If games are only as good as their box art, then a lot of titles are in trouble. In our weekly round of box art reviews, everything from low-budget games to best-selling blockbusters gets judged by their covers:
"Air Traffic Chaos" (DS)
What the Box Tells Us: The "chaos" of an air traffic controller's job -- keeping planes from crashing into each other -- would make a fun DS game. I mean, look at that guy: he's got a huge, shiny grin on his face as he proudly proclaims, "I am an air traffic controller!" You know, in case you weren't sure who he was.
Pros: It makes a seemingly mundane job look like it could be fun.
Cons: The cover sends mixed messages. Why is the guy smiling amidst the "chaos"?
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.
"Puzzler Collection" (Wii, DS)
What the Box Tells Us: It's a collection. Of puzzles. Or "puzzlers," rather. The folks who designed this box art must've figured the idea of a whole game dedicated to crosswords, Sudoku and word searches was exciting enough; hence the arbitrary placement of said puzzles on the cover.
Pros: The words "Collection" and "2000" stand out, meaning there's a lot of content.
Cons: It also says it's "Puzzling fun for everyone." Does that mean you're confused as to why it's fun?
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.
"SoulCalibur IV" (PS3, Xbox 360)
What the Box Tells Us:
It's two different Star Wars games! One's got Yoda and the other has Darth Vader.
Pros: The simple design using the Star Wars characters will make people who've never heard of "SoulCalibur" take notice.
Cons: "Wait, I see Darth and Yoda, but who are are these other people? They're not Han Solo or Princess Leia or Luke Skywalker?!?!"
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
"Summer Athletics: The Ultimate Challenge" (PS2, Wii, Xbox 360)
What the Box Tells Us: Just because you don't have the official license doesn't mean you can't make a game just like the Olympics. The cover shows four different sports -- cycling, hurdling, archery, and what I assume is pole-vaulting.
Pros: There's variety at least.
Cons: With all the space dedicated to the woman in the center, you'd think I'd see more of what she was actually doing.
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.
"King of Clubs Mini-golf" (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: Elvis is alive and well, and he's playing mini-golf. With a caveman and a guy in a tiki mask.
Pros: Perhaps the only game to feature what is possibly a fat Elvis-like impersonator on its cover.
Cons: Not enough of the other characters, as they are obscured by fat Elvis and a giant golf club and ball.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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