The Legend of Zelda: Art and Artifacts: Art & Artifacts

Dark Horse Comics' previous doorstop, Hyrule Historia, is an amazing book which combines concept art, lore and an almost encyclopaedic attention to detail. For most fans of the Legend of Zelda, this book is the essential purchase, although in some ways it provokes as much as it informs, seemingly lost in its own details and explanatory prose. Art & Artifacts, on the other hand, is a different beast completely: a compendium of fantasy art that lets the pictures stand by themselves.If you're into illustration, this book is a fascinating journey, showing how Link & Zelda (primarily) have been drawn in various styles including comic book, flat shaded and fully-detailed heroic. Beautifully printed in full colour on glossy paper, the images pop nicely and include images created for the canonical games as well as some side projects (such as Tri-Force Heroes & Link's Crossbow Training). The small section for Breath Of The Wild is little very slender indeed, but otherwise the games are well covered. There is a Pixel Art section and a nice little section on the videogame box art.While all this is very impressive, however, the absence of explanatory text means that the images stand or fall on their own merits, and I'm not sure that an enthusiast for the games will find every section here equally enjoyable. The early pictures of Link are (for me personally) not as appealing as the stunning artwork for Twilight Princess, which emerges from the book as a highpoint in concept art, however imperfectly translated into the game itself.Because the book focuses so much on non-game content it really isn't essential for most gamers, even if they are Zelda fans. Still, it's an impressive source volume for a student illustrator and will be a safe purchase for any collector of Hyruliana.

I had read other reviews about the condition of this book when it arrived and nearly never purchased it but when it arrived it was sealed with no damage at all.I haven’t opened as I collect these art books, beautifully designed and heavy , for the price would make a great Christmas present for a Zelda fan.

Full of stunning artwork

YES there were some scuffs and damage to the book when I received the product but they were so minor it wouldn't be fair to "de-star" it. Yes i would have loved it in top nick condition but i've come to realise that Amazon books just aren't that great.Saying that the content is FANTASTIC! there's even a very small but nicely presented section at the back for breath of the wild. I wasn't expecting that so that was a nice addition.The art is beautiful and displays illustrations from the early comics and series through most of their flagship games including Link between 2 worlds and Phantom Hourglass. For under £30 quid you get a lot of content! it was far bigger and heavier than I anticipated.If you are a zelda fan and or just love game art this book is well worth the money :)(I didn't add too many pictures as i thought that may spoil the book, but added a few pics to give a taste of whats inside)

Bought as a present, it's a big book. Delivery was really quick.

It's good stuff, bought it for my friend and he became objectively cooler and all his bad personality points actually left his body

I am one of the Lucky few who got the limited edition though amazons and as a collector It was well worth the price.The Legend of Zelda Art & Artifacts is by far one of the most gorgeous looks books to ever own & is almost twice as big as the Hyrule Historia with so much to read and look through this is a must have book for any Zelda fan! I highly recommend it and to anyone else who got the limited edition congrats.

Love this book!I yet have to look through all of it. But what I have seen is great. So glad I bought this!Looks great and will look great standing on my shelf next to all my other Zelda books.I can highly recommend buying this if you're debating about if you should get it or not. If you're a big Zelda fan I'm sure you will love this book.