[?] best TG-16 covers

[Tatsujin]

I'd like to know from you which do you think are the best TG-16 covers?

Most of 'em are utterly awful and tasteless (at least those which I know), but I'm sure there are some exceptions (like GoT)

Now it's your turn to prove that the Americans didn't just do tasteless rubbish.

Please post some peppery pictures.

[RoyVegas]

As far as Hus go I always found Soldier Blade and Shockman appealing.  Just site of them makes me want to buy one off a shelf. If you are counting CDs, I like most of them but the art on Terraforming is top notch.  Shameless plug for Sparkys stickers!



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[esteban]

... most of 'em are utterly awful and tasteless (at least those which I know), but I'm sure, there are some exeptions (like GoT)

now it's your turn to prove, that the americans didn't just do tastless rubbish ...

I used to feel this way, back in the 90's.  In the past, I would have loved for the TG-16 to actually have kool, ass-kicking art and packaging.

But since then, I have taken a slightly different approach (I've applied this to the art in magazines as well):

1. Yes, much of the early (pre-TTi) art is lackluster in every respect (composition, execution, medium, skill of artist, etc.).
2. Some of these covers have an amateurish charm, while others are flat out cheesy.
3. That said, TG-16 coverart is, for the most part, original and unique art (of course, some art, like Space Harrier, is a straight clone of the Japanese original).

For me, #3 is the crucial point-- we should be happy that North America was able to add something to PCE history by contributing unique (at times laughable) artwork. The fact that this art brings a smile or smirk to our faces makes it more endearing and enjoyable.

And so...

4. The lame art of yesteryear is more charming and special now. It also helps define TG-16, since the composition and medium (pastel painting?) was pretty consistent. I don't think it was intentional, but this art became part of the "branding" and part of the TG-16 experience.

5. I don't know if a single artist was commissioned to do all of the art (I doubt it), but so much of it looks like the product of one person. TG-16 covers can be faulted for being too similar in execution and lacking variety. No risks! No pen & ink. No photographs. Nothing but...

6. What was the medium? I can't tell if it was colored pencil on paper, cray pas on burlap, or crayon on cardboard.



7. Off topic!



8. Chew Man Fu is simple, but packs more punch than the Japanese coverart, IMO:




Don't get me wrong, I like the Japanese Be Ball art... but it is crowded, and FLAT (there is no sense of depth). Still, Be Ball has cute stuff, which is good. But, from a "composition and execution" standpoint, I think the US cover is more striking and visually appealing.

I'd love a Chew Man Fu T-shirt / poster. Striking, emotive (I mean, look at the mean bastard... and his colorful balls).

Bonus: timewarpgamer.com/features/tg16_box_art_disparity.html



9. Valis III has a great friggin' logo (for gaudy, heavy-metal tastes), and exudes a dark, somber atmosphere (which I like)...




...but our heroine is just a bit "odd" looking. Individually, her body parts seem OK, but taken together as a whole, well, something goes awry. I'd even give a pass on the platinum bustiere, but...  So close, yet so far away.

AND YET, at the end of the day, I prefer US VALIS III! Japan's cover is nice, but generic. It doesn't emote anything, really. And the Japanese logo is great, but it is downplayed in the composition and actually CLASHES with the anime-style heroines. The US cover embraces its heavy-metal logo. Overall, the TG-CD  cover is consistent and coherent. It's a goddamn work of art.

And our odd-looking heroine? Well, she just makes things even more special (albeit disjointed!), because she doesn't resemble Yuko from the cinemas at all.

The US cover fails to captue Yuko, opting instead for Sandra Bullock (who is a man, let's face it). Now that's localization for ya'!

[exile]

Dude! You hit it on the head. The Sandra Bullock esc. character looks more like a tranny than a hottie combatant. The artist was clearly a man who couldn't draw females to save his life.

[Arkhan Asylum]

seriously

[BlackandBlue]

Come on, the one on the left is hot.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Come on, the one on the left is hot.

shes also smaller than your average hoe.

[NecroPhile]

Here's a few where the US cover is better looking than the Japanese version:

		PCE		TG-16
Air Zonk		Macy's Day Parade balloon		nicely detailed, manly, and a tad bit menacing
Buster Bros.		too busy and incoherent		cute and simple, just like the game
Cyber Core		WTF is this, a magazine advert (and a poor one at that)?		actually looks like a game cover
Klax		zero effort - a screen shot		basic but inoffensive and at least they tried
Shape Shifter		generic and Lycos doesn't wear a helmet or have black hair		bit more apropos, though amateurish
Sherlock Holmes		clip art and text on a solid background		real art
Sherlock Holmes 2		same as before but with a brick photo backdrop		nicely done drawing, if you ask me
Somer Assault		cartoon slinkys ruin it		<-- cartoon slinkys! roflcopter!
Time Cruise		disjointed mishmash of various game bits		tad more coherent, but what's up with the blue and white border shit?

[blueraven]

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/workingdesigns/images/cf2-ad1.jpg

I was always a fan of the American Cosmic Fantasy 2 cover art; (on the box). Also, the American Dynastic Hero LOOKS cool, but I'm looking for the Japanese version.



Personally, esteban, I think the dude on the cover of the American Chew-Man-Fu is  . He Looks like my middle school Phys-Ed teacher. Be-Ball is, however, the busiest cover I've seen so far. Too much going on. I'm not an anime fanboy, but I'll take PCE over a TG-16 any day of the week, unless I want to play Keith Courage.

[hoobs88]

NecroPhile, I wasn't aware that there was a PCE version of Somer Assault. Did it have a different name?

[_Paul]

NecroPhile, I wasn't aware that there was a PCE version of Somer Assault. Did it have a different name?

Mesopotamia

[esteban]

Personally, esteban, I think the dude on the cover of the American Chew-Man-Fu is  . He Looks like my middle school Phys-Ed teacher.

I'll give you that.

[rag-time4]

My personal favorite among US releases is Battle Royale, because a couple of my buddies made it onto the cover:

[TR0N]

It's some thing it used the same cover art as the arcade flyer does.

[termis]

I had to look hard, but Order of the Griffin is awesome.  I can't imagine this one looking better on a PCE cover.  (Just the Japanese characters alone would throw it off a bit, IMO)

My personal favorite among US releases is Battle Royale, because a couple of my buddies made it onto the cover:

That cover reminds me -- whatever happened to Keranu?  Haven't seen much of him lately.

[rag-time4]

I had to look hard, but Order of the Griffin is awesome.  I can't imagine this one looking better on a PCE cover.  (Just the Japanese characters alone would throw it off a bit, IMO)

My personal favorite among US releases is Battle Royale, because a couple of my buddies made it onto the cover:

That cover reminds me -- whatever happened to Keranu?  Haven't seen much of him lately.

He's been taking a break. He said he's a bit dissatisfied with some of the goings on here lately.

[Tatsujin]

lol yeah..keranu and esteban are in there..great stuff. where is keranu?

[esteban]

termis - I like the Order of the Griffon coverart as well. I am a sucker for D&D / fantasy art in general, though.

TRON - Cadash is D&D / fantasy art, so naturally I like it. Yes, they had ninjas in D&D

keranu - what the hey are you doing, brah?

[JoshTurboTrollX]

I don't think OotG came out in japan.

[NecroPhile]

I don't think OotG came out in japan.

I know it didn't, and knowing is half the battle.