King Haddock’s Reviews > The Art of the Mass Effect Universe > Status Update

One thing that's always enjoyable about art books is showing the deep layers of thinking that went into designs. Many good designs you don't notice because they feel so natural. But then you read about the choices behind weapons... the internal emotions intended in their appearance... or their uniformity... see tons of alternate designs... and can see awkward designs you immediately think, "No, that's not right."

I appreciate that they designated a page for the Shadow Broker, showing at least a little material from DLCs. It's not much, but I'll take what I can get.

The older art book has more paintings for Eden Prime and Ilos, including earlier art where the look has since changed.

Information between the two art books is give and take with overlap, too. The Art of Mass Effect, for instance, says the volus originated from the drawing of a heavily clothed character and they developed it into its own alien. This book lacks that info. But this book talks about how Matriarch Benezia's headdress and clothing was inspired by religious and royal clothing, and that's absent from the earlier book.

Been replaying the games, so time to go back through this book and enjoy it all again