
I still say this is by far the best boxart I've seen on a Castlevania, and probably any game.
-- Well....
You know... other than THIS one, of course:


But yeah I'm loving that OoE one, too. I had a feeling we wouldn't get the Japanese one that was posted months ago, and it turns out this one's much more emotional and appropriate anyway.
I agree the artistic decisions here are careful and effective. Shanoa is much brighter and bolder than Albus and her composition, with her hair, takes up a greater portion of the picture, implicating her importance over Albus. It's even almost as if she's on a different plane than him. As if she's not actually on the stairs.
And like others have said, it looks like Albus is heading toward the Keep, while Shanoa is giving a sly grin over her shoulder; not to mention with a blood-red sword imposing itself on the picture in her hand. It's almost as if... dare I say... Shanoa looks more like the VILLAIN here.
There's something devious aobout her.
Albus looks remorsed and reserved to his fate, like he doesnt want to climb.
So yeah that's what I think of the pic