Neutral Ground and graphic designer Alex Griendling made these stunning woodblock maps inspired on one of the Legend of Zelda’s finest outings.
Neutral Ground’s series of laser-etched wood maps, entitled the Woodlands, are described as a tribute to the golden age of pack-in game manuals. It was a time long long ago, way before the Internet and Lets Plays existed around ever YouTube corner, where all the info a person had to begin their virtual journey were printed on a small paper booklet.
Usually these mini-guides included a grand world map; typically all role-playing games of the time did. And for Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series, a psudo-RPG itself, these maps in particular were perhaps some of the best illustrated. Especially once it makes the splendid transition to wood, as is the case with this woodblock map created by graphic designer Alex Griendling.
Using an 18” x 24” board of hand-selected maple, Alex designed a wonderful rendition of The Land of Hyrule from the Nintendo 64 classic, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It’s also wonderfully detailed, featuring lovely laser-printed hallmarks to the 1998 action-adventure game, like all of Link’s weaponry and handy-dandy items.
If you look closely enough, you might even see some of the game’s memorable characters and settings.
The Hyrule Woodlands woodblock from Neutral Ground would have cost you $195 (USD). I say would, because currently it’s sold out. Perhaps if there’s enough voicing though, Neutral Ground will print up a new batch, and you should totally follow them on Twitter to know just when they will. Also, because they produce some awesome video game related wares.
Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories at https://www.facebook.com/Walyou and https://twitter.com/walyou.
