Videogame box art is there to grab the
eyeballs of the less knowledgeable and lure them into parting with
their money. However, that does not mean that the dedicated among us
cannot stand back and appreciate (or ridicule) what some marketing
bloke thinks looks good on the front of a box.

We
have of course seen a huge number of high profile launches in 2007.
Some have matched the hype, others haven't. But a big marketing budget
doesn't necessarily equate to a stunning (even collectable) piece of
art gracing the box. We can prove it too!

In the name of fun, we decided to pick our best and worst pieces of box art from the year.

Speaking of big-budget games with duff box art, enter Crysis. For such
a massive game, the box art's so boring we've been using it to send
ourselves off the sleep. And Halo 3? It's just like someone thought,
"Hell, all we need to do is slap a picture of Master Chief on it and
we'll be fine". Actually, they're probably right. But it's still dull,
dull, dull.

Joining Crysis and Halo 3 in our 'Worst box art of
2007' list are Supreme Commander, The Orange Box (box art plopiness in
its prime) and Shadowrun, which for once proved that you CAN judge a
game by its cover.

Finally, deserving an honorary mention, is
the box art for Cheggers Party Quiz, which we immediately want to hold
a blow torch to every time we clap eyes on it.

One the other
side of the fence, meanwhile, there has been box art that has had our
eyes singing with joy, our favourite probably being Resident Evil 4 on
Wii. But we also tip our hat to Bioshock, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune,
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3) and Heavenly Sword for zapping us
with jolts of happiness.

So now, let's look at the box art...

THE WORST OF 2007

THE BEST OF 2007