Dark Souls II: Design Works Review - A Must-Have for Art Lovers

Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12: A Treasure Trove for Fans

If you are a fan of Dark Souls, you probably know that it is one of the most challenging and rewarding video games ever made. The game is set in a dark fantasy world where you face deadly enemies, explore mysterious locations, and uncover secrets and lore. But did you know that there is also a stunning art book that showcases the amazing work behind the game? And did you know that you can access some of its pages online for free? In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12, a collection of high-quality images from the official art book of Dark Souls 2.

Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12

The art of Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls 2 is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Dark Souls, which was released in 2011 by FromSoftware, a Japanese game developer. The game follows the story of a cursed undead who travels to the kingdom of Drangleic to break the cycle of fire and dark. Along the way, the player encounters various characters, factions, and legends that shape the history and fate of the world.

The game is known for its rich and immersive atmosphere, which is largely thanks to its incredible art direction. The game features a variety of styles, themes, and influences, ranging from medieval Europe to ancient Japan, from Gothic horror to fantasy adventure. The game's artists had to create a coherent and consistent vision that would appeal to both fans and newcomers.

The design process and the challenges

One of the main challenges that the artists faced was to create a sequel that would live up to the expectations of the fans, while also introducing new elements and innovations. They had to balance between continuity and change, between familiarity and surprise. They also had to deal with technical limitations, such as memory size, loading time, and frame rate.

To overcome these challenges, the artists followed a rigorous design process that involved research, brainstorming, sketching, modeling, texturing, lighting, and testing. They also collaborated closely with other departments, such as programming, sound, animation, and story. They used various tools and software, such as Photoshop, ZBrush, Maya, Unreal Engine, and more.

The concept art and the sketches

One of the most fascinating aspects of Dark Souls 2 Art Book is the concept art and the sketches that reveal the creative process behind the game. The book contains hundreds of drawings that show the initial ideas, the revisions, the variations, and the final designs of the game's elements. The book also includes comments and explanations from the artists themselves, who share their insights and inspirations.

Some of the concept art and sketches that you can find in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12 are:

• The cover art of the game, which depicts a knight holding a sword and a shield in front of a castle.

• The logo of the game, which features a stylized flame and a crown.

• The map of Drangleic, which shows the layout and the connections of the game's areas.

• The character concepts of the player, the NPCs, and the enemies.

• The weapon and armor designs, which range from realistic to fantastical.

The character art and the armor designs

Another highlight of Dark Souls 2 Art Book is the character art and the armor designs, which showcase the diversity and the detail of the game's characters. The game features dozens of characters, each with their own personality, backstory, and role. The game also allows the player to customize their own character, choosing from various classes, genders, races, hairstyles, facial features, and more.

The character art and the armor designs also reflect the game's theme of decay and corruption. Many of the characters are undead, hollowed, or infected by various curses. Their appearance shows signs of wear and tear, such as scars, wounds, dirt, rust, and blood. Their armor is often broken, mismatched, or improvised from various materials.

Some of the character art and armor designs that you can find in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12 are:

• The Emerald Herald, a mysterious woman who guides the player throughout the game.

• The Pursuer, a relentless knight who hunts down the undead.

• The Lost Sinner, a female prisoner who is chained to a giant bug.

• The Looking Glass Knight, a loyal guardian who can summon other players to fight for him.

• The Faraam Set, a lion-themed armor that is worn by one of the game's protagonists.

The world of Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls 2 is also known for its vast and varied world, which is full of secrets and surprises. The game takes place in Drangleic, a once-glorious kingdom that has fallen into ruin and chaos. The game's world is divided into several regions, each with its own theme, atmosphere, and challenges. The player can explore these regions in any order they want, finding hidden paths, shortcuts, items, and secrets along the way.

The world of Dark Souls 2 is also rich in lore and history. The game's world is influenced by various myths, legends, and cultures from real life and fiction. The game's world also has its own timeline and events that shaped its current state. The player can learn more about these aspects by reading item descriptions, talking to NPCs, or observing environmental clues.

The locations and the environments

One of the most impressive aspects of Dark Souls 2 Art Book is the locations and the environments that depict the game's world. The book contains stunning illustrations that show the beauty and the horror of Drangleic. The book also includes comments and explanations from the artists who describe their design choices and challenges.

Some of the locations and environments that you can find in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12 are:

• Majula, a peaceful seaside village that serves as the hub of the game.

• Heide's Tower of Flame, a towering structure that is surrounded by water and fire.

• No-man's Wharf, a dark and damp harbor that is infested by pirates and monsters.

• Huntsman's Copse, a forested area that is haunted by bandits and necromancers.

• Iron Keep, a fortress that is built on top of a volcano.

The creatures and the enemies

Another remarkable aspect of Dark Souls 2 Art Book is the creatures and the enemies that populate the game's world. The book contains detailed illustrations that show the variety and complexity of the game's foes. The book also includes comments and explanations from the artists who describe their inspirations and challenges.

Some of the creatures and enemies that you can find in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12 are:

Hollows, The bosses and the battles

One of the most thrilling aspects of Dark Souls 2 Art Book is the bosses and the battles that challenge the game's players. The book contains epic illustrations that show the scale and the intensity of the game's boss fights. The book also includes comments and explanations from the artists who describe their goals and difficulties.

Some of the bosses and battles that you can find in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12 are:

• The Last Giant, a colossal undead who is trapped in a basement.

• The Pursuer, a relentless knight who hunts down the undead.

• The Dragonrider, a mounted warrior who guards a tower of flame.

• The Old Dragonslayer, a corrupted version of a legendary hero.

• The Lost Sinner, a female prisoner who is chained to a giant bug.

The extras of Dark Souls 2

Dark Souls 2 is not only a game, but also a phenomenon. The game has spawned various extra content and features that enhance and expand its experience. The game has also inspired a passionate fan base that creates and shares their own content and community. In this section, we will explore some of these extras of Dark Souls 2.

The DLCs and the expansions

One of the main extras of Dark Souls 2 is the downloadable content (DLC) and the expansions that add new areas, items, enemies, bosses, and storylines to the game. The game has three DLCs that are collectively known as The Lost Crowns trilogy. They are:

• Crown of the Sunken King, which takes place in an underground city called Shulva.

• Crown of the Old Iron King, which takes place in a fiery fortress called Brume Tower.

• Crown of the Ivory King, which takes place in a frozen kingdom called Eleum Loyce.

The game also has an enhanced edition called Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, which includes all the DLCs and also features improved graphics, gameplay, enemy placement, online mode, and more.

The Scholar of the First Sin edition

Another extra of Dark Souls 2 is the Scholar of the First Sin edition, which is an updated version of the game that was released in 2015 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360. The Scholar of the First Sin edition includes all the DLCs and also features:

• Improved graphics and performance for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

• New enemy placement and behavior for all platforms.

• New item descriptions and lore for all platforms.

• New NPC character called Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin for all platforms.

• New ending option for all platforms.

• Increased online player limit for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The fan art and the community

Another extra of Dark Souls 2 is the fan art and the community that surrounds the game. The game has inspired countless fans to create and share their own art, videos, guides, mods, cosplay, memes, and more. The game also has a vibrant online community that cooperates or competes with each other through various modes and features. Some of these are:

• Covenants, which are factions that offer different rewards and objectives for players who join them.

• Invasions, which are events where players can enter other players' worlds and fight them.

• Summoning, which are events where players can invite other players to help them or duel them.

• Bonfires, which are checkpoints that allow players to rest, level up, travel, or interact with other players.

• Souls Memory , which is a system that determines matchmaking based on total souls collected by players.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12 is a treasure trove for fans of Dark Souls 2. It offers a glimpse into the amazing art work behind one of the most challenging and rewarding games ever made. It also provides useful information and insights from the artists who created the game's world. Whether you are a veteran or a newcomer, you will surely find something to appreciate and enjoy in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12.

If you are interested in Dark Souls 2 Art Book Scans 12, you can find them online for free at archive.org or archive.org. If you want to get a physical copy of Dark Souls 2 Art Book, you can buy it online at amazon.com or other retailers. If you want to play Dark Souls 2, you can get it for PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, or Xbox 360 at various platforms and stores.

Thank you for reading this article. We hope you enjoyed it and learned something new. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. And if you want to read more articles like this, please subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media. Until next time, praise the sun!

FAQs

Q1: How many pages are in Dark Souls 2 Art Book?

A1: Dark Souls 2 Art Book has 240 pages in total.

Q2: How can I get a physical copy of Dark Souls 2 Art Book?

A2: You can buy a physical copy of Dark Souls 2 Art Book online at amazon.com or other retailers.

Q3: What are some other sources of Dark Souls art and lore?

A3: Some other sources of Dark Souls art and lore are:

• The official websites of FromSoftware and Bandai Namco.

• The official strategy guides and art books of Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3, and Bloodborne.

• The fan-made wikis and forums of Dark Souls, such as fextralife.com or reddit.com.

• The fan-made videos and podcasts of Dark Souls, such as VaatiVidya or Bonfireside Chat.

• The fan-made comics and novels of Dark Souls, such as Dark Souls: The Complete Collection or Dark Souls: Beyond the Grave.

Q4: What are some tips and tricks for playing Dark Souls 2?

A4: Some tips and tricks for playing Dark Souls 2 are:

• Explore every area thoroughly and look for hidden paths, items, and secrets.

• Learn the patterns and weaknesses of your enemies and bosses.

• Upgrade your weapons and armor regularly and use the best ones for your build and playstyle.

• Manage your stamina wisely and don't spam attacks or rolls.

• Use consumables and spells strategically and don't waste them.

• Level up your stats according to your needs and preferences.

• Join covenants that suit your goals and objectives.

• Summon or invade other players for help or challenge.

• Don't be afraid to die and learn from your mistakes.

• Have fun and enjoy the game!

Q5: What are some upcoming games from FromSoftware?

A5: Some upcoming games from FromSoftware are:

• Elden Ring, a fantasy action RPG that is co-created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin.

includes new features and content.

• Bloodborne, a Gothic horror action RPG that is set in a different world and has a different gameplay style.

• Elden Ring, a fantasy action RPG that is co-created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin.

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