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Battle for the Triforce III
Published: 2012-07-05 16:28:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 114109; Favourites: 6046; Downloads: 2112
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Description
The full resolution file (5400 x 3600 px) is available for purchase here on DeviantArt and you can purchase this as a 12" x 18" or 24" x 36" print here:
- Square Market: squareup.com/market/matthew-le…
- Etsy: www.etsy.com/listing/184793530…
Listen to this static.zreomusic.com/music/Sou… while viewing for maximum effect! Courtesy of Zelda Reorchestrated.
This is a piece that I have been somewhat actively working on since October, but have had limited time due to other work. However, it is also part of a series of pieces featuring the same scene bit.ly/MVzPUg . My last attempt done in 2005 was lacking in many areas including overall accuracy, and I felt that with the release of Skyward Sword, all of the 25th Anniversary Legend of Zelda stuff, and the excitement of putting together my own Dungeons & Dragons-style table-top Zelda game, it was about time to show off my skills again with a revival of this project. Another thing that also contributed to the creation of this piece was the release of high-resolution official artwork from Ocarina of Time, in particular, that of Ganon www.zeldawiki.org/images/3/3b/… . I could now get the accuracy I wanted and use the talent I had been honing throughout my time at the College for Creative Studies.
I cannot even fathom the number of hours I've spent on this, but it is considerable. The Master Sword and Hylian Shield alone took at least 20 hours each. I wasn't going to settle for anything short of perfection this time around. Everything in this image I drew from the ground up except for the manipulated ground and sky textures, which were taken from photographs. I also used textures to enhance the quality of metal, leather, cloth, skin, and horns.
For the art critics looking at this, my desire was to portray the dread and anticipation of an epic battle with the King of Evil reborn as a demon. I think anyone who has played the game felt the same way when Ganondorf rose from the dead and transformed into a monstrous beast before their eyes. I've seen many other depictions of the battle that are more action-packed or stylized, but my primary goal was accuracy, providing a sense of nostalgia for that moment, and recreating it in a way that gamers imagined the battle looking in real life.
For you die-hard Zelda fans out there, you may notice a few things that are different. The Master Sword I used is the design from Twilight Princess / Skyward Sword, mostly because it just looks so much more epic and finished than the simple design from Ocarina of Time. Also, the scabbard is from the design of those games, but this is mostly due the fact that I feel that Nintendo has desired to make the new design canon (since that scabbard design is in games that take place before and after Ocarina chronologically). Link is also wearing chainmail beneath his green tunic, which I felt would probably be more likely for an adventurer who is somehow able to withstand many enemy strikes (and once again is present in TP / SS). Navi actually has a physical humanoid body, as opposed to a simple winged, glowing orb. Fairies are clearly seen to have humanoid bodies in most of the other games, as well as the Great Fairies within Ocarina, so I felt for realism's sake, Navi should have a body. I attempted to give a little bit of a "forest fairy" flair to her, similar to the Great Fairies, but lesser. And finally, I added the Gerudo symbol to the Golden Gauntlets, mostly because they were admittedly rather plain and I felt that since the Silver Gauntlets were found in the Spirit Temple and Golden ones in Ganon's Castle, they might be of ancient Gerudo origin themselves.
Anyway, please leave feedback!
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR AWESOME COMMENTS!!! 
Also, see the below alternate version with control interface: fav.me/d56rtwo
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Comments: 563
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I shit bricks when I saw this. I love everything. It's beautiful, the colouring, the shading, just everything. All of it is perfect and I have few complaints. The only thing I can really complain about is how Zelda's face looks. Something about it is just... Off... I'm not sure what it is, but it looks weird (I might just be used to her more anime face). You can also see definite lines in the fire, maybe blur the edges slightly? Brings back great memories, makes me feel like I'm playing the game. Everything was done amazingly and just UNF. Every bit of detail just blew my mind, and I love you for making this picture. I'd love to see more from you. Keep up the awesome work, and stay true, dawg.
- Fuzzy
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That link didn't work right... try this one? [link]
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Like I said, I think I'm just used to the more animeish style of Zelda. But she does look good with her realistic type eyes and face. I really enjoyed that piece of art, honestly. It made me feel like I was playing the game. I wish the game animations were that detailed, but I think that if they were, I would probably shit myself if I saw a Dead Hand... Yeugh...
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Thanks for your critique and I'm glad you like it! I'm not sure what else I could have done with Zelda, I tried as hard as I could to capture the way she looks from the original artwork [link] (Ocarina_of_Time).png but obviously make her look more realistic.
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I believe you have truly reached perfection in this piece. While I myself do agree with others that this is not original, your use of a powerful dark background and your extraordinary attention to detail leave me speechless and filled with nostalgia. My first time fighting Ganondorf in his demon form was hair-raising and extremely stressing. You have done a spectacular job recreating this epic battle in an effort to invoke nostalgia in those of us who have worked hard to reach this point in the game. I hope you'll continue to make great art like this in the future!
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Thanks very much for your kind critique and I'm glad this piece gave you such a positive reaction
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You're very welcome. You really do deserve it. And thank you for working so hard to create an extraordinary piece to share with the world.
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this is one of the most epic and famous game of all time, the saga and especially OoT put on the map the big N so the criticism of the fanart to this saga are more "severe". this work is great, it captures the thrill of that final battle driving perfectly the shadows and lights, this piece is the level of the game that marked history.
from a strict point of view the idea is not original, but to be fair the scene and atmospheric composition are delicius, which makes us relive that moment every gamer pursued and only the best video games are able to leave forever etched in our memory, the final battle.
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Thank you for your kind review. I really do need to work on more original pieces and am going to start on some very soon, but I think most fans have to agree that Zelda fan art is just too tempting sometimes!
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I'm no pro critique, and I can be biased, but I believe this is an extraordinary piece of work. The feeling of dread is clearly defined by Zelda's shocked and worried look as she seems to pace, while the feel of anticipation is evident in Links stance and Navi's readiness to assist Link while Ganondorf looks like he won't settle for anything less than an epic battle!
The only sort of complaint I might have is that Ganon's tail doesn't particularly look like it does in Ocarina Of Time, with that small rainbow cloud-like tip. Then again, the reference image portrayed his tail as looking more dragonic.
Other than my own preference for the tail's appearance, if perfection is what you were aiming for I believe you've very well hit it straight on!
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Thanks very much for your kind critique and noticing what I hoped to portray! And yeah, I totally noticed that about Ganon's tail, too, and I think what it ended up being is that the 3D modelers were simply not able to get the tail to look quite like the original artwork... or maybe they ended up texturing it differently to make it stand out more as a target.
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The detail in this is freakin awesometacular, and how everything has its own texture is just mind blowing. What I really like about this though, is the creative license you took with navi, and how her wings don't actually seem to be attached to her back. Granted it's kinda weird, but for this, it works.
My only two gripes are these:
Although, I like how Link's gauntlets and belt share the same texture, his belt almost looks wooden and really stiff, not malleable like leather at all. Also, the texture of his hair looks like fur rather than human hair. Both really minor, but anything's worth mentioning.
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Thank you for your nice critique. I am still working at mastering hair without it either looking too bushy or too disjointed. As for the leather, I agree it could have probably used another once over with some love and attention
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First off, wow.
Second, the detail and composition are absolutely incredible. The dynamics of the poses shown by all three characters, pardon me, four characters perfectly describe their roles in the game. The use of lighting and space recreates the feeling of worry in the Zelda gamer (Me, at the very least) as we see just how close Link is to the formidable Gannon; and just how monstrous Gannon is in the firelight. Seeing the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield from Twilight Princess, as well as Gerudo design and markings on the gauntlets add even more to the realism and the connectivity of the games. I also commend the use of texture to create a more real feeling in all of the elements in this piece.
Seeing this particular scene invokes awe-inspired fear, and admiration. Fear being the memory of fighting the battle against Gannon. Admiration being the knowledge that the sheer dedication and care shown by the artistry of this piece is something many artists strive for. I, for one, would love to be this dedicated someday.
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Thank you so much for your kind words and I'm so happy I could inspire you with my art! I think part of my goal, as you noted, was to not just show the final battle of Ocarina of Time, but also just to show the struggle between those particular characters in each of the games they are present in. Ages may pass, the Hero may be reborn, the timeline may split, but in the end... these are the keepers of the Triforce and they are bound to each other for eternity.
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^^ No problem. It's what I truly thing about this particular piece.
That and I just absolutely love Legend of Zelda! Particularly Link himself
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I loved this very good fantastic that I like Link and Zelda with Navi. its amazing that that much good art too smart for his art that I love this game Zelda, whenever I add your favorite fans of Zelda is bigger, I'm super fans always come back so I love, this battle of Ganon's evil power, which Link will kill your Ganon, Zelda will be the input six sage.
Very good that I love Zelda Ocarina of Time e.deviantart.net/emoticons/l/l… " width="26" height="17" alt="
This is game is still good so I agree you but your art is good too incredible.
This city of Ganon's Castle I always love a lot all at Zelda!
Thanks you for i like your art!
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With all honesty, this has got to be the most INCREDIBLE piece of Zelda artwork that I've seen on this site, or anywhere for that matter.
At first, I thought it was just a normal piece of art, maybe a painting or such, but there's no doubt that this is much much more than that. The lighting and colors are amazing, and I very much love how different parts of it look almost alive and real, while other parts look a little bit more animated. The clash of the two aspects are amazingly done, and I'm very much hoping to see more of this outstanding work on here.
And on a last note, I immediately set this picture as my wallpaper after seeing it, because there's no words to describe how epic this picture is. Well done! e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b… " width="15" height="15" alt="
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Thanks so much for paying attention to the details and for setting it as your wallpaper! I think I sized it pretty well for most screens.
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Without a doubt, It´s one of the BEST Zelda works present in this website. Also represents one of the best moments in The Legend of Zelda videogame franchise.
The colors used are perfect. Everything is so well detailed. The shadows, the fire, the sky and also the clothing. Everything looks so natural that almost looks real.
The characters representation is perfect. Really show us how Zelda worries of the battle result, how diabolical Ganon looks as he appears in front of Link and how Link prepares to fight that monster. This moment, present in the game, is represented in a phenomenal form.
In conclusion, this is a MASTERPIECE. Congratulations for such a magnifficent work. I really hope you continue making masterpieces e.deviantart.net/emoticons/s/s… " width="15" height="15" alt="
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Thanks a lot for the compliments and words of encouragement!
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The first time I saw this picture as a thumbnail, I already knew it was epic, because it was a Zelda pic. The second time around, I finally clicked it, and my eyes gazed upon this magnificent piece of GENIUS.
You're goal was definitely achieved. I get such a sense of nostalgia from this, it makes me want to hop off the CPU right now and play Ocarina of Time. I feel the tension, the looming presence of anxiety coupled with the feeling of an all out epic battle about to unfold in this one depicted moment.
The shading and glowing colors off their weaponry and armor give you the feel of actually being there, in that dark, stormy place, where this final battle of epic proportions is about to take place among the remains of Ganon's Castle. You spared no expense to fully define this moment in time.
You have all the elements present. Zelda, standing helplessly outside the ring of flames, worrying for the Hero of Time's safety; Ganon the dark beast, looming over our hero, prepared to stop at nothing to see him fall; Navi, the hero's friendly guide, assisting Link in any way possible, and then the Hero of Time, Link, staring down his final opponent, knowing that the fate of Hyrule rests in his hands.
GOD, this picture is just... AMAZING. PURE GENIUS!
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I'm so happy that you noticed all those elements I worked on and appreciated them! It seems that anyone who has played the game has very similar memories entangled with this final battle. Thanks so much for your thoughtful critique
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Not a problem. This was my first critique, so I'm just glad I was able to write one worth the time it took to read it 
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Well... I don't know where to begin. There is just so much detail, down to every last fold of clothing, strand of hair, crumbled stone. Each material really shows its presence, from the glare of the shield to the absolute hatred in Ganon's eyes. The fine lines of writing on the Master Sword, the glistening sweat on Ganon's surging muscles... it's all there. Everything is proportionate, everything is fully detailed, and our hero and villain truly stand out from the raging flames and stormy skies. As a dedicated fan for fifteen years, well, I've never seen anything better.
Nerd that I am, if I could ever create something as magnificent, I would have stuck to the originals, like the Master Sword, the way it was in Ocarina of Time, or Link's tunic, without the mail. Of course, these details in no way subtract or distract from the overall experience that this is. The Gerudo crest on the golden gauntlets is a fantastic touch, as is the embodiment of Navi as a glowing fairy rather than a ball of light. The wear of the shield, the creases in the belt, even his shoulder strap is in the right place. But of course everything is right, as I've seen the previous installments in this series of epic recreations, and they, too, were uniquely outstanding.
In each and every regard, you have my complete praise and respect, and I hope to see more of your amazing art.
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It was indeed a tough choice for me to deviate from the classic Ocarina of Time sword and scabbard, but I felt that these things have evolved throughout the years and each element has reached a level of finality that I wanted in the piece. I'm glad you noticed the crazy hatred in Ganon's eyes, and he actually looks even freakier without the greenish glow. Thanks so much for your insight and kind words!
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The honor is mine! This was my first critique, and as I'm sure everyone has said, this piece greatly upstages any official artwork ever released to date. It's just so realistic and full of emotion! I had to hold back from pointing out all the little things that made this moment in time come to life. The flowing hair of the three, the glow of flames surrounding the battleground, it all just takes my breath away. It has inspired me so much, brought many memories of the tension between the player and the game. Thank you for sharing your masterful artwork with the world! ^_^
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As a group admin for video game related fan art i am seeing around 50-200 fan art images every day. There are 1-3 of them per day which really stand out and can be described as something "epic" . People can see, that they were drawn by a person who is not only skilled and can draw very well, but that this person also draw the image with a dedication rarely seen.
The Battle for the Triforce III displays the battle of Link and Ganon in Orcarina of Time in a dramatic way, you can basically feel the tension, the fear, the rage of the two main characters.
In my opinion this looks levels better than anything Nintendo itself released as illustrations for this game, its a perfekt example of the combination of skill and the love for a game, shown via the talent of an artist.
Thank you, mattleese87 for sharing this piece with the world.
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Thank you very much and I am glad you appreciated my hard work!
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^^ np
btw, for the case you have not yet enough from Zelda please take a look here [link] and here [link]
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You have done such an excellent job on this scene that it is hard to find the right way to compliment your artistic talent! Words like "astonishing", "incredible", and "breathtaking" are not strong enough.
There are so many amazing details in this work that it literally draws the viewer's eyes to scan each and every one of them. The fold's of Link's tunic and Zelda's dress were very skillfully done. The individual strands of hair and the ripped muscles of Beast Ganon's form are very realistic and proportional. The clouds give this piece a very dark and brooding atmosphere, which is very fitting to the main idea and theme of the final battle of Ocarina of Time. The shading on everyone and everything were done just right. I also like that you gave Navi a visible form within the glow, rather than making her just a ball of light with wings.
To sum it up I love everything about this picture, and I hope you are as proud of this accomplishment as I am! I wish the best of luck to you and any future works you may produce. It has been a pleasure critiquing this!
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Thank you so much for your kind words and attention to what I included in this piece! To me, this is just one of the most nostalgic moments in video game history and I'm glad it pleases so many fans
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You're very welcome! I can say that I agree with you. This part of the game takes me back every time I play it, and you did an excellent job recapturing that moment in a digital painting!
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The detail on this piece is rather speachless. The bliss and fear of a toe-curling, teeth-gritting battle is all in this artwork, from Princess Zelda's face to Link's grip. truely amazing job on Zelda's expression, and on Link's chainmail. The scratches on the shield left my jaw open in pure amazment. Good work, It looks better than the original artwork! Ganondorf looks as snarly and much as a "Jerk-off" as he did in the heat of the battle. I remember it all, and for the release of Ocarina of Time 3d's sake, Zelda's hair actually FLOWS like it would in realaity. You even included THAT!! This is just breathtaking!!
Sorry for my bad english.
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