But the European boxart for Sega Superstars Tennis dampens even our enthusiasm somewhat. We understand the reasoning (he's very popular) but we still would have chosen not to put that hedgehog front and center. But in their zeal to sell this to Everybody, Sega has failed to emphasize the most amazing thing about the game: the wide variety of Seganess found within. And in so doing, they've given a bland box to what looks like an extraordinarily jubilant game.
Some other characters are indeed on the box (in the area not taken up by Sonic), but where's Beat? Where's NiGHTS? Where's Alex Kidd (who we have yet to see)? Where are the wacky Sega backdrops? With the Sonic-themed stage (which looks the most like a normal, boring tennis court of any of them) and the centered Sonic, somebody could walk by and mistake this for a Sonic Tennis, which nobody wants.
[Via GamesPress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-22-2008 @ 2:48PM
ssuk said...
Put it next to the Mario Smash Tennis (or whatever that game was called) box... You'll see...
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1-22-2008 @ 5:58PM
danny. said...
Pretty damn close... though it does seem like the obvious choice of lay-out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mario_Power_Tennis_box.jpg
1-22-2008 @ 2:55PM
Seandizzle said...
Come on, this is a ridiculous criticism. Most people will care about Sonic, no matter your individual preference. He IS the draw. Same with Mario for Mario Tennis.
Anybody who cares about Beat or NiGHTS will be sufficiently up-to-date with gaming news to know that those characters are in the game.
It's just a box cover. Think about its purpose: " ... to sell this to EVERYBODY."
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1-22-2008 @ 3:01PM
samfish said...
Needs more naked Ulala on the cover.
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1-22-2008 @ 3:32PM
SpexFox said...
Needs more naked Sonic on the cover (Yea, there's some naughty stuff under those gloves and shoes) >.>
Anyway, this is a very pointless criticism, yes. Sonic isn't in his prime of games, but he IS the SEGA mascot still. Who else is going to be taking up 90% of the box? Besides the fact, the idea of trying to cram more characters in there goes against graphic design. You don't want it to be too busy. You want it to be eye catching. And the way Sonic's motion-blurred swing draws ones eyes around to the the title is done nicely.
Get some perspective before whining about something like this, man. Really -~-
1-22-2008 @ 3:40PM
JC Fletcher said...
So when I criticize a box, it's whining, but when you guys criticize me, it's okay?
Here's my perspective: I LOVE Sega, and I already love this game. But I don't like that Sega is making it all about Sonic, because Sonic has been quite terrible lately, for one thing, and for another, a Sonic tennis game is way less interesting than a pan-Sega one.
What do you guys think of the various Smash Bros. boxarts, out of curiosity? They manage to fit a bunch of characters together.
Also, holy crap, ssuk. It is ripoff total. Good eye.
1-22-2008 @ 3:53PM
samfish said...
This is Sega's first outing for something like this, though. It's not a bad idea for them to make it stand out to people...especially since most people don't know/remember who Ulala and AiAi, NiGHTS, Alex Kidd and others really are.
...yet!
Mario was the most prominent character on the original SSB boxart, too. I'm sure if this game is a success and Sega starts making more crossover games like this, they'll give Sonic a prominent role still, but more diminished as other characters grow more popular.
1-22-2008 @ 3:13PM
ChaOS said...
I can't think of any other game that starred sonic that didn't have him front and center on the box art.
(Actually, now I can, there was an old genesis game with a bonus mode where you could race sonic... Can't remember the title though, but you get the idea)
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1-22-2008 @ 4:06PM
AnOffday said...
I think people are more curious why a post is devoted to you being disappointed in a game case. Just seems kind of pointless.
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1-22-2008 @ 4:21PM
Lee said...
This is total rubbish, it says SEGA Superstars Tennis in bold letters, not Sonic Tennis for one. NiGHTS, Beat or anybody else you're whining about could well appear on the back of the box.
If you think you can do better, JC Fletcher, why aren't you working for SEGA rather than writing for Nintendo Wii Fanboy?
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1-22-2008 @ 4:35PM
Jeremy said...
Come on guys give JC a break. He has written many great articles on this site and the least we can do is give a guy a break. Besides that, this if I remember correctly is a blog site so he can share his opinions if he sees fit to do so. This site has only a hand full of writers and many of which are not posting as often as we would like so why flame the ones are still giving the site some love.
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1-22-2008 @ 4:56PM
Red said...
Sonic Tennis is fine with me.
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1-22-2008 @ 5:04PM
Rollin said...
Hey, i believe the problem lay in JC feeling so strongly over some boxart. It's just a case of the individual blogger's preferences shining through and (somewhat) breaking the monotony of the "we all like and believe the same thing" mentality this and the rest of the Fanboy sites operate on. He's just trying to get his personal opinion out there. Albeit one that's a little arbitrary, because it's just goddamn boxart and people will buy it anyway. Sonic still sells.
He's mad that Sega didn't make a box art cool enough to make him anticipate this game more and make others take notice so it sells more copies, and perhaps to not be embarrassed when the GameStop clerk hands it to him (understandable). But everybody knows Sega's probably gonna make 10 of these in the next 3 years regardless, and Wii owners are used to less-than-cool box designs.
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1-22-2008 @ 5:20PM
Perverted said...
I agree with Samfish(well his first comment).
Besides it's just a box cover? sure ifit looks good all all the better, but never read a book by it's cover or int his case a game.
Sonic Rush wasn't all that bad i may add.
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1-22-2008 @ 6:49PM
TD said...
I kinda wish Sega hadn't named it "Superstars". People know the Monkeyball monkey and Sonic, and Nights just had a game, so they might recognize that. But even so, none of these characters should be considered superstars. Sonic hasn't made a decent game since the 90s. I'd B or even C-list him.
But maybe I'm just asking for trouble by saying that.
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1-22-2008 @ 8:11PM
Leeroy said...
I was more thinking "where's that scarce little blue WiFi logo".
Seriously the Wii needs more online games, can't see the excuse for this one as it would make a great online game(in this case even without the sometimes sadly missed headset).
Unless the remote/nunchuk controls make the Wii version the definitive choice I'll be going for the 360 version due to online play adding so much replay value. Local multiplayer can be great but when you're "local" friends get bored of the game that's it!
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1-22-2008 @ 11:46PM
Hafk said...
This game is clearly missing Toe Jam and Earl.
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1-23-2008 @ 2:33AM
John said...
Not a fan of this box art. For a tennis game, there certainly seems to be a fair number of characters zoning in for a cameo appearance on the cover. Shouldn't they be playing tennis?
Nit picking... I know tennis games going back to the Master System were well done, but honestly, the cover scares me off a bit due to one element:
Can anyone who has played Super Monkey Ball mini games not feel apprehensive about buying this title? That game had some of the worst controls conceived for a game. Too many badly scarred memories.
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