When indie multiplayer shooter Hawken burst onto the scene last year, people went bananas. They’re still going bananas. But here’s the thing: it’s just a multiplayer shooter. Most of us haven’t even played it. So why all the excitement?
A lot of it is down to the game’s art style, which for anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s watching anime or reading manga will be right at home with. Decrepit megacities, combat mechs, it’s the kind of badass stuff we sadly don’t see as much of coming out of Japan these days.
https://lastchance.cc/from-hawken-to-totoro-the-art-of-khang-le-5921283%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
“Kow Yokoyama is by far my biggest influence for our mech designs” Khang Le, the game’s creative director, told me last year. “It’s a niche design so I hope to bring his style to the Western market.”
https://lastchance.cc/nine-guys-giant-mechs-and-2011s-sexiest-indie-game-5780912%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
So do we. And so do a lot of you. Those of you who do, but had never heard of Ma.K and had no idea what it was, enjoy the gallery below, featuring model kits and artwork that should keep you busy while we wait for Hawken’s release. Those images that aren’t official art came from the amazing Maschinen Krieger Flickr group, where you can see hundreds more that are just as great.
