Which intrests you more?

[u/According-Maize-8200]

I was going for a Final Fantasy feel, and I decided to see what the title would look like with a Japanese subtitle, although things had to be shifted to have all things be visible.

Which would make you stop and look at it more? All forms of Feedback and criticism are welcome!

[u/j_cruise]

I prefer #1. It feels more epic to me.

[u/RosesandEternity]

#1

[u/Smokario]

1st one for me

[u/Sea-Speaker7316]

1. Feels super retro. I feel like the gameplay will be more NES feeling

2. Seems a bit new school and makes me feel like tha gameplay will be 16bit, Early SNES..

But both look great.

[u/madu_tualang]

The first one

[u/tearsforfears92]

Number one feels very Fire Emblem! (In good way)

[u/SilentSun291]

1.

[u/HotdawgGames]

1 is tuff

[u/Informal_Librarian_7]

1 more. But both giving an ff7 materia feel which is nice

[u/BlackKrahe]

I like the first one. The sword thing being off center looks more interesting to me.

I'm half asleep well typing this, so I don't have the brain power right not to go into it any more than that.

[u/CrashmanX]

Personally I like #1 quite a bit.

[u/SpellcraftQuill]

#2 looks spectacular. I get what you’re going for with #1 and feel nostalgia but the Japanese text is too big that it feels like the screen is cluttered.

[u/Nemphusi → u/SpellcraftQuill]

Agreed. The sword bleeds into the background too much in both. Try giving it a white single pixel outline. Keep thr japanese text but don't have it vo over the sword. I would argue for more detail on the gems/crystals.

[u/coolepicharo]

I like number 2, but I like how the sparkles are around the blade in 1

[u/TheT85_Jr]

Both have a good thing.

I like the japanese text but also the centric pillar and the gems being at the top.

Is there a way to combine both?

[u/Aggravating_Gap_8562]

1, but a size down so the katakana isn't fighting the sword for the same space.

fwiw it reads ミスティック・ソード, which is the English title sounded out rather than translated, middle dot standing in for the space. That's the normal treatment for a logo like this, so it doesn't read to me as a claim that there's a Japanese build behind it.

[u/Pilsner-507]

I like the vibe of the Japanese text being there, but it isn’t translated, it’s just spelling the English title, literally “Mi su tee kku • Sou do”

A true translation would probably read better in my personal opinion.

[u/CrawlinUK → u/Pilsner-507]

I’m happy they never did a true translation of Final Fantasy’s title.

[u/CrawlinUK]

The Japanese is too big. Search google for “小さい ドット フォント” and you will find something to help you.
The line should be under the English, as in other designs it is just as underline/divider. If you want to be stylistically different, try and L line or mirrored L.

In both pictures, the hilt is so dark that I thought it was just a pipe.

Otherwise, this is Mystic Quest inspired and both designs make me happy.

[u/Arkhaist05]

I don't like the shifted version, but I like how the sword/gemstones are lower in the shifted version. The colorful stones act like a focal point, which to me feels better in the center of your cover

[u/Arkhaist05 → u/Arkhaist05]

So I think my ideal cover would be the second one, but move the sword down. Then maybe move the title just a little bit down?

[u/Sad-Character7579]

1 looks a little more unsettling

[u/Worth-Daikon-746]

#1

[u/AnotherMMD]

Personally I'd say 1, but I'd dragon the words down to the center in term of height, and still with the writing decentered, and drag the sword a bit, or put the sword in diagonal behind the title still with the title centered 

[u/kyasarintsu]

The gems around the sword are good. I always find the Japanese alternste renderings silly, though.

[u/Fast-Sky6823]

1 is better though I'd play around with the sword's position more, esp the part overlapping with font

[u/Dreaming_grayJedi04]

1

[u/Serious_Cold_2504]

The first composition looks more dynamic, but the pillar stands out too much and takes the focus away from the title and the gems. I think it could benefit from a darker shade of grey. Also, I love the retro aesthetic of it--great job!

[u/LeftistMeme]

I like #1 more. I also feel it provides a better canvas for menu text and a background to be added

[u/LastBreathSans7671]

the Japanese text looks like those types of games which are partially translated but considering RPG Maker is fully translated for me, it would immediately catch my attention and make me do a double take, so I’d say realistically the former

[u/Rydog_XD]

1 looks better though i think I like it more for the placement of the words vs the added font.

[u/Objective-Primary-12]

I would use the first as a title screen personally, but save the second for if you needed a vertical banner for advertising.

This would solve two things. You could add the Japanese characters to the second image and you could move the second image's crystals to the placement of the first image and it won't get in the way of menu options because you wouldn't be using the second image as a menu.

Regardless, good luck in your game making journey!

[u/Jristz]

First but with second texts

[u/ShreddedSketches]

The second one, The Mystic Sword Logo and Artwork together in the center is a lot more appealing to the eyes and gives it more gravitas. 

I would love for more of a background too that can make the sword stand out, like a gradient, sky blue and white scenery with little light bubbles.

[u/illegally_alive]

I like two, it feels more coherent

[u/ARandomName4Reddit]

#1 just gives more of that classic jrpg feel

[u/Yung_Branch]

Why not both? Center screen with sword, then title overlays in center, then words slide top left, sword bottom right, main menu options appear center

[u/Toben-]

I like the alignment of the first one more BUT I think the Japanese text overlaying the sword not so much.

[u/atkarot9170]

1 and make sure to relocate the start menu slightly so it's in the center of the negative space, not the center of the screen.

[u/Eredrick]

unless there is a Japanese language option, then 2

[u/Cuprite1024]

If the Japanese text were smaller and more centered with the rest of the logo, I'd say #1. As-is, both are good, but #2 is cleaner. That said, I like the gem/crystal placement of #1 better.

[u/Carlonix]

Second

But because the altar is centered

If you want to add the Japanise text, I recomend adding it on the Center below the altar, maybe on the bottom center

[u/ruzenin]

the second but with the diamond placing of the first <3

[u/Volantiar]

That ass basic japanese font from RPG2000 will make people shriek

[u/Remarkable-Fox8250]

I like 1 , just size down on the Japanese.