American Kirby Is Hardcore: Difference between revisions

For whatever reason, when a Japanese game is released Stateside, there's a tendency to make the boxart -- or even the character models -- a little more ''hardcore''. Maybe it's as simple as adding [[Angry Eyebrows]], or maybe the character's model is completely redone. This is often done to characters who are supposed to be cute in the first place. Sometimes it goes the other way, too: an American character may be made cuter for the Japanese release.

 

 

Essentially the opposite of [[Bowdlerise|Bowdlerising]] and a subtrope of [[Cultural Translation]]. It's also [[Tropes Are Not Bad|not always a bad thing, mind you]]; if the game itself isn't particularly cutesy poo, then giving it cute box art is just weird. On the other hand, if you're thinking about buying a game whose main character is [[Kirby|an adorable pink puffball]] [[Sugar Bowl|surrounded by sparkles and rainbows]], then whether or not he's smiling on the cover honestly shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

* ''[[Jak and Daxter]]'' got the reverse of this: Compare the [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Jak_and_Daxter_-_The_Precursor_Legacy_Coverart.png original American cover] with the [http://www.jp.playstation.com/jacket/l/scps15021.jpg Japanese port]. Curiously, the American cover fits with the [[Darker and Edgier|tone of the rest of the series]], but not with the happy original.

* The Japanese cover art for ''[[Dynasty Warriors|Dynasty Warriors 7]]'' was very minimalist, with simply the game's logo on a gold background. One can't blame Koei for wanting to spruce it up a bit. But they may have gone [http://media2.shopto.net/boxart/PS3DY05.jpg a bit too far].

* ''[[Solatorobo]]'': While all covers are taken from official game art, the [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sruLyAW7i1Q/TaWuwcSk6HI/AAAAAAAAGvs/6AV9v5MsNYY/s1600/Solatorobo_red_the_hunter_cover.jpg Japanese cover] is definetly more happy-looking than the [http://images.nintendolife.com/games/ds/solatorobo_red_the_hunter/cover_large.jpg European] and [http://cdn02.animenewsnetwork.com/images/cms/the-x-button/42186/redcover.jpg American] ones.

* Inverted in the ''[[Playstation Two]]'' game called ''Dogs Life''. The PAL and American covers are [http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/2/917852_25707_front.jpg rather fitting for the game]; showcases the villains, protagonist, and the dogs you can control all in the style used for cutscenes. The Japanese cover is [http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/2/917852_63389_front.jpg just Jake running through a farm] that vaguely resembles the Clarksville levels; and a stylistic version of him anyway.