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In an effort to help box art designers, in 2008 we started judging video games by their covers. From feline baking to smiling athletes to weapon-wielding fish, this year's best covers had it all. Here's the best of the bunch, all taken from our weekly box art reviews throughout the year.
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"Purr Pals" (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: See these newborn kittens? They have a look of utter fright on their faces. Why? Because they are about to get murdered. Murdered, and then baked into bread. If you read the box closely, the bottom text says, "40 adorable kitten breads to choose from." That’s right — breads. It's a kitten-bread-baking game!
Pros: Mmmm, kitten bread. Great with butter and strawberry jam.
Cons: PETA, you better get on this one.
Love It or Leave It: I can't help but love it. (Sorry, kittens.)
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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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"Civil War Mysteries: Secrets of the North and South" (PC)
What the Box Tells Us: A game about the Civil War sounds boring in theory but this cover is intriguing. Why are there floating keys? Is that a tornado on the balcony? Why is the house on fire? Who are these strange apparitions? What secrets do they hold? ... Lincoln's hat was used to store snacks? Robert E. Lee loved New England Clam Chowder? Do tell.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Mirror's Edge" (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
What the Box Tells Us: A woman with a trendy haircut stands above a city full of skyscrapers.
Cons: Trendy or not, this lady looks like she put on her mascara without looking into any "mirror's edge."
Pros: Featuring neither men or guns (or men holding guns), this box is not like the others.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Supreme Ruler 2020" (PC)
What the Box Tells Us: Sure, it's another war strategy game, but instead of showing me tiny tanks amid some gunfire, "Supreme Ruler 2020" goes "supreme" by depicting the biggest blaze Washington D.C.'s ever seen since the War of 1812 (or the "Independence Day" movie).
Pros: Michael Bay, eat your heart out.
Cons: My retinas are burning.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Band Manager" (PC)
What the Box Tells Us: A portly, hairy man wearing sunglasses talks on his cell phone while holding a lit cigar. He’s surrounded by stacks of money.
Pros: I didn’t really know there was a band manager stereotype until I saw this box art — and now that I see it, it's spot-on.
Cons: But spot-on for a boy band manager. If this were any more specific, Lou Pearlman could sue… if he wasn't in jail.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Madden NFL 09 All-Play" (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: The Wii version of "Madden NFL 09" isn't like the other versions, where Brett Favre's eyes are bulging as he's about to make an all-important pass. No, instead they've got Brett laughing and pointing and having a grand ol' time.
Pros: What's he laughing and pointing at? [His former team] The Packers? The other cover versions of the game for being so boring and identical?
Cons: This cover is pretty ridiculous and silly. Not for hardcore Madden fans.
Love It or Leave It: I'm not a hardcore Madden fan. Love it.
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"Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars" (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: A pair of mouthless, weapon-wielding mushroom men make their way through the treacherous grass, giant snake in tow.
Cons: Are the mushroom men the bad guys or the good guys? Are they going to destroy humanity as we know it?
Pros: It reminds me of movie posters from '50s sci-fi flicks, like "Them!" (though with less carnage). Still, a very cool aesthetic.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009" (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: An angry, angry bear is busting through some trees to lunge at an unsuspecting orange-vested hunter.
Pros: It's a cover that will stop and make you take notice: The bear looks ferocious, down to the flood of saliva dripping from its jaws.
Cons: Just who is doing the hunting here?
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
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"James Pond: Codename Robocod" (DS)
What the Box Tells Us: Nothing that makes sense: A smiling fish in robot armor is holding a gun while chattering teeth, a cheeseburger and a flaming punchbuggy litter the scene.
Pros: I mean, it has a fish holding a gun. And penguins. It also somehow combines James Bond and Robocop in one game.
Cons: I have absolutely no idea what is going on.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.
Related Post:
The Worst Box Art of 2008
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