Japan Envy: Japanese Cave Story 3D art is proof that Japan does everything better

I must confess, I haven’t played Cave Story. I’ve downloaded the free version, but it’s just one of those things I haven’t gotten around to… I know, I know! Shame on me. I feel like my shame of not having played so many important titles is a recurring theme on this blog…

Anyways! I’m not here to talk about game-related shame. I’m here to talk about Cave Story 3D, a game that was but a small blip on my radar, namely because I just could not stand the art direction NIS America went for on the 3DS remake. The original game’s art style was so quirky, so retro… Well, let me cut to the chase. For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s the art that graced the NA/Europe cover:

Unfortunately, I can’t find anything appealing about this art style, so I never felt the need to have a physical copy of the game. Honestly, I feel like to completely negates the awesome feel of the original game, which, as we all know, was Japanese. The Japanese cover, however? Now that’s a different story…
Now that is gorgeous, if I do say so myself! The game is so much more appealing now! What’s that? “Don’t judge a game by its box art”? Yeah, well… 
Shinonoko, the artist behind said beautiful art, was also commissioned to do this promotional piece: 

Simply divine! Too bad the in-game graphics themselves aren’t being reworked for the Japanese release… Or are they? I’d rather not know the answer, because if it’s “yes” I’m going to have yet another reason to push me towards buying a Japanese 3DS, and my wallet just can’t handle that.

Interestingly, the Japanese version of the game will also include Ikki, Dragon Slayer, and Crazy Climber. 


What do you think of these new Cave Story 3D assets? And can anyone explain to me why Japan has all the fun?

About Anne

Also known as apricotsushi. Anne can be written with the kanji for apricot (杏), and sushi was the most quintessentially Japanese thing I could think of when I was 13, resulting in my goofy, albeit memorable, nickname.

5 thoughts on “Japan Envy: Japanese Cave Story 3D art is proof that Japan does everything better”

  1. Because the Japanese love cute things! Or at least their companies think they do! I don’t know :p

    It still feel like Western marketing of video games is trapped around the core teenage male market of the late 80s. I can’t think of another reason that would justify the angry Kirby we always seem to get over here.

  2. Ohhh. The Japanese Artwork is quite nice. Like making paper models and giving them a few small features. Very nice. I would also agree with Alois’s comment too. For some reason, it seems to be a firm believe that cute and happy doesn’t sell and that everything needs an intense face. I still don’t get why that mentality still exist. Happened to Pit as well, making his face angry for the KIU game.

  3. Alois – Yeah, I really don’t understand it, though. I think just as many Westerners appreciate cute things as Japanese people do, don’t you? At least these days, anyway… Maybe we were more gruff back in the 80’s, I don’t know 😉

    But geeze, Kirby and Pit don’t need to be angry to be awesome! And did you see the US cover for Theatrhythm? It shows the characters fighting, of course >_<

  4. Hi Motherplayer! The paper cut-out style is nice, isn’t it? Again, I definitely agree with you and Alois… I don’t know why people in charge of marketing think that Westerners (Americans in particular) don’t like cute. I think with the younger crowd, cute is definitely “in”! Maybe there are some folks that don’t dig cute, but I can’t believe they’re as much of a majority as game-related media and advertising leads us to believe.

  5. The Japanese boxart is pretty rad, but at least the USA one is good as well. No Megaman 1 boxart here.

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