Another week, another round of games' covers to review to help out box art designers. Here goes...
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"Fable II: Limited Collector's Edition" (Xbox 360)
What the Box Tells Us: When you first receive the box for the collector's edition of "Fable II," you'll see the protagonist crouching on a gray-white background. But then open it up and remove the cardboard...
Pros: And it's like a whole new cover! The box art is sideways and features the good guy on the front and the bad guy on the back. Kind of like a mullet.
Cons: The cool sideways box art is hidden under the boring cardboard cover.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Petz Rescue: Wildlife Vet" (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: The player can take care of wild animals, such as baby elephants.
Pros: It's pretty clear what the game is about: a little girl taking care of wild animals.
Cons: But if you examine it more closely, it also looks like the pachyderm is about to choke on her stethoscope. It may be reaching out to her arm for dear life.
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.
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"Far Cry 2" (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
What the Box Tells Us: There's a lot going on in "Far Cry 2." So much that it had to be split up into five different panels on the box.
Cons: The bright African sun and the blowtorch flame make for a near-monochromatic box cover.
Pros: According to the box, it's got money, guns, diamonds, jeeps, blowtorches. Really -- what else do you need?
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Spider-Man Web of Shadows" (multiple platforms)
What the Box Tells Us: It's Spider-Man with the game's artwork painted on his hands.
Pros: How do you make a Spider-Man title seem more interesting since the last few have been disappointing? Put Weapon X and Venom on the cover.
Cons: Where is this alleged web of shadows or shadowy webs? Why is the background white? And is there a better way to put Wolverine and Venom on the cover vs. painting them on Spidey's fists?
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.
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"Wii Music"
What the Box Tells Us: It's a music game where your Miis can play instruments.
Pros: The orange note and the colored instruments stand out against the stark white background. It's certainly eye-catching.
Cons: There's not much to this. The Miis are so tiny, I can't really see what they're doing. The box also doesn't explain whether or not you'll actually need instruments -- important for consumers in the glut of peripheral-based music games.
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.