A lot has changed since the last time we featured an episode of the Cover Critic. Both Sony and Nintendo have released new portable game systems, long time companies have shut their doors forever, and the world has been reintroduced to a certain lawyer named Jack Thompson. Heck, even this site you're looking at has changed in many ways. So maybe it's time we take another serious look at video game covers, letting you know which ones we like and which we hate. After two years I invite you to embrace a brand new Cover Critic, one that isn't afraidto tell you what we really think. So enjoy five new covers and one new look!
SSX: Tricky
You can't really tell here, but this SSX Tricky cover is nice and shiny. This cover is heads above the cover found in last years original SSX. This cover has a busty chick, a guy with an 'Fro, and the token black man ... what more could you ask for? One complaint, that EA Sports: BIG logo, well, it's just a little too big.
Driven
One of the worst movies of the year is quite possibly one of the worst video game covers of ALL TIME. I don't even know where to begin. How about the Stallone eye, or the bus station brown coloring. Maybe it's the car busting out of the protective goggles. Nah ... it's the fact that this looks like a student project in a Middle School Commercial Art class! Can you blame Bam! for such a lame cover? Maybe. Regardless, though, this grade has been upgraded to an F (believe me).
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
So it's not the most interesting cover, and yes, it IS one of the best games of the year. But let's be honest, there are TONS of pictures of Tony Hawk in action they could use for a cover. WHY are they using what appears to be the same picture on every sequel? Sure this is a little taller, it has the band listing (with what seems like a foot of empty space at the bottom of the box), and it has a bigger logo, but let's be honest, we've seen this cover OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. This cover is just plain boring. Activision, bring us a new cover (maybe even drawn) ... I'm begging you!!
Victorious Boxers
Hmm ... this isn't a terrible cover, if you really think about it. Oh sure, it's not exactly going to fly off the shelves with a cover like this, but it's also not a retreat of what we've seen before. This boxer looks like he's almost 13, but he's ready to kick your ass, and that goes a long way in my book. He's also not breaking through a background, or doing the other cliches usually found in boxing box art. But then, he's also not very interesting ... but since it's not the worst thing I've ever seen, nor is it the best thing I've ever seen, I think I'll just have to give it an average grade.
Syphon Filter 3
This cover makes the Ace Combat 4 cover look exciting!! If there's anything good you can say about this wonderful Tennis game it's the use of two of the best tennis players around. But the problem lies in the covers simplicity. Usually I'm all for simple covers, but this cover looks like it was put together in minutes. Of course, all of the current line of Sega Sports games have this thrown together look, but this one is especially bad.
