I’m kick-starting my Friday reviews with an interesting find choc full of your favourite characters across all genres. In his book The Art of Game Characters
Split into 15 chapters including his introduction and enough good artwork to keep any enthusiast happy, it’s well worth a closer look. This review, as with all subsequent book reviews, will be split into three sections; The Good, The Bad, and the Noteworthy. At the end I’ll wrap things up with my conclusion and rating. Quick note: I get paid for any clicks through the product links on this page as part of an affiliate scheme; but don’t let that stop you! ^_~
The Good
- Diversity; There’s a broad range of character types discussed – 15 in all. Things kick off with ‘Game Cuties’ and end with ‘Bosses From Hell’, but in between those are a whole array of both male and female stereotypes; good, evil, and somewhere in the middle.
- Inspiring Artwork; Every page is bursting with images of games characters – new, old, well known, obscure, from every genre imaginable in their most dynamic poses and scenes.
- Fun to read; Each chapter has two articles (for want of a better word), the first of which is a description of the character type, the history of the stereotype, and uses of the character. The second is either a method for modeling/creating characters or an interview with a relevant industry professional. Each section is clearly defined, concise, and easy to understand; it’s easy to dip in and out of the book and quickly grasp the concepts he’s trying to convey.
The Bad:
- Basic Knowledge Only; Let me clarify this a little, the knowledge presented isn’t basic in and of itself, however you only get a general overview of each type. Reading this book won’t give you a huge well of knowledge about all character types; to achieve that you’ll need to read further books and resources. It’s still a good starting point, but it’s important to understand it’s only that; a starting point.
- Interviews as filler? This part is mostly personal opinion, but it felt to me like sometimes an interview was added when there was nothing else he particularly wanted to say about a character type. Or perhaps I just wanted to see more practical knowledge on some of my favourite characters – perhaps something you’ll have to decide for yourself if/when you read it.
The Noteworthy:
- Different Art Styles; While it would have been easy to include only a certain style of art to illustrate the character types, Hartas has managed to show a broad range. The genres and styles used vary from very adult, almost realistic to childish and stylized. It’s an interesting mix and he manages it well.
- Jargon Free; There’s a limit to the amount of jargon used in the articles and interviews, and when it is used it’s quickly and clearly explained in a manner that I would challenge even the most sensitive person to find insulting.
- Useful and at times insightful; I think that speaks for itself really.
Conclusion
I enjoyed reading it, and I’ve found myself referring back to it a few times. From a student point of view it’s been a useful starting point for a number of the essays I’ve had to write for class, specifically for Genre and Characters. The artwork itself almost makes the purchase worth it. Reading through I found myself agreeing with most (but not all) of what Leo had to say, and discovering some things I’d never heard/thought about before.
Overall: 4/5
Value for Money: 5/5
Writing (Style and Content): 4/5
Artwork: 5/5
Re-Readability: 4/5
If this is what you’re looking for click the link below to have a closer look at the product description and other reviews on Amazon. Hope you found this review useful, have a good weekend everyone!
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