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!
Resident Evil
Why is it that the worst looking part of Resident Evil is the box art? It's not that the box is poorly drawn or anything, it's just not very striking. Resident Evil has always reminded me of a video game movie (yeah ... I know they made a movie out of it, but hey, work with me here), but this cover just doesn't look like a movie poster to me. I'm glad it's not an in-game shot, but it's just extremely lifeless and not at all eye catching. I like the use of the darkness, but this cover is just tragic. If you were a little iffy on whether or not you should buy the game, based on it's new merits, I don't think this cover's going to sway you.
TransWorld Surf
How do you make a good looking cover for a surfing game? Perhaps the question should be how do you make a good surfing game. But let's cover the, well, cover for a minute. Is it just me, or is that the Atari symbol in the middle of the picture? And is it also just me that thinks that they may have taken the single TAMEST picture of surfing. And is it just me who thinks that this cover will neither sell units, nor warrant a rental. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one ugly cover.
Redcard 2003
The next in the ever expanding arcade sports game genre coming from Midway, and I can honestly say this cover is no better, nor any worse than the rest. For that I just don't know what to say. I like the way the fire appears to be burning the lower half of this soccer players body. But then, I don't really like the way this cover makes it look like a lame Mark Walberg movie poster, but then, I do like that logo. Oh, I'm so divided. It's just so average, it seems like something could be done about that.
Headhunter
Finally a good cover. Even though there are so many logos on this cover, I still find this to be a rather attractive cover. It looks like a movie poster, which works to the advantage of this game, which plays like a movie. Is it just me or is that guy on the cover look like ALL of the extras in that Patrick Swayze movie Roadhouse?
No One Lives Forever
So, we're finally to the last cover before E3, and you know what, I'm damn happy. Because I've done my work, I've written my reports, I've reviewed my games, and I have done my planning ... I am ready to go, and I am ready to just get this Cover Critic out of my mind. Ain't that the truth. So while you are looking for a connection between this random babble and the picture to your left, I'll be in L.A. looking for something odd. Very odd.
