2K Games Reveals BioShock 2 Box Art

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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2K Games Reveals BioShock 2 Box Art


Not to be outdone by yesterday's reveal of the incredibly dull Mass Effect 2 box art, BioShock 2 [http://www.2kgames.com/] and it's not really a whole lot better.

quite a reaction [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96189-Mass-Effect-2-Box-Art-Fails-to-Impress] among the readers of The Escapist. Many people criticized it for being bland and flat, while they themselves were criticized for apparently suggesting that the lame-o cover would somehow reflect on the game inside. Depending on your perspective on these things, hilarity may or may not have ensued.

In any event, it must be the week for that sort of thing because hot on the heels of Angry Shepard and the Magic Melon-Head comes the cover for BioShock 2, featuring a creepy-looking Little Sister cowering behind a menacing, drill-wielding Big Daddy.

What's that you say? No, I'm not describing the cover from the original BioShock [http://www.mobygames.com/game/bioshock/cover-art/gameCoverId,93018/]. Well, yes, I am, but that's also what you're going to see on the front of the sequel: The helmet is different, Daddy isn't quite so grossly misproportioned and this time around the BioShock logo has barnacles on it (and a 2, of course) but other than that, we're looking at pretty much a do-over.

It's not quite as bad as Mass Effect 2, no, it's just more of the same. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but more of the same on the box makes me wonder if it's not just more of the same in the box; BioShock was a good game but if I'm going to cough up for a sequel, I'm generally looking for something more than just a gussied-up rerun.

Of course, opinions on box art, like every other kind of art, will vary dramatically; I tend to prefer the Orange Box [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/red-storm-rising/cover-art/gameCoverId,2168/] look like a technical manual didn't really turn my crank) while others would rather see something more clearly and directly connected to the game itself or, in many cases, just don't care. And at the end of the day, no, it doesn't really matter; if it's an either/or question, I'll take a great game over a great box any day. But wouldn't it be nice to see publishers put a little more effort into it once in awhile?

Source: TheNamlessGuy [http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/bioshock-2-cover-is-familiar-absolutely-filthy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Fjoystiq+(Joystiq)] for the tip.


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Dudeakoff

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Jul 22, 2009
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It'll be to do with brand identity, you'll look at that and instantly know it's Bioshock.
 

katsabas

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Apr 23, 2008
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Details people, details. Are you gonna buy a book (or a game for this matter) for his cover?
 

Lord_Panzer

Impractically practical
Feb 6, 2009
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Looks fine to me. And that's not just in comparison to Mass Effect 2's cover, either.
 

Amnestic

High Priest of Haruhi
Aug 22, 2008
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AgentChunk said:
Last time the head was to big and now it's to small. They just can't get it right.
I think it'd look better without the little headpiece on the top, just chop it off. Having those two larger lights slightly lower down would do for the 'head' making the little bit on top entirely unnecessary.

Doesn't look bad I suppose but...well, my Bioshock case was the nice metal one anyway which was just the logo [http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/1242472157_d8199f5f80_o.jpg] (one on the left, without the stupid Windows stuff on). If they brought out another one like that I wouldn't object. This case is average, doesn't really tickle my fancy.
 
Jul 22, 2009
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I got the limited edition for the original, and the steel book was simple but still great :p what is it with all these box arts not being as good as they could be
 

Cowabungaa

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GamesB2 said:
I got the limited edition for the original, and the steel book was simple but still great :p what is it with all these box arts not being as good as they could be
Well they just seem a little bland to me, portraying the main characters in a not-too creative manner. Sure it's pretty cool, but definitely lacks the "wow" factor, if you ask me.
 

Woodsey

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Aug 9, 2009
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Whatever happened to "never judge a book by it's cover"?

ME2's cover is pretty crap, so does that now mean you expect the game to be?

I don't see why they didn't stick with that first image of Shepard climbing over some bitchez, much more cool looking.
 

Onyx Oblivion

Borderlands Addict. Again.
Sep 9, 2008
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Well, its nice. But doesn't really show the fact that you are the big daddy now. It needs a defining characteristic that shows that its you. If that is even you on the cover.
 

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
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Woodsey said:
Whatever happened to "never judge a book by it's cover"?

ME2's cover is pretty crap, so does that now mean you expect the game to be?

I don't see why they didn't stick with that first image of Shepard climbing over some bitchez, much more cool looking.
We're not judging the book, we're just judging the cover. :p
 

Abedeus

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Sep 14, 2008
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Wow, looks really nice. Don't put it next to ME 2's box, or it will seem even crappier.
 

Christemo

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Jan 13, 2009
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that looks really neat! im pretty excited for this game, but i need to play the first one.

my favorite box art still remains Titan Quest tho.
 
Jul 22, 2009
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Assassinator said:
GamesB2 said:
I got the limited edition for the original, and the steel book was simple but still great :p what is it with all these box arts not being as good as they could be
Well they just seem a little bland to me, portraying the main characters in a not-too creative manner. Sure it's pretty cool, but definitely lacks the "wow" factor, if you ask me.
Yeah they just like the screenshots we've all seen a million times over. Something really simple like mass effects first cover is more effective than this.
 

Takoto

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Mar 25, 2009
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I actually really like it. Granted it's no masterpiece but hey? Could be worse.