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#Post#: 58--------------------------------------------------
Ten gorgeous adventure game scenes from the pixel art era
DIR By: Pam
Date: May 23, 2021, 3:44 pm
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Low resolution adventure game scenery is a favourite subject of
mine, and a field I've been working in for several years, and I
regularly look to the adventure game art of the early 90s to
study those graphics and see what makes them great. There are
hundreds of excellent examples, but I've selected ten that I
especially love—that have influenced, inspired and instructed
me—to showcase here, and have summarised what it is about these
scenes that inspires me.
Future Wars: Adventures in Time
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GJAcY8w942f5spbLh2VUth.png
Another World's Eric Chahi began this time travelling adventure
with a stunning vista of a modern city shown reflected in the
side of a skyscraper. Using just 7 colours to show the distant
cityscape, it still has enough range to show reflections within
reflections on the mirrored buildings, yet the use of separate
palettes means that the playable area is never lost in these
background details. This is aided by dark patches conveniently
located right behind the much lighter character and window
cleaner's suspended platform. An ingenious and evocative opening
scene.
The Dig
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wx5G6qMYyWJ32Q8o7Vfovh.png
Towering stone formations beneath an alien sunset, reflected by
rippling water lapping gently against an uneven
shoreline—LucasArts was pushing VGA graphics mode to wonderful
heights with this scene. The warm light from the horizon
illuminates the edges of the rocky features in wonderful
contrast to the cool blue shadows and is cleverly balanced by
Boston's orange outfit. The large region of water is broken up
especially well, forming a winding s-curve as it recedes, and
the smooth animation of ripples keeps it dynamic and evocative.
Simon the Sorcerer
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M8yRjspZjA7Te4KLeeJ4uh-970-80.png.webp
Few were better at intricate, detailed pixel art scenes than
Adventure Soft, and this location is a testament to their
attention to visual detail. The way the treehouse bulges and
looms over the water of the swamp gives it a hefty mass, and the
winding roots and branches intersect many of the large areas of
colour, adding superb diversity. Distant trees, wisps of fog and
submerged stones in the water all add a profound sense of life,
and the various grotesque faces hidden in the stones give a real
sense of personality and character to this fantastic backdrop.
Beneath a Steel Sky
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/38WmJawn7gNGpyW93nKxth.png
Revolution Software's dystopian Australia of the future rarely
looks as good as it does in this iconic scene near the very
beginning. The high camera angle gives a wonderful view of the
city; cars pass each other on raised roadways that cut bold
angles through the distant landscape, while pollution and flames
belch from industrial chimneys atop towering factories that clog
the horizon. A bold rule-of-thirds composition frames this with
Brutalist structures on either side, keeping this precarious
vantage point feeling hemmed in by the crowding of a dense city.
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z7oncMKNSVnzatiqQV2Huh.png
The variety of The Land of the Green Isles leads to a darker,
more sinister tone when the game visits the Land of the Dead.
Serpentine foreground details frame a skull shaped cavern whose
sickly yellow lighting makes it stand out clearly from the blue
surroundings, and the winding path to it echoes these twisted
features, aided by rib-like arches. Strong rim lighting from the
moon leaves much of the scene in shadow, making this Stygian
pathway beautifully eerie and evocative.
Full Throttle
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fj3FqS7qpv5oE85JvXCEwh.png
Peter Chan's vision of Melonweed utilises strong shadows
punctuated by rich, warm light to create a wonderful nocturnal
atmosphere, with twinkling stars and drifting clouds adding
subtle, distant motion. The building's varied group of shapes
and angles create a powerful silhouette, transforming a simple
structure into something iconic and memorable, and uses a
variety of textures to break up the larger flat surfaces. The
slightly loose two point perspective gives a solid yet slightly
ramshackle feeling, a perfect way to depict the decaying
remnants of a town.
Dune
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7uZCXtSgfUQxq9kj6fBEuh-970-80.png.webp
Cryo's take on Frank Herbert's classic novel wouldn't have been
complete without the sight of a massive sandworm bursting from
the desert, truly a special moment. Here the rich reds of late
evening evoke feelings of adventure and mystery like few other
palettes, which, coupled with the unmistakable shape of the
legendary creature, really captures the imagination, especially
when seen in motion. Just as it's an important point in Paul
Muad'Dib's growth, it marks a turning point in the game—and what
a way to show it.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zKeusnbR2BCH2hk8r3muwh.png
The complex, varied layout of this bookstore is a testament to
the skill of Sierra's art team's ability to transform everyday
locations into something special. Foreground books frame the
shot well, bringing us into the scene, and the high camera angle
allows us to see much of the environment, without losing the
feeling of a cluttered little shop. Disordered books against the
back wall add personality, and cool lights from upstairs windows
complement the warm chandelier perfectly, making it an
evocative, memorable scene.
The Legend of Kyrandia: Hand of Fate
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2QqqqvyvyGEMi6L8jtTCjB.jpg
It's hard to deny that Westwood were masters of pixel art, and
Kyrandia 2 is a beautiful adventure. Though many scenes stand
out, the bold, unusual forms here, coupled with an interesting
palette, make for a distinctly memorable location. Curving lines
and rows of holes accentuate the round forms of the boulders
while a wonderfully crooked tree leans across the path,
balancing out the largest of these. Subtle movements in the
water, steam vents and lava pool add life, completing the scene
superbly.
Frederik Pohl's Gateway
HTML https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HiAcy5o6EGzApLy5TXU5VN.jpg
Legend Entertainment’s intergalactic adventure is a wild ride to
various exotic locations, but none capture the imagination quite
as strongly as this underwater shot from a dream. Rich, warm
light streams through the water, emphasising the elegant
features of plants, and the surface of the water looms above,
showing ripples and reflections. The glow of lily pads catching
the sunlight tops it magnificently, nestling rich golds among
the vivid greens and deep blues. A pixel art masterpiece in just
16 colours, and a perfect way to wrap up my list.
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