March 29, 2025

My first Akihiro Yamada art book, and for a series that I still haven't played! Mystic Ark is a small series of two games, the first being an RPG for the SNES and a successor to The 7th Saga, and the second is an adventure game for the PS1. As of writing this, only the SNES RPG has been translated into English.

Though the cover illustration features the female lead character from Mystic Ark, this art book features mostly artworks from the PS1 adventure game, Mystic Ark: Maboroshi Gekijō.

Right away on the inside is a fold-out poster of the cover artwork. I love when an art book includes these, but I'm torn because a part of me wishes there was an easy way to remove it... but also I don't think I could bring myself to take it out! It feels like it is part of the art book. I guess that was the intention and why there's no easy way to take it out!

MYSTIC ARK ARTWORKS begins with illustrations from the adventure game sequel, which is a bit less typical fantasy and more like if fantasy met late 1800s/early 1900s Europe and North America. By the time the first Mystic Ark was released, Akihiro Yamada was no stranger to illustrating incredible artworks for fantasy worlds, which is apparent in his works for the first game. So it's a real treat to see how he illustrates people and places that are closer to the modern era than fantasy.

Here begins the small section for the first Mystic Ark. There are sadly not as many artworks for this game featured as there are for the sequel, but what we do get are given plenty of page space to bring out all the beautiful detail. Agh, just looking at these artworks is making me want to play both games so badly. At least the first is no problem, but there's still no English translation of the second. ;;

The last section of the art book features many black and white concept sketches and design notes, again most of which relate to the sequel. I always love looking at concepts and seeing how different characters or places looked during the early stages versus the final. Sometimes I even end up liking conceptual designs more than the final version!

MYSTIC ARK ARTWORKS is a wonderful art book that isn't just a must for fans of the series, but for fans of Akihiro Yamada and fantasy art in general. I can't put into words how much I love how fantastical his art style is. I've been in love with it since I first saw it featured on the covers of several older games years ago. I definitely need to pick up more Akihiro Yamada art books soon, because for how much I adore his style, it's amazing that I only have this one!