Another year, another countdown, another birthday.  And I’m boxing it all up, tying a nice little bow around it, and turning the ripe old age of 32 with a celebration of 32 BRILLIANT examples of FANTASTIC video game box art.  Join me, won’t you?

Magna Carta 2 (2009) – While everyone is fawning over Japanese art, there’s a whole world of great stuff being produced just a small boat ride away.  Korea is not only a great producer of pop culture, exporting music, film and television not only to Asia but increasingly across the world, and it’s visual artists like Hyung-Tae Kim that show why the nation is such a cultural force.  The box art for Magna Carta II is a great example of his work, and is typical of his beautiful character designs, injecting a certain effeminate sexuality to both genders that makes it rather easy on the eye.  The way in which he captures the beauty of the human form – as exaggerated as it is – and the striking detail on the characters’ is what makes this such a striking piece of visual art and him such a special talent.  Korean “Manhwa” art isn’t as pervasive as its Japanese counterpart throughout the video game industry, but it’s a desire for inspired pieces like this that make me hopeful that Korea continues to expand its influence and its cultural reach through the video game medium.

Miss previous entries in the countdown?

Space Ace (1983) – Transylvania (1984) – Impossible Mission (1985)–Defender of the Crown (1986) – Faery Tale Adventure (1987) – F/A – 18 Interceptor (1988) – Blood Money (1989) – King of the Zoo (1990) –Lemmings (1991) –Pinball Fantasies (1992) – The Ren & Stimpy Show: Veediots! (1993) – Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land (1994) – Primal Rage (1995) – Wipeout 2097 (1996) –  Theme Hospital (1997) – Resident Evil 2 (1998) – Formula One ’99 (1999)– Gran Turismo 2 (2000) – Soul Reaver 2 (2001) – Gitaroo Man (2002) – Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly (2003) – Warioware, Inc.: Mega Microgames! (2004) – DK King of Swing (2005) – We Love Katamari (2006) – Digital Devil Saga 2 (2007) – Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (2008)