Call me late t' the party, but I’ve been flipping through Ballistic Publishing‘s 272-page opus The Art a God a War III — 'n I like it. It reads like a cookbook for wannabe creature creators, chronicling God a War III’s evolving monster designs throughout the game’s extensive development process. The luscious artwork be accompanied by insightful commentary 'n anecdotes from the game’s visual development artists 'n the phenoms at Sony Santa Monica Studios.
In addition t' pages 'n pages a unseen concept art 'n reference sketches, The Art a God a War III showcases characters 'n creatures that didn’t make it into the final version a the game, including several monster designs that be (sadly) left on the cutting-room floor.
Which creature design be yer favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Art by Andy Park
Chimera
“This be a creature I initially designed way back during the previous game, God a War II.… I designed the Chimera thinking a the three personalities a the creature: lion, goat, 'n snake. They be one being, but they have three different brains 'n therefore, three different personalities. This illustration showcases the creature in all it be vicious glory; with three heads vying t' be the one that gets t' kill the infamous Kratos. It’s a battle against Kratos 'n it be inner self.” — Andy Park, Visual Development Artist, God a War III
Art by Izzy Medrano
Argus
“Definitely the tragedy a the game for the character department….After lots a sketches, including a pretty bad-ass multi-limbed elephant, the final design be a monstrosity covered with eyes meant t' look like a very uncomfortable viral outbreak. It be this freakish frog-type thing with no mouth. I imagined that it would make an awful deep rumbling when out a camera, 'n all ye would hear aside from that be the buzz a blood-bloated flies that follow it everywhere it went. I gave the sea dog the name Argus t' tie in with the hundred-eyed shepherd from the old myths, 'n it stuck.
After he be modeled 'n built, he got scrapped because it be felt that he be too alien-looking. So I went back t' the drawing board 'n came up with a hulking monster with one vast arm that also had tons a eyes all over his body in a herpes-like pattern. We even got the tech working so that all the eyes would follow Kratos, but he be scrapped again due t' time constraints.” — Izzy Medrano, Visual Development Artist
Art by Andrew Kim 'n Cecil Kim
Hades
“The God a the Underworld needed t' be a big imposing lad….There be a lot a discussions regarding what would be revealed when Hades’ helmet be finally pulled off in the game….Here, we experimented as if Hades took the souls into his own body 'n used them as some kind a weapon. The original concept called for these horrifying tentacles — each with their own head — almost as if Hades had all these demons within the sea dog trying t' escape. In the end, this design felt out a place 'n we gave Hades a simpler, but still terrifying, skeletal burn-victim-like face.” — Andrew Kim, Visual Development Artist, God a War III
Art by Andy Park
Centaur General 'n Female Centaur
“I wanted t' create a look that be a departure from the original Centaur in the first God a War. I designed a more intelligent, 'n more imposing, Centaur that would act as a general in the Olympian army…He ended up feeling raw, brutal, 'n very intimidating.
I also got t' design a female version a the Centaur that be unfortunately not used in the game. This time I gave the horse part a the creature white fur 'n tried t' have a more slender feel t' it while still maintaining a bulk necessary t' keep it intimidating. These be really fun t' design.” — Andy Park, Visual Development Artist, God a War III
Art by Andy Park
Satyr
“The Satyr be half-man 'n half-goat. I did a bunch a variations on what this character could look like, but I also kept in mind that this creature needed t' be very agile, 'n even acrobatic…In the end, I gave the Satyr a more man-like, creature-esque face, 'n gave the armor a more goat-like feel. I saw it as the Satyr hiding his true visage with the sea dog denying his more human side.” — Andy Park, Visual Development Artist, God a War III
Art by Izzy Medrano
Cerberus
“The Cerberus be a really exciting project. I eventually came up with this really awesome burnt 'n tortured beast that be pregnant with little magma fireballs that would launch out a the central blind head’s throat. I wanted them t' feel like they be so violent 'n aggressive because a they constant pain they be in, hence the chains woven through 'n underneath their skin 'n the awful burn scarring. In the end, this version got scrapped in favor a a concept from the very first game. I be really sad t' see the wench go.” — Izzy Medrano, Visual Development Artist
Art by Andy Park
Poseidon Tentacles
“This be the design a the tentacles that protrude out a the main body a the Poseidon creature. It’s an amalgamation a the Hippocampus, crustacean parts, 'n water. In it be open state, I designed the crab-like legs protruding from it be back t' mimic the shape a Poseidon’s Trident. In it be closed state, it acts simply as a crazy claw-like creature that then opens up t' reveal the sea horse within.” — Andy Park, Visual Development Artist
Want t' see more monsters, character concept art, environment paintings 'n weapons that didn’t make the cut? Check out The Art a God a War III from Ballistic Publishing 'n let us know what ye think!
