#atari video computer system

Haunted House

Many have criticised, not unreasonably, that most box art on the Atari VCS/2600 could almost be considered false advertising considering what the games actually looked like, but this was because games demanded a lot more from the player's imagination to interpret what was going on and how it should make them feel. In that respect, this artwork exceeds. It got me to examine the game (and pre-NES console games as a whole) on a deeper level than I otherwise would've, and appreciate how it does everything it can to get as close to a horror experience as likely possible on such primitive hardware. To see the player sprite not as a goofy set of googly eyes with a red circle behind them, but a wide-eyed and terrified protagonist navigating by matchstick. Not to mention the painting itself is one of the most beautiful and unique I've ever seen on the cover of a game. TLDR; Without this artwork, Haunted House wouldn't be nearly as effective as a piece of horror, and any box art that is essential to the experience of the game deserves praise. I want it as a poster.

Phantasy Star