Book Review: 斗战神原画集 Asura Original Artworks

This is the artbook for the Chinese MMORPG game called 斗战神 or Asura, that's if I get the name correct. The more literal translation would be Fighting God.

The game's playing style is similar to World of Warcraft where you overlook your character from the top, move it around areas killing enemies with hack and slash. See this video below:

The story is inspired by Chinese mythology such as Journey to the West. The main character in the game is the Monkey God who in the original mythology wields a magical staff that's suppose to weigh 7,960kg.

I like the use of mythology in games, especially when they are adapted, and a new world is created. This is the case for 斗战神 (Asura). It reminds me of God of War game for Playstation, where the world is mysterious and epic at the same time.

Alright, back to the 288-page hardcover artbook. This book collects the concept art for the character and environment designs.

Character designs are mostly painted with just a few 3D renders of the final design as they appear in the name. The art is fantastic. They are really detailed in a painterly sort of way. Characters look great, feel imposing and really grounded for the world. As the game is based on Chinese mythology, the characters look Asian and the costumes and armor are also Asian inspired.

The environment art are beautiful as well. Again, Chinese inspired, so the cities, towns are filled with houses and buildings with Eastern architecture such as sloping roofs, temples, Chinese ornaments and sculptures, etc. The environment concept art shows the game areas that players have access to. Props and houses that populate the landscape are also shown and laid out properly.

The idea and art direction are fantastic. Characters, environments and story really ties in together amazingly well. There aren't much text, in Chinese. The visuals speak for themselves.

It's a marvellous concept art book from cover to cover.

Most highly recommended.

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Art of Asura (English edition) is available at Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP | CN)

Below's a video that shows you a bit of the world:

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Here are direct links to the book:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.es | Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.cn

This book was borrowed from Basheer Graphic Books for review purposes. You can order the book from them. Check with Basheer on Facebook.