Beautiful art book focusing on the recent Games

Well the first quarter is dedicated to the latest Zelda title "Skyward Sword". It is to design and draft sketches for characters and locations that are loosened up with notes of game developers. Also in the sketches themselves often (translated from Japanese) comments and notes the signatories to the graphic designer. In general, you can learn something about issues and decisions in the development process for each element, giving the chapter the character of making-ofs (similar "Iwata Asks").
The topics are organized logically: At the beginning of the core characters are successively presented before only the individual areas and their more peaceful residents get a place and last round, a number of enemies the whole.

The next major section begins with the timeline, a graphic overview of the internal chronology of all Zelda games. This is due to a novelty and probably the Zelda-makers Eiji Aonuma, who had already announced its intention to earlier; While standing especially in the newer games their chronological relation to any other titles reasonably firm, but the positions of older Zelda and the great connection were open. Therefore, the graph is divided probably the game "Ocarina of Time" in three; once this is because that the hero travels at the end of this game in the past and the future left to themselves, on the other hand is one of the paths flows assuming a failed protagonists represent.
On the subsequent pages then there is also a detailed retelling of the events in the Zelda world, as set out by the previous games and their game instructions based on this timeline. Each side can freely extra areas where again explains individual elements or Trivia are housed. Again, is not stingy with (already published) graphics and screenshots.
Where omelette without breaking eggs, and here had to be planed obvious. So the judge is caught in contradictions and inconsistencies in the story, but also to the uninitiated, but with the book, this is not entirely spared.

Next, follow sketches to all other Zelda games in order of their appearance, from time to time with the translated texts sketches or comments. The focus is on designs for the characters in the titles. It is different to play a lot of space: While "Zelda 2", "Link to the Past" and "Link's Awakening" are abgefrühstückt on three sides, receives "Twilight Princess" 30 of them, followed by "Spirit Tracks" and "Wind Waker "(by far) in positions 2 and 3. The only logical explanation I think in the claim, to be limited only to (mostly unpublished) sketches. Who expects about graphics from the games advisers will be disappointed.

At the end of the book is still a comic from the official Zelda manga artist Akira Himekawa. This rightly so, because he is browsed and read from right to left. The first few pages are colored, the rest is black and white. At 30 pages a history to Skyward Sword is told; the drawings are clean and nice, the action has not convinced me. That does not make much, because since the comic from the paperback was upscaled to A3, as is also relatively quickly and unexpectedly again conclusion.

The material is clean and high quality, each large chapter has its own and loving side formatting, so the background is browned on the story pages as old paper and the sketches in the third chapter are framed by golden lines, also the Umband is solid and feels good , Therefore, it is his money (23) clear value.

Only, the content is also recommended? For fans of the hour, of course, fully, grown out Zelda veterans of focus could beat on the newer titles on the stomach. Whoever finds important the timeline, must befriend the new "Friss-or-die" situation. All others should be clear what it is here: A Making Of Skyward Sword, a chain of video game stories in the fantasy setting, a lot of (character) sketches, and a comic book to take home. For Fans. Who knows no Zelda game should rely on his (non-existent) gut feeling. Those who still have reversed one or the other Zelda on his to-do list, should be aware that the tape has ready spoilers, especially Skyward Swords Story is dissected literally.