Dragon Ninja

Here's my take on NINJA GAIDEN's Ryu Hayabusa along with a ton of other ideas spliced together to make this piece come to life! I know I often keep saying this whenever I showcase a new, highly-detailed illustration, but I must do so, once again. This has got to be one of the toughest personal projects I've ever invested my time and energy and passion into! From the various elements directly lifted from the Ninja Gaiden games up to the original ideas I had in mind for design details along with adding a very particular character seemingly unrelated to the franchise upon first glance unless you know exactly why I placed her here, this was all both exhausting and worthwhile! Though it's still a coin toss as to whether or not the algorithm will be kind to this one... considering I haven't gotten back my mojo that I once had regarding that. Hahaha!

Nonetheless, hope you appreciate my redesign for Ryu Hayabusa primarily, mixing up his looks from his appearances across the Ninja Gaiden games (including the upcoming fourth game) and even a bit from Dead or Alive and the armor of Ren Hayabusa in Nioh 2! Took some additional inspiration from my Orochi build in For Honor, as well. And, before anything else, the pale fox directly behind Ryu, which is the elephant in the room so to speak, is a personal reference of mine due to the fact that I got even more invested in the idea of making this piece because of Tenma Maemi's chaotic Ninja Gaiden II Black streams that I thoroughly enjoyed dearly!

Anyway, I'll be here all day if I were to explain every single part of this illustration! So, anyway, thank you, once more, for your continued support!!! And, if you're new here, I hope you'll be staying around for more of my works.

Cheers, all the best, and God bless you all!