I take away from this the most is the fact that American and European game marketers in the 80's hated their jobs. They didn't think the Japanese games they were marketing to us were any good, and felt they needed to stop to false advertising to sell them.

They were wrong.

PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 16:45
PappaDukes
Two words, "Mega Mangina" (like "vagina"; creative yet disturbing play on words.). That is the only way to sum up 80's US Mega Man box art.
Pepillou2's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 17:24
Pepillou2
americans are ugly
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 18:12
PappaDukes
@Pepillou

If by "ugly" you mean "extremely sexy" then you are so right my friend.
jeffk6's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 19:54
jeffk6
yea like someone said before the 1st mintues was way better then what the japs did
DrNutt's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 22:30
DrNutt
@dvdesign

I'm well aware that Ranma 1/2 was released in the US. My question was how in the hell that happened in the first place.

If there's one thing Americans like more than underage looking anime chicks, it's underage looking anime chicks that turn into dudes. What?
Scarcely's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/26/2007 23:26
Scarcely
It's not so much that the American or Japanese art style was bad, it's that at least for a majority of the ones I actually played the Japanese box art style matched the game's art style. The graphics back then were primitive enough without that kind of shock.

oh and @ DrNutt, it's actually the other way around, he's an underage looking anime DUDE that turns into a chick.
Lord_Satorious's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/27/2007 02:23
Lord_Satorious
You know, the more simplistic The Legend of Zelda has almost always been better than the Japanese artwork. For Twilight Princess, the US cover is a very nice gold and silver background with the profile of Link in human and wolf form. The JP cover is one of Link leaping into the spirit realm or whatever. While the US has definitely screwed up its fair share of JP game cover art, I think The Legend of Zelda is a fine example of improving it by going with something much more adult-looking.
onomelon's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/27/2007 03:13
onomelon
you know, you do have to admit, the Mega Man cover art did get better as they went along. Although, by the time it got better we pretty much wanted the series to end.

Also, the Mega Man and Street Fighter cartoons, God those bring back childhood memories. Not good ones mind you, but childhood memories nonetheless.
DrNutt's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/27/2007 11:10
DrNutt
I stand corrected. Guess I'll just go back to playing Ultraman.
Rancor's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/27/2007 13:43
Rancor
Dude microsoft has a shitty art department. . . look at shdowrun 360 box for fucks sake. . . the troll with the glider
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