Beauty is only skin-deep, but sometimes, you just have to try. These are some Nintendo DS games which, without regard to their quality, are harshly judged, and deservedly so, for their terrible covers. Here are seven of the Nintendo DS games with the worst boxarts.
7. Diamond Trust of London
The cover of this game features soil, yes, it is just dirt. That’s it. The box art of this Kickstarter project, at the time when everyone is not wary of the crowdfunding scene, especially in the video game industry where projects over-promise or even shamelessly scam people. As bad as the cover is, the game is disappointing, albeit playable.
This game holds the distinction of being the world's first player-funded DS game, but what exactly is it? In this Angola-based game, the objective is simple: acquire diamonds from different regions of the country. You control three agents, managing their wages and strategically bidding on diamonds while contending with a rival player and a U.N. inspector eager to confiscate your gains. The graphics are intentionally simplistic, resembling a board game with a clear and understandable style.
With seven levels of AI opponents for training and the real challenges arising with human opponents, the depth of strategy is extensive. Despite its rough appearance, the game offers a unique and engaging experience, suitable for fans of strategy games who appreciate intricate decision-making. It may not appeal to everyone due to its rough visuals and perceived complexity, but for those who enjoy thoughtful strategy games, it offers a distinctive and varied experience.
6. C.O.R.E.
C.O.R.E. is one of the better FPS games on a platform that does not really feature a lot of those. At its release, it was not the most loved game. Reviewers back then had these unreasonable expectations for an FPS on a weak hardware such as the DS. But this is not about the game’s merits, this is about the game’s box art. And this game’s box art is just purely terrible.
The dark background does not help at all but the character design is just mediocre. It seems like different artists drew the head, the hand, and the torso. It is not too great to look at and it looked cheap when it was a multiplayer FPS primarily.
5. Russel Grant’s Astrology
Astrology is a pseudoscience that people are into. Everyone can have their hobby and there should be no judgment at all. Yet, if you are caught carrying the cover art of Russell Grant’s Astrology, then you better be thick-skinned for the teasing and probably bullying. Fortunately, the American cover of the same game does not have Russell Grant smiling on the cover art. It got rid of him entirely, and that is for the best.
This more of an application peppered with mini-games than a full fledged game. This seems oriented towards a younger demographic, potentially targeting teenagers or young adults. It addresses topics like career prospects and future love life, reflecting concerns typical of adolescence. While it may not cater to everyone's taste, those with an interest in astrology might find Astrology DS engaging. Its functionality is apparent, and its appeal could be more pronounced for individuals within its intended audience.
4. Ninjatown
Ninjatown is actually a fun game. In fact, it is probably one of the best games on the platform but did not really generate the well-deserved coverage because it is not a very popular genre for core gamers.
Ninjatown delivers an engaging tower defense experience with a delightful twist, departing from the typical seriousness of the genre to embrace a cute and humorous aesthetic. As players assume the role of Ol' Master Ninja, the game tasks them with strategically placing Ninja Huts, each housing distinct Ninjas, to defend Ninjatown from the syrup addict, Mr. Demon, and his invading army of Devils. The limited space for building adds a layer of strategic complexity, requiring players to carefully consider their placements and adapt to the evolving challenges presented by upgraded enemy units.
The gameplay is exceptional, as it introduces innovative elements to the tower defense genre. The variety of Ninjas, each with unique abilities, ensures diverse strategic approaches, and the game maintains a perfect balance between challenge and addictiveness. The infusion of humor, evident in dialogues and the inclusion of popular internet memes, contributes to the game's incredible charm.
As for the box art, look at it. It looks like the graphics art of a Flash-based browser game from a first-time developer. The cover does remain faithful to its art direction in-game but it does look better in motion than how it looks on the cover.
3. Mister Slime
Everybody should take a look at Monster Lab on the DS. Its cover features actual monsters but they still look good. Is Mr. Slime a monster? Probably, but he does not need to look this horrific.
Mr. Slime is not a good looking protagonist. He is charmless and awkward. The unconventional design just lacks personality, especially the cover art. The game is not that good either.
The game introduces a grappling mechanic, requiring players to navigate levels deliberately by swinging on pegs with Slimy stretchy limbs, offering a distinctive twist to the genre.
The game's story revolves around the age-old rivalry between the Slimes and Axons, engaging in ritual warfare every 40 years. Slimy embarks on a quest to save his village from the Axon forces, leading to an interesting but somewhat unnecessary plot. Mister Slime effectively utilizes the DS's control possibilities, employing touch controls for navigation and elemental powers, along with microphone interaction for floating during certain sections. However, occasional unresponsiveness and Slimy's fragility present minor challenges.
2. Gummy Bears Mini Golf
Gummy Bears Mini Golf, the successor to Gummy Bears Magical Medallion, fails to address the issues of its predecessor and offers a lackluster mini golf experience. While it is an improvement over the platforming game, its modest goal of providing a simple mini golf game is achieved without delivering much fun. The game features various modes, including Free Play, Career, League, and Multi Player, but they all share a similar gameplay experience. The sad narrative in Career Mode, where a solitary Gummy Bear putts through charmless holes, adds a melancholic touch.
But how about the box art? Oh my, it looks like a fever dream of 90s 3D cartoons. It is bad 3D, bad character design, and it is a bad game, period.
1. Snood 2: On Vacation
The cover art for Snood 2: On Vacation unintentionally creates a hilariously chaotic scene of anthropomorphic, spherical creatures known as Snoods frozen falling from the sky. This is likely to prompt snort-laughter in a store and awkward explanations to confused friends. Despite its chaotic nature, the cover perfectly captures the wacky and slightly unsettling charm of Snood 2: On Vacation.
Snood 2: On Vacation is a puzzle game that draws heavy inspiration from the classic Bust a Move, but much much worse. The gameplay involves firing bizarre faces, or snoods, from a cannon onto a board filled with other snoods. When at least three snoods of the same type come into contact, they disappear, causing those above them to fall. The goal is to clear the entire board or progress through different stages. While the game introduces some modifications, such as varied game modes and different challenges, it struggles to escape the shadow of its puzzle classic predecessor.