While the debate over whether video games are an art form or not continues to rage, there can be no denying that fantastic visual art assets are used in many game titles. The Metroid Prime trilogy is a series particularly noted for its visual style and intense detail. To the artists at Retro Studios I tip my hat and dedicate this post to your fantastic work.
Welcome to the world.
Environmental art does not get enough respect. Character art is where most of the flash and romance sits, but as any gamer knows, you typically spend a lot more time looking at scenery than you do looking at its inhabitants. The skill with which environmental art is executed can mean the difference between a real living, breathing place, and an artificial stage set, static and forced.
These lovely screen shots are a tiny sampling from this thread by Matt Manchester who worked on
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Do click over to see a very large collection of excellent work.
Ahh, the Chozo Temple is one of my favorite pieces of concept art. I also love all of the work done on bringing to life the indigenous growing things. Some of the most distinct images I remember from the games involved the detailed plant life; like the mighty trees whose roots would nearly fill hallways in Prime, or the spherical fungus that, as time passed, would start sending out clouds of green spores in Echoes. The above three images are samples taken from the Metroid Database, another fantastic site for finding concept art, music, and other materials.
We live here.
I admit it, my own personal artistic preference is on character design. Over the years I have become much more aware and appreciative of environment designs, but my true love is with the critters and characters that go about their imagined lives within these worlds.
I can not get enough of this particular image. It has to be my absolute favorite piece of Metroid concept art. I remember first seeing it as a candidate for the box art (or perhaps it was just a place holder). Why oh why didn't they choose this for Echoes cover art? What a wonderful piece of work by Andrew Jones whose gallery at Conceptart.org can be found here.
Samus' look is iconic to the Metroid series and whatever variation on her armor she adorns, there is always a familiar shape to it. Whatever face she is given beneath the helmet, it is her famous Chozo battle armor that is her identity. I particularly love the Light suit, and yet, I will always come back to the classic Varia Suit as Samus Aran's definitive look. It's an elegant, yet powerful design and there's nothing else quite like it.
The cast of creatures that populate the worlds in the Metroid series are colorful and varied aliens. Another great spot to find images of them and more lore than you can shake an encyclopedia at is Wikitroid. Your one stop shop for details on everything Metroid.
Movement is life.
Metroid Prime
Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Ultimately, a creature design is just a drawing, a 3-D model is just a sculpture. They do not live if they do not move. It is in the animation that exists the final word on believability. Movement speaks volumes on personality, intention, and attitude where mere words would be mute. As in every other aspect of Metroid, the animation does not disappoint. Samus pops believably in and out of spinning jumps and the Morph Ball. Alien bugs trundle along the walls and ground, ignorant of your passing. Semi-sentient hexapedal reptiles run and leap fantastic distances. The worlds Samus explores are alive with animal motion.
Nintendo and Retro, thank you.
The final art galleries I wish to highlight can not be linked to, for they exist on the game discs themselves. All three games in the trilogy have extensive concept galleries that can be unlocked by completing these games, and starting with Echoes, each creature scan makes available that creature's model for close examination. These are features that every development team rightfully proud of their work should include on the game disc. Now if only I could find a comprehensive Metroid Prime art book featuring all of the artists so I knew who to thank for what. As a fellow artist, I find your work inspiring.
Metroid Prime Trilogy Retrospective: Part One
Metroid Prime Trilogy Retrospective: Part Two
Metroid Prime Trilogy Retrospective: Part Three