Worth Checking Out - Nidhogg

While in the works for a while, Nidhogg recently joined the ranks of Steam titles, introducing this fast paced, side scroller pseudo-fencing game to a more mainstream audience. On the surface it’s a simple tug of war style battle visualized through the use of a barebones pixelated aesthetic. Almost immediately after starting one can begin to see a wealth of depth and options within a limited control scheme.

Players will stab, jump, roll, and disarm their way through each level, seeking to reach the opponent’s side of the map. It really gets interesting trying to predict your rival’s moves as it only takes one hit to be defeated,  respawning after a short period of time to continue your defense or assault.

It’s a unique title that’s just as much a sport as a traditional video game, with plenty of room for players to experiment with different strategies. You’ll want a buddy nearby to enjoy this one properly, but damn is it worth it. The game is available on Steam, so let the tug of war begin.

14 Minimalist Movie Posters Based Off Their Cars

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Created by Jesús Prudencio, a Spanish web designer and illustrator based out of Seville, Spain who set out to combine his passion for cars and movies into an amazing project simply titled Cars And Films. In this pleasantly minimalist series, Prudencio condensed each of his movie posters into their most iconic vehicle and primary color, ranging from obvious choices like Ghostbuster's Ectomobile to less obvious, clever choices like The Shining's unlikely snow plow, which ultimately becomes the key to escaping complete madness in the Kubrick film.

Simple, yet masterfully executed, Jesús offers us a multi-decade showcase of his favorite passions in one convenient format. All the prints, in both a framed and unframed format can be found on his Etsy shop, for those inclined. Check out the rest of this awesome movie poster series after the break!

Nimbus Machina

Created by French animator Thomas Plaete, Nimbus Machina is a wonderfully atmospheric, monochromatic affair executed on a flat, 2D plane. Onboard a gigantic steam machine reminiscent of Howl's Moving Castle, a pilot tries to flee the monstrous storm he inadvertently creates. There's a really stellar use of negative space in the short, with plenty of play between dark and light to sell the pristine exterior accented by graphic exhaust and the moody interior of the pilot's hulking machine.

Movie Hipster Kits By Alizée Lafon

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French filmmaker and graphic designer Alizée Lafon created this delightful series of posters, deconstructing movies into their most iconic accessories, presented in a manner reminiscent of men's fashion magazine style guides, and vintage ones at that.

These minimalist posters were inspired by movies with cult followings: Vintage 007 movies, the Cohen brothers most memorable piece: The Big Lebowski, the works of W.S. Anderson like Moonrise Kingdom and of course, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Check out the rest of her amazing posters after the break, and don't forget to pick up a print over on her Curioos storefront!

The Shack

This very minimalist but well done animated short was created by Adar Rom and Avi Naim of Bezalel Academy of Art & Design.  It tells the story of a woman who decides to visit a house from her past, and it reminds her that time moves on.  Though not exact, it immediately made me think of 'Splendor in the Grass,' whose title was pulled from a poem, which includes this appropriate line: 

'Though nothing can bring back the hour; Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower.'  

Art wise, I loved the use of the minimalist palette and retro style.  Not to mention, the awesome rockabilly tunes!

The Walking Dead Minimalist Posters

(Via)

If you've been following AMC's critically acclaimed zombie drama based off of the equally excellent comics, you might be interested in picking up one of these awesomely minimalist posters created by the Toronto based artist, Ryan McArthur. In his five piece series he's broken key characters down to their most distinguishing elementt or two, from the crossbow wielding Daryl Dixon to the iconic hat of the morally stubborn sheriff, Rick Grimes.

You can get your hands on a print over on Ryan's Etsy, and check out the others after the break!

Tim Reynolds' Isometric Worlds

Tim Reynolds embarked on a very curious journey to see if he could figure out how to create a new illustration style based out of limitations, and I think he definitely came up with some incredible interesting results. He imposed himself with the limitation of an isometric perspective and low poly modeling, and has been chronicling his progress.

The results are pretty remarkable, with pieces that embrace the chunky, low poly angularity and turn them into something visually striking with the help of some well thought out color choices. After going through his gallery all I could think about is how much I'd love to see a game with this type of art style, as I've always loved the 'less is more' approach. Check out more of his experimentation after the break!