It's unquestionably going to be a masterpiece, but much like the US version of ICO, there's a big question mark hanging over The Last Guardian's box art. We actually rather like the image that's been selected – it looks especially tasty on the title's steelbook – but the bog standard release has been buggered up by the addition of an uber-ugly border.
We can kinda see what the platform holder's going for: the font, image, and border augment an almost book cover-like look. But let's be brutally honest: it's not very good, is it?
Oh well, the game's going to be amaze-balls, so who cares!
Comments 62
Think the image and art style is fine. Then again once I buy a game I only ever see the spine of the box so does not really matter what they put on the front or back.
Ugh! The illustration is not bad (not great either) but the black frame doesn't suit it...I'd go all white like the steel box version.
I wonder if this will be a fallout 4 situation when people are just dying to give it good scores and them end up criticizing it after the fact.
I think it looks alright. It's an artistic choice. I'm a designer, and I see the different aspects of it that could be effective. It's different, and I like it.
I don't think it sucks. it looks different, more like a book. A Little bit of flair on the border wouldn't hurt though.
Black frame is weird since boy and bird are above it anyway.
I know it's the team art style or game atmosphere (as SOTC was similar) but boy could it use some colour.
I don't really mind the cover, it's not anywhere near as bad as some of the actually-bad boxart in my collection, and while I -am- eyeing up the lovely steelbook edition, it's either £60 on its own (GAME Exclusive) or £110 with the figure I do not have the space or inclination to display, which feels like a bit of a waste to me.
Doesn't bother me as I will end up getting this digital from the US store for along £40
it looks good.I don't know what you talking about.someone needs to get there eyes check out
Looks fan-made xD
Haha honesty looks fine to me. I've only more recently got more excited for this game, as I've been thinking about playing SOTC again, but instead I'm gunna wait for this. Bring it on.
Seeing that we've waited this long, it could have naked Esther Rantzen on the cover and I'd still lap it up.
Looks fine to me,but my excitement for this game is just too much so don't care what's on the cover,I'll be going for steel book anyway.
I'm really worried about this games quality . Kinda funny games played a 40 minute demo of it, and the guy seemed unimpressed .
Very Demotivational.......
Wow I must have terrible taste then because I love it.
So far this is easily my favorite box art on PS4.
Just made my own version. I think they made the border like that to get the title to stand out. As
I don't think my version's perfect, but the art certainly looks better without the border.
To be fair, ICO had bloody terrible box art in the west too. I think later editions had the infinitely better Japanese box art instead. Would paste it in here but can't remember for the life of me how to do it. Maybe someone could oblige?
It looks like they jump out of the cover i think it's cool
That's a pretty bad box art actually. Anyone seen the new Mario Party's box art?
http://cdn.nintendonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/spaghettios_can_mario_party_star_rush_box_art_2.jpg
I like it. Better than the super generic dude-bro-man with muscles standing with a gun in front of a set-piece or explosion*
*see every shooter game cover and game marketed to 18-30 male gamer.
the box art looks good to me
On the grand scale of things is a games "box art" really that important ? You're going to play the game, not hang the the game casing over your fireplace. As a fantastic painting .
@Kidfried The problem is the color of the title's font, and the fact it has no outline. The uardian in the 'Guardian' word is swallowed by the dark background. Also, the title is way down - it should be either on the upper part of the cover, or in the middle, or even at the same height with Trico's half-clenched claw.
Sorry if I'm being too critical, but as a graphic artist, that stuff's my job.
I actually really like the dark border. Definitely going physical for this.
They definitely could have done worse. Doesn't matter too much though.
@Kidfried This is better than the official art, I don't know why the black border is there. Wish they make $80 special edition with steelcase and artbook thought.
Looks great — Sammy, do you ever write anything objective? Everything is always "GotY" with you. Not sure if that's how journalism is supposed to work.
@naut Watch the language -Tasuki-
@naut ironically the last guardians gameplay impressions from E3 all point towards great . Thats the game,not tthe box art. BTW
@Bazza78 Watch the language -Tasuki-
@Nickolaidas Sure, I was aware of that. But I just had to work with a cut-out of the original boxart and made a mock-up. The point I was trying to make is that the image of the boy and the beast is much stronger without the border around the image. Even with the terrible title art that still stands.
Just a small point of advice, please don't use your job as some kind of legitimization. If you think you were too critical, then don't post the comment. I do think your critique is on point, though. I used it to slighty improve the box art a bit. Still, I'm interested in your opinion on the original boxart.
@Kidfried If that's your mock up, then it's already vastly superior to the original. I love it.
@naut Good job I'm not a journalist, then!
@get2sammyb but you write articles sammy, so you are a "journalist " there's no two ways about it!
@get2sammyb You're totes a journalist. A reluctant journalist Just gotta accept it bro!!!
I actually quite like it. It looks pretty striking against a sea of generic box covers. The Steel cover looks better, sure, but this one is gunna be on my shelf for sure!
The black border makes it look like an old meme.
it looks good.someone needs John Dena.because you can't see me
Ya they need to fire whoever came up with that.
Even normal every day people on this site have demonstrated a more capable box art. So uh, why are they PAYING someone to come up with crap like that?
Ya they need to fire whoever came up with that.
Even normal every day people on this site have demonstrated a more capable box art. So uh, why are they PAYING someone to come up with crap like that?
@Kidfried Solid advice - I'll take it to heart. As for the original, I like it, its only problem is the fact that the room for the cover in a PS4 case is already small and making a frame inside a frame is making the cover even smaller. While artistically I don't dislike it, I dislike the fact it makes the art even smaller.
I really dig the way Trico is outside the frame. It's really nice.
@wiggleronacid Oh my. Can't unsee this now.
@Nickolaidas Agree.
Yet another click-bait title. Sigh...
It's ok, much better than the Doom box art, but at least they had reversible for that in the end that was good. Just wondering if this will top the previous two games in the trilogy, it's had a rocky journey.
Apparently, I'm the only one who liked the Doom cover.
@Nickolaidas It was well made, but it just didn't had any character. (Until Dawn, Far Cry 4 and Ni No Kuni were some of the best boxarts I remember from recent times.)
It looks like ICO/SoTC'ish so I like it
don't care to much hype for the game
The image is fantastic, just the black border is pretty ridiculous. Considering how good Ico's (Europe and Japan) and SotC's box are, I would have thought it wouldn't be ruined by something so obvious not to do.
I actually think it looks ok. The black border isn't the best solution but it's far from terrible.
The border could be due to the artwork having little room for the title where it can stand out, with its light and dark patches all over the place. Maybe a chunkier typeface could've helped?
The only other thing I'd say is that it's sort of odd how the boy and Trico are outside the boundaries of the border. I think it would look better if they were inside the frame, because it looks a bit like they're outside of the world you'll be exploring, like there's a window behind them.
I dunno. I'm buying it either way
I think it looks fine, I'll take it over a standard "just plaster in all the main characters in the game" cover anyday.
Lucky i dont buy a game based on what the cover looks like
Is it 1st April today?!
I think it looks fine. It's just different. Just like the game I guess.
@naut I agree Sammy is very subjective in his opinions but I find that refreshing (even though I personally disagree with most of his opinions. Haha). I find it irritating when media try to pretend they're more objective in reporting than they really are. Having opinions is part of what makes us human.
@get2sammyb You're not a journalist? That's news to me!
Yeah, I think the box art is fine. Certainly better than the ICO box art. In all honesty I like it for the very reason that it looks like an older fantasy book cover. The black border adds a sense of the game being out of time. I think it'd be awesome if instead of a black background it looked like a faded, worn, black texture with creases and the like. And if they extended the picture to the edges from left to right and put the foreground elements back in the frame, we'd have ourselves a classy cover.
It is ugly, I thought that when I saw it on Amazon. The cover looks like a budget game.
I actually prefer the border - it gives it a retro look. However, using an image from the game and not original art is definitely lazy.
Now I'm thinking of getting it digitally.
The box art looks weird. I've seen worse though.
"It's unquestionably going to be a masterpiece (...)"
Bold statement. The game has been delayed a lot because of various issues which isn't a good sign. The trailers has also received mixed reception where a lot of people have pointed out that the art style of the main character looks very out of place and doesn't fit in with the rest of the world in the game. I'll reserve my opinions for when the game has been released though. Could be great. Could disappoint. Who knows?
@tudsworth The statue was gorgeous though. 😁
Sorry you in my nightshift but i think it looks great. 😁
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