7 Mediocre PS2 Games That Have Awesome Cover Art

The Sony PlayStation 2 is the best-selling console, with over 150 million units sold. Over 3800 games were released during the PS2's lifetime. But for every Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Gran Turismo 4, or Final Fantasy X, there were at least ten mediocre games. The PS2 was host to a lot of those games.

While the internet was booming around this period, it still wasn't readily available for many. If someone wanted to know about a video game, they would have to read a magazine, watch a dedicated TV show, or buy it. So these mediocre games still had the advantage of standing above the crowd, using their covers to lure the unsuspecting gamer.

7 Dirge Of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7 International

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7 is one of the many Final Fantasy 7 spinoffs Square released during the early 2000s. It was a stark departure from the series as it was an action-based third-person shooter compared to the traditional turn-based RPG gameplay the series was known. Fans and critics alike were lukewarm on the game, citing poor game mechanics and a weak story. The international version is a re-release of the game for the Japanese market but features the English language.

The cover art, unlike the game, is gorgeous. Despite the lack of colors, it captures the game's mood very well, which is dreary with a sense of optimism. Drawn by Tetsuya Nomura, the cover shows the various characters important to the game and series in his signature style. It has a strong resemblance to Nomura's other works, the Kingdom Hearts series.

6 Lupin The 3rd: Treasure Of The Sorcerer King

Lupin the 3rd: Treasure of the Sorcerer King is a stealth video game based on the fabled anime series. The game was highly praised for its soundtrack. The composer Yuji Ohno has also worked on the main anime series. However, the rest of the game wasn't well rated due to its clunky gameplay.

The cover art is a homage to the countless Lupin the 3rd anime and movie covers. It does it tastefully by combining the 3D graphics of the game with one of Lupin's signature cover poses.

5 Disaster Report

Disaster Report, known in Japan as The Desperate City, is a game where a player must navigate through Capital Island, an artificial island on the brink of collapse due to an earthquake. Despite gaining a cult following and spawning sequels, it was with a mixed reception due to its poor mechanics and graphics.

The cover for its Western release, while a bit cheesy, is a perfect caricature of action film posters during that time. It captured the vibe of the early 2000s well. The cover art was also a sneak peek of what to expect during the game. Players would often traverse through tall buildings with their companions, and any of them could be in danger at any moment. The cover art was spot on with many things, but the game just fell a bit short.

4 Rule Of Rose

Rule of Roses is a survival horror game, and it is shrouded in controversy due to its graphic content. Sony even refused to publish the title for the Western market. Atlus and 505 Games took up the role of the publisher for the US and European markets. Apart from the questionable content, the game received criticism for its poor gameplay.

The cover art encapsulates the horror feel well. There is something eerie with the silhouette of the main protagonist in the center, surrounded by animals that are supposed to be comforting. The use of red and black also emits a dark presence.

3 Gungrave

Gungrave is another third-person shooter by Red Entertainment who is best known for the Sakura Wars series. It is another story where the protagonist seeks revenge. The game featured anime-style cutscenes that were well received. However, the rest of the game was panned due to its short length.

The North American cover is very stylish. The colors blend in really well, and it doesn't look too edgy compared to the actual game. It also wouldn't look out of place if used for an action anime cover.

2 Love Story

Love Story is a visual novel using a full-motion video that only saw a Japanese release. The game is about a ghost, who tries to get the attention of a woman, so he can be brought back to life. The game wasn't well-received due to the poor acting shown in the videos.

The game's cover art is well done. It abstractly combines the ghost and the mind of the girl he is trying to woo. The art also isn't overwhelmingly filled with unnecessary details that would distract a player from the central focus, which is the head.

1 Samurai Western

Samurai Western is an action-adventure game set in the 1800s. Players play as a samurai from Japan looking to kill his brother who settled in the United States. The gameplay is a hack and slash, similar to Ninja Gaiden. The game wasn't well received at launch but has since gained a cult following.

The cover art, on the other hand, is pretty amazing. Drawn by comic book artist Kenneth Rocafort, it screams out like a good B-Tier movie, which the game has that sort of energy due to its setting and plot. The art is so versatile, that it could also be used for a cover of a manga or comic book.

More: Japanese Games That Received Edgy Cover Art In America