God of War Art Director Raf Grassetti Unveils Realistic Star Fox Artwork Featuring Fox McCloud

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Published on: January 05, 2020

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God of War Art Director Raf Grassetti Unveils Realistic Star Fox Artwork Featuring Fox McCloud Star Fox, one of Nintendo's most celebrated franchises, returns to the spotlight through the artistry of Raf Grassetti, well-known as the acclaimed art director behind God of War.

Grassetti, who has become renowned for his hyper-realistic interpretations of classic video game characters, started sharing his digital sculptures with the gaming community in early 2019.

His distinctive approach began with the roster of Super Smash Bros.

Ultimate and soon expanded to include icons from Battletoads and Cuphead. Marking the arrival of the new year, Grassetti chose to revisit the Star Fox series—an influential title in his gaming journey.

During a recent post, he recalled how Star Fox 64 for the Nintendo 64 had a significant impact on him as a young gamer.

He described being "mesmerized by how captivating a few polygons could be," underlining the lasting impression Nintendo’s groundbreaking 1997 release made on his creative development. In his latest tribute, the first character to receive Grassetti's realistic treatment is none other than Fox McCloud, the intrepid leader of the Star Fox team.

The artist has stated that his process involves showcasing detailed breakdowns of his sculpting and hair-rendering techniques via his Instagram page.

Grassetti has actively invited Star Fox fans to participate by sharing which members of the iconic crew they hope to see next.

He also confirmed that the formidable Wolf O’Donnell will be the last character to join his Star Fox showcase. Raf Grassetti's work bridges two significant worlds of gaming: the cinematic storytelling of Santa Monica Studio, best known for the recent entries in the God of War series, and the playful legacy of Nintendo icons like Fox McCloud.

His continued celebration of Nintendo properties comes at a time when interest in legacy franchises remains high, especially with the enduring popularity of Star Fox on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, where both new and long-time fans can access classic Star Fox games through the Nintendo Switch Online service and via the Nintendo eShop. Notably, this week has also seen Santa Monica Studio staff showing enthusiasm for other Nintendo classics.

On Tuesday, God of War director Cory Barlog expressed his interest in a new Golden Sun game—a series last seen with Golden Sun: Dark Dawn on the Nintendo DS in 2010. Grassetti's realistic rendering of Fox McCloud not only celebrates the artistic possibilities of modern game development but also pays homage to Nintendo’s pioneering role in the industry.

The fusion of artistry from PlayStation’s first-party talent and Nintendo’s rich character history continues to captivate fans and creators alike.

Fans are encouraged to follow Raf Grassetti's Instagram for updates and share their suggestions for which Star Fox crew member should receive the next lifelike transformation.

Raf Grassetti God of War Star Fox Fox McCloud Nintendo Nintendo 64 Star Fox 64 Nintendo Switch eShop Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Santa Monica Studio

God Of War's Art Director Is Now Designing Incredibly Realistic Star Fox Characters