Dark Souls
For this game, I decided I wanted to challenge myself to create not only a cover but a full box set. It also fits Dark Souls well as the series is a trilogy. As the game lets you create your character and there isn't a concrete protagonist I decided to focus on iconic locations you find in each game for the covers. I started with Anor Londo and its intricate architecture. The area makes a big impression with its sunset hues and is where you're originally given the quest to rekindle the first flame.
Sun, fire and dying flame are huge motifs throughout all three games. So I decided to use a colour scheme inspired by a sunset, mimicking how the flames are slowly extinguishing throughout the series. The second cover I chose illustrates the forest of giants as the giants are central to all the events in the second game. For the last cover, I drew to do the ringed city. The place somewhere at the end of time where all eventually turns to ash along with the first flame.
Like A Dragon (Yakuza)
I've always been a sucker for action games and crime dramas. While the compelling story of Yakuza is being turned into a tv series I still wanted to try my hand at a book version. The first big decision I made was to use the games orginal name Ryu Ga Gotoku, Like a Dragon, instead of the name used internationally, Yakuza. I wanted to try my hand at hand lettering and decided I could make something more visually interesting with Like a Dragon instead of just Yakuza.
I knew right away I wanted to use the protagonist Kiryu's dragon tatoo as the main imagry. I reserched diiferent dragon tatoo's and traditional yakuza tatoos to create my own version of his iconic design. I also had fun playing with the dragon interacting with my hand drawn title. On the back cover I couldn't resist putting Kiryu and little Haruka holding hands. Their father daughter reslationship is a major part of the series and super sute in the game when she comes up and holds your hand when walking around the city.
