Decap attack: Link minces Moblins in digital painting
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 6th 2006 at 6:45PM }
If you're interested in this sort of thing, Derek has posted a series of images from throughout the digital painting process, so art nerds, get grokking. Everyone else can just download the higher-res file and pretend it's a screenshot from the next, next Zelda adventure.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
andyr @ Jul 7th 2006 5:15AM
It's interesting to see how many fans want this IP to develop. Take the initial reaction to the cell shaded Wind Waker for example. The percieved moved towards a lighter presentation grated with gamers desire for the legend of zelda to deliver more of what it has promised. Namely to grow to be a legend, with the wight and depth of the real old sagas.
This piece of art again nudges Link into more substantial and gritty teritory, something that Nintendo would be wise to address themselves before too long.
Jesse @ Jul 7th 2006 11:02AM
To #1:
Presentation does not determine the weight or depth of a saga. Generally speaking, the grittier a series presents itself, the more heavy-handed and hopelessly pretentious it becomes. Take for example Final Fantasy. FFIX had by far the most mature plot and characters out of the series, but it presented itself very lightly and thereby avoided taking itself *too* seriously.
Compare with FFVIII or FFX: these games are shallow by comparison, but they "seem" more realistic because of the art. Given the option, I always choose FFIX over these two, because at its heart, it is so much more genuine.
This is why I still watch the campy old 80s D&D cartoons, but D&D: The Movie is growing cobwebs on my shelf.
Peter Davis @ Jul 7th 2006 11:09AM
Slow news day?
Atomsk @ Jul 8th 2006 11:24AM
Dearest #2, I couldn't agree more. My friends were nuts for FFVII and VIII. I just never got it. I bought IX and thought it was many times better. It's all about emotional attachment. If you can relate to a character and what's happening to them it doesn't matter what they look like. Though, it is easier when the game is pretty. I loved Radiata Stories for the same reason. Basic story, easy to play, and a graphic style I had yet to see.
Though, I do think that the Zelda series does have the potential to become a flat out epic with the right story, and of course the right look. It's a tough call. When you try to emulate reality you will always fail, because better means will be developed soon after. But if you go for a unique, obviously not real look the game's relevance will stay with it longer. I think that's why so many SNES era games are so good, they needed a good story because they obviously weren't real.
andyr @ Jul 8th 2006 5:47PM
Interesting points Jesse and Atomsk. I admit that it shouldn't all be about presentation.
What I was trying to get at, in a round about sort of way, was to highlight the desire to extend the IP into more legendary and epic ways.
For me this is just as much about the scope of the story as the real-ness of the presentation.