If things look off in step 1, they will likely be off in the final step. But don’t rush any steps! The basic head shape provides the foundation that will largely dictate the final outcome. Try to see your efforts through to completion, as things looks out of sort until all features are well placed and proportioned. The keys are to always use references, and with anything, persistence pays off. Shapes and placement of features are always important with anatomy, but simple shading and highlights are the key to creating depth.Īnatomy is like foreign language to me, if I don’t keep regular practice I quickly lose proficiency. Similar to the process with the character sprites, I referenced models from PS4, boiled them down to the basic head shape, then recreated them with my own styling. The gameplay was so simple, but the perfect synthesis of sound and visuals was, and still is hypnotic. Needless to say, it left an extraordinary impression. I’ve never quite had a gaming binge like that since. Upon popping in the disc, I played 13 hours straight until sunrise, when shamefully ordered to bed by my mom. Phantasy Star Online would be my first foray into the PS universe, and man, was it a doozy. But, lo and behold, that captivating universe I gleaned from box art years ago, was finally making a return in online multiplayer form. Caught up in the 3D trend, I had yet to play any pixel art iterations of Phantasy Star. Fast forward to nearly a decade later- I’m at the height of a personal golden age of gaming during the all too short lifespan of the Dreamcast and its revolutionary SegaNet. Thus, the box went back onto the shelf, and the dream of an epic space themed adventure receded into distant memory. Alas, my family’s allegiance is with Nintendo, and my little child brain has yet to develop the patience for rpgs. It’s the early 1990’s, and every time I venture into the local rental store, the beautiful box art for Phantasy Star 2 captures my imagination. Prepare to go back to the future, into a retro space age inspired by Sega’s venerable Phantasy Star franchise.

Tyrian 2000 art