Faustus' Noteworthy Video Game Boxart Collection

In response to an invitation by Neg in his magnificent Noteworthy Video Game Boxart Collection, I offer my selections. But because only four of the games that I'd choose to include in such a Top 10 actually have reviews that can be linked to, I've chosen instead to give due credit to the work of one celebrated Japanese development studio. It's just three games (so a Trilogy as opposed to a Collection), all of which are works of genuine art in themselves and for which a convenient review already exists. I'm referring to the games of Team Ico.

Neg's Noteworthy Video Game Boxart Collection

I honestly find myself being disappointed with video game boxart a startling amount of the time. Sure, sometimes it’s outright awful; I'm looking at you, Mega Man. But, more often than not, I'm usually displeased with what is objectively decent, or genuinely beautiful art, simply because I somehow find it to be incongruent with what it's trying to represent, and sell a consumer on. Still, I have been able to identify 10 examples that I either appreciate in a purely aesthetic sense, or that have something else about them that I consider worthy of celebrating and elaborating on. Below the cut, you will find all of them, as well as links to my reviews of each associated game.

The Mega Man Collection

To me, the Mega Man and Mega Man X series are about skill. When it comes to most forms of media, including video games, I am all in for two things: Character and Story. However, the medium of games is unique in that it undeniably has to cater to the development of skill, even if I, and many others, value narrative most highly. It is bound and defined by it. As a kid, I rented these games consistently, reveling in the colorful and characterful Robot Masters and Mavericks. I treated them as a collection of sampler platters. Indeed, it was not until I returned to the franchise as an adult that I came to appreciate Wily and Sigma’s abodes, finding the utmost joy in doing complete runs. Mega Man himself may be little more than an avatar to me, but that’s fitting, as it is through him that I am able to express my prowess at besting his foes.

Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Mega Man 7
Mega Man Powered Up

Mega Man X
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X3
Maverick Hunter X

Below the cut, I will be providing my thoughts on the structure of both the Anniversary and Mega Man X Collections.

The Bunny Collection

Is there someone in there....................Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit............I bet with those long ears you can hear the voices................................I don't have regrets about anythin' anymore..........Put....the.....bunny....back.....in.....the box......What's the matter, snuggle-bunny, finding out the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows?

Click the red link, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.........

The Viable Options Collection

Here on the Nut Blogs, we’ve covered plenty of Remakes, Reboots, and Reenvisionings. We’ve even tackled our fair share of adaptations (1, 2, 3, 4). As rare as it is for any of those to actually improve on their original works, it could be argued that the chances of them being equally worthwhile are even more astronomical. While these pairs (or, in a few cases, trios) may not share the exact same scores, they are considered to be comparable in quality and veritas by at least one of our authors. They are the narratives and experiences for which multiple incarnations deservedly stand side-by-side on our shelves.

_____________________

Mickey's Christmas Carol

Scrooged

The Muppet Christmas Carol
_____________________

Brimstone and Treacle (1976)

Brimstone and Treacle (1982)
_____________________

Castlevania II: Simon's Quest

Worlds of Power: Castlevania II — Simon's Quest

_____________________

Constantine (film)

Constantine (game)

_____________________

Dune (film)

Frank Herbert's Dune (TV Mini-Series)

_____________________

The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)

The Fall of the House of Usher (1960)

_____________________

Fist of Fury

Fist of Legend

_____________________

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

_____________________

La Jetée

12 Monkeys

_____________________

 

The Last Man on Earth

The Omega Man

_____________________

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

_____________________

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D

_____________________

Mega Man X

Maverick Hunter X

_____________________

Piranha (1978)

Piranha (2010)

_____________________

Seven Samurai

The Magnificent Seven

_____________________

The Shining (novel)

The Shining (film)

Stephen King's The Shining (TV Mini-Series)

_____________________

Silent Hill — Harry Mason

Silent Hill — Rose Da Silva

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

_____________________

True Grit (1969)

True Grit (2010)

_____________________

Yojimbo

A Fistful of Dollars

The Final Fantasy VII Collection

Admittedly, VII, and the universe that grew out of it, exists exalted in the minds of fanboys and those for whom nostalgia is not only king, but verily, everything. While I do have nostalgia for the game itself, I am not actually one of either of those numbers. I have experienced the below items—that I’ve personally reviewed—multiple times over the intervening years. In fact, I engaged with them, and their myriad faults, immediately prior to the time of this writing. As a critical fan, I see not only their shortcomings, but also the strengths buried therein. I am able to continually find inspiration, joy, and emotional resonance in this world’s characters, without having to turn a blind-eye to the problems the individual releases have as interactive and non-interactive pieces of media.

The track is far from the smoothest, but for me,

"There ain’t no gettin’ offa this train"~

Source:
Final Fantasy VII
Official Final Fantasy VII Strategy Guide

Sequel Film:
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete

Prequel Anime:
Last Order: Final Fantasy VII

Spin-Off Game:
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII

Copyright-Skirting Costume Accessory:
Spirit Deluxe Wide Blade Sword

The Ace Attorney Collection

The Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney series spins the incredibly simple (and perhaps initially off-putting) concept of donning the well-tailored blazers of defense attorneys (and sometimes prosecutors) into something much more. The morality of these stalwart advocates, and the judicial system itself, is inevitably placed under the microscope, but it is done through the lens of its impact on those who entrust their lives to these men and women—characters that are often as hilarious as they are endearing and relatable.

The Phoenix Arc of the progenitorial gaming series has been covered completely on our sister site, Nut Load.

1.) Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright
2.) Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright — Justice for All
3.) Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright — Trials and Tribulations

Opinions on the music from the same era can be found on Nut Suite.

1.) Gyakuten Saiban Sound Box
2.) Gyakuten Saiban Meets Orchestra
3.) Gyakuten Saiban Meets Jazz Soul

The film has been tackled, here.

The Assassin's Creed Collection

I'm of the opinion that it’s because of Ubisoft’s aggressive marketing that the Ass Creed games sell as well as they do, because, if truth be told, for the most part they really don’t deserve to. The stories are often a jumbled mess, spending more time attempting to set up contrivances than they do delivering any kind of cohesive pay-off. The games are sometimes broken, necessitating post-release patches to get them into a playable state. Some are even sold incomplete, requiring additional but 'optional' paid-for DLC to fill in blanks.
I can say all of that with some degree of certainty because I've played most of the main series. I'm consoled by the fact that I've put very little money into Ubisoft’s pockets. Because of the yearly release schedule, if you wait long enough (about twelve months) you can get them new for less than £10.00. The enjoyment I get from side-missions is certainly worth that much.

Video Games on Nut Load.
01. Ass Creed Series

Books and Comics on Nut Ink.
01. Ass Creed Series

Short films on In a Nutshell.
01. Assassin's Creed: Lineage (2009)
02. Assassin's Creed: Ascendance (2010)
03. Assassin's Creed: Embers (2011)

The Game to Movie Collection: Part Two

Adapting a video game to animation should be an easier process than adapting one to live action. The transition is smoothed by not having to realise the game's visual style in real world terms; it can be recreated exactly. But, like before, the fact that games are plotted so very differently to other mediums proves to be a hurdle. I've a lot of sympathy for writers that at least try their best. There are even a significant number of success stories, some of which you'll find linked below. Like Part One it's a lengthy list that'll increase in the future. Click the coloured text below to see the full collection:

The Game to Movie Collection: Part One

Forever on the lookout for an existing market to exploit (because originality is hard), and despite multiple past failures, the Hollywood predators often stray into the gaming world. I’d give them credit for repeatedly trying if it was for noble reasons, but mostly it isn't. They hope that an IP with an established fan base can be turned into a profitable venture with minimal effort.

It's a lengthy list (sorted alphabetically) that will no doubt increase in the future, so I've put it after the cut. Click it to see the full collection:

The Alan Moore Collection

Alan Moore is a writer, magician, amateur historian, and proprietor of a beard that some say once covered the fishy genitalia of the mighty Cthulhu. He rose to prominence working for 2000 AD, and afterwards climbed steadily toward the enviable position he holds now: an opinionated, difficult author who does what he likes and takes as long he likes to do it. More power to him.
Hollywood has tried to capitalise on his success, but to date every film that’s been based on or adapted from Moore’s work has more often than not upset fans of his books. The bottom line is they simply weren't meant to be films, so they either had to change much to succeed or lose something crucial during the transition from one medium to another.

Books on Nut Ink:
01. Alan Moore Books and Comics.

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. From Hell (2001)
02. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
03. Constantine (2005)
04. V for Vendetta (2005)
05. The Mindscape of Alan Moore (2005)
06. Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (2009)
07. Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)

Video Games on Nut Load:
03. Constantine (2005)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Alan Moore audio.

The Conquer Yourself Collection

"What is he?"

"He is you. Your Opposite. Your Negative."

For some people in this world the most daunting and terrifying foe they will ever face is themselves. Appropriately, these pieces of media have their heroes facing off with what they see when they look in the mirror (or, in one case, enter it). Dark, Shadow, Nega, Mad, The Memory of…—all terms that simply denote that the destructive part of one’s own nature has been given physical form and a confrontation is inevitable.

Who will win?

The outcome is literally in your own hands.

Films on In A Nutshell:

01: The Matrix Collection

02: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

03. The Dark Half
04. Army of Darkness

Video Games on Nut Load:

01: Silent Hill 3

02: The Legend of Zelda Collection

03. Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

04: The .hack//Collection

Music on Nut Suite:

01: GREEN DAY/ 21st Century Breakdown

The Silent Hill Collection

Psychologically and morally complex urban explorers who find their way into the titular town are inevitably ferried down one (or both) of two twisted paths. Those seeking truth and atonement occasionally sidestep becoming part of Alessa Gillespie or The Order’s machinations but a few are not so lucky.

The town’s incarnations have manifested themselves in the realms of film and comics in addition to the foundational games and iconic music composed by Akira Yamaoka (and Daniel Licht).

Games on Nut Load:
00. Silent Hill Origins (2007)
01. Silent Hill (1999)
02. Silent Hill 2 (2001) + (ALT Vers.)
03. Silent Hill 3 (2003)
04. Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004)
05. Silent Hill Homecoming (2008)
06. Silent Hill Downpour (2012)
07. Silent Hill Shattered Memories (2009) (a reinvisioning of 01)
08. Soundless Mountain II (2008) (a worthy fan-made homage)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Daniel Licht / Silent Hill Downpour (Original Soundtrack) (2012)
02. Various Artists / Silent Hill Downpour: Radio Songs (2012)

Comic Mini-series on Nut Ink:
01. Silent Hill — Past Life (2010)
02. Silent Hill Downpour — Anne’s Story (2014)

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. Silent Hill (2006)
02. Silent Hill: Revelation (2012)

Films, TV, and Literature that have influenced the Silent Hill games:

01. Jacob's Ladder (1990) (appropriately vaunted Godfather of the series)
02. 1408 (2007)

03. Blue Velvet (1986)

04. Carrie (1976)

05. The Cell (2000)

06. Con Air (1997)

07. Kindergarten Cop (1990)

08. Lost Highway (1997)
09. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

10. Session 9 (2001)

11. The Shining (1980)
12. The Walking Dead (1936)

13. The Wicker Man (1973)
14. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

15. Twin Peaks | Season 1 (1990) | Season 2 (1990-91) | Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

16. The Dune Collection
17. The Tempest (c.1610-11)

The Ray Bradbury Collection

Bradbury’s books and short stories are magical things. They’re nourishment for the hearts and souls of millions of readers the world over. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about many of the film adaptations of those same works. There are many reasons why that is, but I don’t have space to go into them. I can provide a list of the reviews that are currently on the Nuts, though:

Books on Nut Ink:
01. Ray Bradbury Books and Comics

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. It Came from Outer Space (1953)
02. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
03. Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
04. The Illustrated Man (1969)
05. The Electric Grandmother (1982)
06. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
07. The Halloween Tree (1993)
08. The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998)
09. A Sound of Thunder (2005)

TV Series on Nut Box:
01. The Martian Chronicles (1980)

Video Games on Nut Load:
01. Fahrenheit 451 (1984)

The Dune Collection

'Proper teaching is recognized with ease. You can know it without fail because it awakens within you that sensation which tells you this is something you have always known.' 

― Frank Herbert, Dune

Books on Nut Ink:
01. Dune (1965)
02. Dune Messiah (1969)
03. Children of Dune (1976)
04. God Emperor of Dune (1981)
05. Heretics of Dune (1984)
06. Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)

Films on In a Nutshell:
01. Dune (1984)
02. Dune: Special TV Edition (1988)
03. Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

TV Miniseries on Nut Box:
01. Frank Herbert's Dune (2000)
02. Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003)

Video Games on Nut Load:
01. Dune 2000 (1998)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Dune OST (1984) by Toto.

The .hack//Collection

The .hack// stories can be layered and engaging multi-part adventures or simplistic one-shots as plot-driven as a colouring book. That’s one of the potential consequences of spreading something over many different mediums. But if you’re a fan then you’re a fan and nothing anyone says will change your mind. I know that first-hand. All the Nuts have to offer about the World is linked below:

Video Games on Nut Load:
01. .hack//Infection//Mutation//Outbreak//Quarantine (2002-03)

Films and Shorts on In a Nutshell:
01. .hack//GIFT (2003)
02. .hack//G.U. Returner (2007)
03. .hack//G.U. Trilogy (2008)
04. .hack//Beyond the World (2012)

TV Series and OVAs on Nut Box.
01. .hack//Liminality (2003) (OVA)
02. .hack//Legend of the Twilight (2003) (TV Series)
03. .hack//Quantum (2012) (OVA)

Books on Nut Ink:
01. .hack//Manga and Light Novels

The Legend of Zelda Collection

Only in gaming culture could a silent protagonist who enters your house uninvited, smashes your clay pots and steals your oversized currency become a well-respected and adored legend. Link is that figure. He’s defined solely by his actions, all of which are the result of you, the player.
We don't have every title reviewed, but there's a moderate selection across a number of Nintendo platforms. Some titles even make more than one appearance on our Favourites List. My own personal favourite LoZ moment is also one of my most treasured gaming moments ever.

Games on Nut Load:
01. The Legend of Zelda

Books on Nut Ink:
01. TLoZ Manga by Akira Himekawa
02. Hyrule Historia (2013)

Music on Nut Suite:
01. Ocarina of Time Original Soundtrack (1998)
02. Majora's Mask Original Soundtrack (2000)
03. 25th Anniversary Symphony Soundtrack (2011)