Box Art Brawl – Duel: Avenging Spirit (Game Boy)

Image: Nintendo Life

We are back with another Box Art Brawl!

Last time, we took a look at a head-to-head match-up for Metal Slug Advance — celebrating its arrival on the NSO GBA library — and it was yet another one-sided affair. North America and Europe took a commanding win with 73% of the vote, leaving the Japanese variant with the remaining 27%.

It’s another NSO newbie this week, as we take a look at Avenging Spirit for the Game Boy. It’s a strange little set-up — you play as the hero’s ghost, tracking the killers who gunned you down and stole your girlfriend — but we sure are pleased to see it on modern systems (Again).

It helps that it has two of the most contrasting cover designs we’ve seen in Box Art Brawl for a while. Europe and Japan team up against North America this time, so let’s meet the contenders.

North America

Image: HAMSTER / Launchbox

The North American design is all action. There’s not a lot of ghostly activity here, with the cover choosing to focus on the gangster shooting, set beneath a typeface that just screams action. The circle framing is a little strange, but there’s no doubting that it’s got some class.

Europe / Japan

Image: HAMSTER / Launchbox

Okay, what? In a complete 180-degree spin from the NA design, Europe and Japan go all in on the friendly ghost. Our protagonist (at least, his spirit) takes centre stage — looking really rather jolly, we might add — surrounded by those you’ll encounter on your journey. We’re not totally sold on the white background, but man, what a difference!

Thank you for voting! We’ll see you next week for another edition of Box Art Brawl!