___ 32 Years of Brilliant Box Art, Pulp

32 years of brilliant video game box art – #6 (2009) Magna Carta 2

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.

MC_2_xbox360

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)