Welcome, one and all, to this week's edition of Box Art Brawl! Wait, are we... poets??
Last time, we pitted two covers for the NES' Urban Champion against each other and after a weekend of voting, it was North America that came up with the win. The classic pixel art cover took 59% of the vote, while Europe and Japan's colourful alternative was left with the remaining 41%.
This week, we're jumping from brawlin' to pinballin' as we look at two regional covers for Kirby's Pinball Land. Originally released on the Game Boy in 1993, the pink puffball's pinball adventure wasn't quite the match made in Dream Land that might expect, but it did go on to spawn the excellent Pokémon Pinball (which used the same engine) on GBC so we can be thankful for that.
Europe and North America opted for the same design on this one, so we have a good old-fashioned duel on our hands against Japan.
Be sure to cast your votes in the poll below; but first, let's check out the box art designs themselves.
Europe / North America
Now this is a classic piece of Kirby art if ever we've seen one! It's a comical take on the puffball, with Kirb looking particularly surprised as he bounces off one of the flippers, presumably into the path of an obstacle ahead. It's got Kirby, it's got a pinball table. What more do you need?
Japan
Japan's cover is much more about the Kirby iconography than it is about the pinball. Sure, the latter is still present and correct here (we particularly like the flipper being incorporated into the title), but the focus is on Kirby, Dedede and a host of other familiar faces. It's certainly the more colourful of the two designs, too.
Thanks for voting! We'll see you next time for another round of Box Art Brawl.
Comments 43
What? First vote? Well, easily Japan!
Japan has a better spirit. US one has lame generic rendering
I feel both aren’t bad but I just prefer the Japanese art direction
Japan easily. Also, game's original title is better, imo. Simple «Kirby's Pinball»(Kâbii no Pinbôru).
Japan for me as it still shows the pinball table, but also more characters and better reflects the spirit of the Kirby series.
The carnival/old-school pinball design of the JP one is definitely more my speed.
EU/NA feels more adventurous.
Both are good, but I think I’ll go for Japan since it shows more Kirby characters, and Parasol which is my favorite copy ability!
Europe by far. The Japanese one feels too chaotic and cluttered
I'm not really feeling either of these honestly, they're both equally bad in my opinion. But at least the Japanese one retains the cuter Kirby appearance so I'll go with that one.
Japanese version for me. I did a double take when I first saw it as it looked like Kirby had lips…
…scary stuff.
Both bad. Fitting for the worst Kirby game of all time.
I voted for Japan. I prefer the design. The match 3 part in the centre and the colours.
Japanese version have more charming
It must say in the Nlife style guide that if one is writing about Kirby's Pinball Land, one must mention that it is somehow substandard or disappointing.
I voted N.A. This game is a classic, y'all. Not a thing wrong with it. 👍
THIS IS THE GAME! When do we get this on NSO? I do like the coloring of the JP art, but I'm sticking with the Western version. Both looking good, though!
A North American Kirby cover without angry Kirby eyes! I’m shocked. Not enough to vote for it but hey. I’d love a poster of the JP cover.
Western Pinball Kirby looks haunted.
All of the Japanese Kirby Game Boy covers are awesome. I own the lot. I don't know how anyone could think this cover is bad. It's so fabulously Japanese!
@-wc- Kirby’s Pinball Land is the best pinball game on Game Boy. Sure it’s not realistic to actual real life pinball, but it does well as a videogame. The other Pinball games on Game Boy that try to be more realistic just as fun.
Japan.
He looks like a willing participant in this. In the European one, he is rather surprised to be there and shocked at being a pinball. Don't make me do something Kirby doesn't want to do.
I love this game so much. When I took a STEM class in high school we made cardboard pinball machines, and I themed mine around Kirby’s Pinball Land — to the point where I had my GBA running the actual game for “ambiance” LOL!! This game holds a special place in my heart, so I went with the western box art for nostalgia’s sake.
As iconic as I find NA/EU's box art, I went with Japan this time. I like the wider color palette and more cartoonish aesthetic. Plus, I think it showcases a little more about the game.
...Now we just need both Kirby's Pinball Land and Pokemon Pinball (both the original and Ruby/Sapphire version) to appear on NSO!
Both are pretty bad but I liked the dark pink Kirby more so went with Japan
I don’t really love either of these, which is unusual. I think Europe/NA has a slight edge in that it looks more pinball-y.
Box Art Brawls Current Total:
Europe: 81
Japan: 78
North America: 92
Australia and New Zealand: 1
North America all the way (very biased here)! This game was by far the most played in my household back in the day. Between my brothers and I we had intense battles for high scores. One of my older brothers though used to dominate it so much that he always made it a mission to make sure the scores were only his name. This needs to come to NSO!
The amount of people defending this game 🤢.
Kirbys Block Ball was a WAY better Game Boy spinoff right down to the chiptunes, and Metroid Prime Pinball is the only Nintendo pinball game worth going back to.
Outside of Waluigi Pinball, of course 😜.
Wow! The Japanese one is extremely ugly. I don't know how they chose that to be a public image.
Were they color blind in the early 90s? Hahaha
Crud I like them both. Maybe Japan because it gives off that charm. Also does anyone remember the US commercial with the claymation Kirby?
Really enjoyed this game as a kid and, while I like both box art designs, the Japanese design is just too busy for me. Eliminate that giant, unnecessary Kirby holding a parasol in the middle and I would've been sold.
Some would say that Japan is too cluttered, and that would be fair. While there's less on the western box, it's not much less cluttered in terms of overall composition. The Japanese cover is better. It has a fun vibe. The flat, unshaded art is more appealing for Kirby. The NA cover isn't bad for what it is as far as finding a way to depict pinball. As I said, composition is not great, but it's not bad. But Japan's is much better.
I chose the North American option but I admit I cannot be unbiased. I grew up on Game Boy and this is one of my favorite games on it, so the nostalgia runs deep. My love for the adventure-pinball genre runs deep and it’s all because of this absolute gem.
This one was easy, Japan.
I never could stand the western artwork of Kirby-- He just looks so lifelessly ghastly. The background does it, but that's it. JP ftw.
Japan, not only for its boxart, but also for its commercial.
The beginning of the song ("Kaabi no Pinboru. Sutai wa Game Boy") lives rent-free in my memory.
Cartridge art (this one may be a win for the west, though)
North America (shared with Europe)
Japan
They're about equal to me, but the North America takes a bit more risk.
I think they’re both way too busy conceptually. But at least the western version shows an actual pinball motif.
I like the bright colors of the Japanese one, but that’s it.
Japan is obviously better. It's got better art, it is more vibrant and its composition is a bit much but it tries to do the pinball table thing real hard.
Also it's got three kirbies. Just one Kirby Europe... Who's crazy idea was that?
Japan's looks more fun. Japan.
For once they're actually both great! Went with NA/EU because I like Kirby's expression and it's a bit more pinball-related.
I like the Japanese one for the color and the logo and all the cuteness
JP is definitely better and cleaner, but somehow the NA one makes me nostalgic for the loose, sketchy art style of early 90's Nintendo Power.
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