The Art of Halo: Exclusive Excerpt

This ain’t your mother’s art book. Halo: The Art of Building Worlds (out October 18 on Titan Books) compiles more than 400 sketches, drawings, and pieces of concept art from the entire mega-selling Xbox series. Pulled from the book for your pleasure, here are nine concept paintings from the book, exclusively excerpted on Maxim.com. Each of these images was used for the design of specific sequences in the games, so bonus points to you if any of them ring any bells.

This ain’t your mother’s art book. Halo: The Art of Building Worlds (out October 18 on Titan Books) compiles more than 400 sketches, drawings, and pieces of concept art from the entire mega-selling Xbox series. Pulled from the book for your pleasure, here are nine concept paintings from the book, exclusively excerpted on Maxim.com. Each of these images was used for the design of specific sequences in the games, so bonus points to you if any of them ring any bells.

1. The Arbiter and the Master Chief explore a mysterious Forerunner structure. If Master Chief weren’t mute, he’d probably be busting out a “I have a bad feeling about this” about now. Art by Eddie Smith

2. When the going gets tough, the Spartans gets drop-kicky. Art by Craig Mullens

3. War is hell. Fortunately, in the Halo universe (and its endless supply of spawn points), it’s also a whole lotta fun. Art by Brad Rigney

4. Do not attempt to space-jump out of an orbiting Pelican ship at home. Art by Eddie Smith

5. The planet Reach has seen better days. Art by Frank Capezzuto

6. Damn aliens. Art by Isaac Hannaford

7. One of the best things about Halo 3: ODST is the Blade Runner-esque sci-fi look of New Mombasa. Art by Steve Chon

8. The Pillar of Autumn speeds away from Reach on its way to Halo. Art by Mark Goldsworthy

9. Master Chief gains speed—and heat—as he falls from the Forerunner dreadnought towards Earth. Art by Dorje Bellbrook