American boxart is usually rubbish, but I think SCEA's reputation is preceding it a little here - I mean, if this was the EU box, and the US one had a generic pose with Kratos wielding a blade around loads of enemies, people would be slating it and pouring love over this box instead. So, for once, Sony has given the US a good box, and people are just so used to saying how crap they are. Honestly, it's actually good, I'm as suprised as you.