Lightning strikes the UK and US cover art of Final Fantasy XIII [Update]
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Dec 1st 2009 at 10:30AM } 
We've posted larger versions of the two boxes in the gallery below. Check them out, but don't let those eyes of yours wander. Yes, we know her skirt is hiked to a precarious degree. We also know that the baby Jesus is watching your every action.
Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII UK cover art
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
vidGuy @ Dec 1st 2009 10:32AM
Hopefully the game isn't as blah as the cover art.
Night Elve @ Dec 1st 2009 1:48PM
Really? I think I'm the only one that really likes this cover. Anyway this is the game in which I will spend a lot of my time.
vidGuy @ Dec 1st 2009 1:53PM
I like the simplicity, I've just never been big on putting the character models on the cover. I'd rather see a minimalist cover (text only) or some real art.
Samuel Vimes @ Dec 1st 2009 10:33AM
Amazing. I cannot wait to devote hours of my life to this game.
Ghen @ Dec 1st 2009 12:27PM
Same. when this comes out I'll vanish off xbox live.
Viking @ Dec 1st 2009 10:33AM
I kinda miss the old "logo on a plain white background" cover :/ they were super "classy class" class.
Kyle @ Dec 1st 2009 11:48AM
Agreed.
goldenboy @ Dec 1st 2009 11:53AM
thats the one japan has, the original white cover with the logo
Viking @ Dec 1st 2009 12:25PM
Maybe Microsoft payed SE to have the character on the cover. She shows more legs on the 360 version, so Microsoft might hope for some perverted people buying the 360 over PS3 for that reason.
Mr.ESC @ Dec 1st 2009 12:28PM
And that was classy!
Spam @ Dec 1st 2009 12:56PM
Saaame
This saddens me far more than it should, but come on! The minimalism of the covers worked great!
I always personally thought the US covers were kinda crappy. They gave too much away. But this, this is far worse. It is BORING.
Cal @ Dec 1st 2009 4:47PM
I want the plain white and logo too, watch it be on the special edition...
CheeziePotato @ Dec 1st 2009 10:33AM
I really hope the U.S. cover isn't like that.
CynicalStrike @ Dec 1st 2009 10:46AM
It'll probably be worse. European covers of Japanese games always seem to be better than the US cover.
FFXII for example: http://www.infobarrel.com/media/image/3136.jpg
Hynad @ Dec 1st 2009 10:56AM
Yeah, obviously, this is a really bad US cover...*obvious sarcasm* ¬_¬
This is much better in my book:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h118/amigreenleaf1234/ffxii_casedetail.jpg
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Co-Founder] @ Dec 1st 2009 10:58AM
Your link is busted.
dark_inchworm (stronger than never, ever before) @ Dec 1st 2009 11:04AM
No it's not, the cover of FFXII in NA clearly states that your account has been inactive for 90+ days.
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Dec 1st 2009 11:15AM
This is what his pic is, for some reason it worked for me on my iPhone
http://www.krackpipe.net/kryson/pics/ffx12collector.jpg
Though that's the collector's edition, I like the original better
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/c/cd/Ffxii_cover.gif
goldenboy @ Dec 1st 2009 11:57AM
gotta agree with CynicalStrike there....two former ps3 game covers in the UK destroyed the US...for example
http://www.blogcdn.com/playstation.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/resistance2collectorseditionboxart%28wehope%29260808425.jpg
http://www.play3.de/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mini-mgs4_eur_packshot_no_rating.jpg
CynicalStrike @ Dec 1st 2009 12:37PM
Well, it was Ico I was really thinking of.
US: http://www.porkrind.org/reviews/ico.jpg
UK: http://www.sirlin.net/storage/articles/ico-jp-cover-1.jpg
Nick (PSN: rattlehead91) @ Dec 1st 2009 12:57PM
Both of those covers for Ico are pretty shitty, I must say.
Surfaced @ Dec 1st 2009 4:43PM
@ Nick
You have no taste.
Jinsenken @ Dec 1st 2009 4:58PM
Eh. I prefer the U.S. Resistance 2/MGS4/FFXII covers myself. Especially FFXII. As cool as Judges are, the rest of it is too plain white. Needs more color.
I really hope the FFXIII cover is different in the U.S., Lightning isn't special enough to appear by herself. GIMME SOME SNOW! He has stubble.
Temidien @ Dec 1st 2009 10:34AM
Can't wait for the shops cropping out the sword and replacing it with something else. Afternoon mission confirmed!
Uncontrol @ Dec 1st 2009 10:36AM
The PS3 version is cropped weirdly.
That said, neither is a particularly good cover.
Vcize @ Dec 1st 2009 10:39AM
Yeah, don't they usually just make PS3 covers a little smaller, rather than cutting off parts of it?
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Dec 1st 2009 10:40AM
I guess it has to be cropped since they put the PS3 logo on top, changing the canvas dimensions. Kinda dumb decision by Sony as now all multiplat covers have to be cut.
Temidien @ Dec 1st 2009 10:40AM
I prefer the cropping, actually. Seems to mesh better with the new PS3 banner.
ill trooper @ Dec 1st 2009 12:19PM
It's a good crop though, creating more visual impact than the 360 version... Even if it gives PS3 buyers less 'fan service' than the 360 version.
captainprotonx @ Dec 1st 2009 10:37AM
Honestly, Squenix? You need a little T&A to sell a FF game?
Last time that happened, FF X-2 was born. Ugh...
Temidien @ Dec 1st 2009 10:39AM
Says the guy with the mammaries avatar?
captainprotonx @ Dec 1st 2009 10:45AM
It's my "Quincy" to the world.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Co-Founder] @ Dec 1st 2009 10:46AM
I feel at Home already.
dagamer43 @ Dec 1st 2009 11:24AM
Where's the US cover?!?!
Heck, where's the JP cover?
Samuel Vimes @ Dec 1st 2009 10:40AM
I do have to say it may not be the best box art ever, but it sure is a step up from FFX's box art.
Vcize @ Dec 1st 2009 11:03AM
Wait, what?
It's basically the same, except that FFX had a real background instead of a light gray gradient that you or I could have done in photoshop in 20 seconds.
Samuel Vimes @ Dec 1st 2009 11:05AM
I am not talking quality. I am talking effect. Tidus standing in some water in his clothes wasn't the most appealing box art. This box art is more clean cut and straight to the point.
Vcize @ Dec 1st 2009 11:08AM
To each his own I suppose.
At least Tidus was standing somewhere. Lightning is just standing in gray. Plus, the water went well with the translucent blue sword Tidus was holding in that cover, not to mention it fit in very well with the game's opening.
Samuel Vimes @ Dec 1st 2009 11:12AM
Don't get me wrong I don't think the FFX box art was horrible by any means. I am just comparing through the series of box art that has been released for the FF titles. It was a bit random for me to see when FFX was released, even more so with FFX-2. But I am a guy who likes clean, minimalistic things. I'd still go as far as saying I would prefer the box art that's a white background with the FF logo, but couldn't complain if this art was released.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Co-Founder] @ Dec 1st 2009 10:40AM
Well...it's not terrible.
Square Enix, your franchise is well known enough now. Please, just put the title logo on a crisp white background.
Like this
http://images.console-tribe.com/ps3/news/09.11.02/thumbs/p.jpg
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Co-Founder] @ Dec 1st 2009 10:42AM
What does everyone think about this one?
http://www.vgboxart.com/boxes/PS3/14343_final_fantasy_xiii.png
captainprotonx @ Dec 1st 2009 10:43AM
Well, if they don't come around, just print it out and slip it into the sleeve.
I'm fearful for the US cover now. I envision speed boats, explosions, and a little furry action. Things to bring in the "young crowd".
CheeziePotato @ Dec 1st 2009 10:43AM
BOOM!
CheeziePotato @ Dec 1st 2009 10:44AM
The second cover is great.
Temidien @ Dec 1st 2009 10:50AM
Second cover is great, but I'd be happy with the first also. Honestly, I hope a minimalist approach like the UK cover is used.
captainprotonx @ Dec 1st 2009 10:51AM
@ Darth
I'd call this cover "loud".
Seems redundant to have her portrait on the cover twice. Also, the giant "XIII" reminds me too much of the game, thirteen:
http://www.tycromedia.com/images/PS2%20XIII.jpg
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Dec 1st 2009 11:26AM
Honestly, I hate that second cover. It's so crowded. Also it doesn't have the insignia like every other game does.
acefondu @ Dec 1st 2009 10:40AM
This art needs a background, then it would be ok.
Jake @ Dec 2nd 2009 2:51AM
No I said the cover doesn't need background, because we just want to look at the cover girl (Serah Farron).
I like the Xbox360 cover more than the PS3 version, simply because I can see her whole body.
acefondu @ Dec 2nd 2009 11:16AM
I don't care what you said, I say it needs a background.