It feels like there was never a time we didn’t haveThe Legend of Zeldain our lives, right? It’s been such a constant staple in gamers' life that thinking of a period where people weren’t playing it seems unthinkable. Then again, the game has been around since 1986 so for many,The Legend of Zeldahas spanned across a lot of players' life so it’s of little wonder why the Japanese fantasy title by Nintendo is of great importance. Other than the game itself, artistic fans love to delve into the artwork ofZeldaand create their very own masterpiece honoring the beloved game. Today is no different as we slip into another incredible art piece showcasing Link and Ganon.
Meet Dave Rapoza, a Freelance Illustrator, Concept Artist and Comic Artist from Boston, Massachusetts. Dave is self-taught and has been working freelance for over 11 years with an impressive client list that includes Riot Games, MTV, Marvel, Epic Games, CDProjekt Red, 20th Century Fox, Blizzard Entertainment, Bethesda, ID Software, Dark Horse Comics and many more. Just by checking out hisonline portfolio, you can see that Rapoza is a truly gifted artist and how he even has his art on the front ofMarvel comics. In his recentThe Legend of Zeldapiece, Rapoza immerses himself into the fantasy world to create a highly detailed, hand-drawn work of art of Link and Ganon. Taking a closer look at the images, you’ll notice how he pays attention to every little inch, leaving nothing out. From Link’s recognizable Tunic, potions, pointy ears, and even right down to the detail of The Master Sword, Dave leaves nothing to the imagination here.
If you thought Link was incredible, just wait until you see Ganon. For those who don’t know who that is, Ganon, also known by his original/human form Ganondorf, is the main antagonist ofThe Legend of Zeldaseries. Ganon is a nickname for Ganondorf and the name given to him when he transforms into a boar-like beast.He made his debut appearance in the first game,The Legend of Zelda, and has since been present or referred to in most subsequent iterations. Rapoza’s representation of Ganon is a lot to take in and you’ll probably find yourself staring at this intricate artwork for a long time, picking apart and soaking up everything it has to offer. Just take a moment to check out the attention to detail on those candles behind Ganon, the hefty guarded books, or the crazy wisps of hair sprouting up from Ganon’s scary head.
If you’d like to know more about Dave and his artwork, (which I highly suggest you do) you’re able to head on over tohis websitewhere they are a boatload of incredible pieces for you to feast your eyes on. Dave is also onTwitterso maybe pop over, say hello, and shower him with nice comments.
In some otherThe Legend of Zeldanews,YouTube channel 64 Bitscreated a “Paper Zelda” RPG style trailer using the same graphical and animation style as the popularPaper MarioRPG titles. Another amazinglytalented artist combined scenesfrom the upcomingBreath of the Wild 2with the art style from the recentLink’s Awakeningremake while another virtuoso createdA Link Between Worldsdioramausing the outside shell of the classic retro Gameboy. If Japanese animation is something right down your street, check out aStudio Ghibli-styleBreath of the Wildfan-made animated trailer, while a dedicated fan spenttwo years recreatingBreath of the Wildweapons. We even saw an incredibly well doneanimated pixel art mockupof a dungeon scene fromZelda II. The winner for last year’s officialLink’s Awakeningfanworks contestwas revealed, with some great submissions from plenty of talented artists. And if you want something incredible from outside this contest, there’s this fantastic3D printed recreationof Koholint Island from the game. The artist even provides a tutorial at the end of their video in case anyone else wanted to make one for themselves.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildreally is the gift that just keeps giving, whether it’s through some unique gameplay techniques or the hundreds of fan art pieces seen time after time, it looks likeBreath of the Wildhas some punch still left in it. If you’re wondering when the sequel toBreath of the Wildis releasing, unfortunately, we probably won’t know for quite some time yet. If you still haven’t played it yet, why not jump intoThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening rightnow forNintendo Switchand you can also check out our review of the gameright herewhere it received a very healthy score of 10/10.
