Dark Souls II Shield Design Finalists Revealed

StewShearerOld

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Jan 5, 2013
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Dark Souls II Shield Design Finalists Revealed

Voters will select which six finalists have their shields included in the final game.

In April, <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/123299-Design-A-Shield-For-Dark-Souls-II> Namco Bandai launched a contest, calling on gamers across varying regions to design shields with the promise of six eventual winners making it into the game and earning a spot in its credits. Now the publisher has unveiled thirty finalists from North America, Europe and Asia and is asking gamers to <a href=https://www.facebook.com/darksouls?hc_location=timeline>vote to decide the final winners.

Altogether, the overall collection from all three regions is pretty diverse, offering up a variety that runs from the gamut from grim and creepy to bright and even patriotic. Some of the designs are, arguably, not the best fit when you consider them in the context of the Dark Souls franchise. The American submission emblazoned with a bald eagle and the word "liberty," for instance, might not blend too well with the oppressive and violent horror Dark Souls is know for. That said, there are a lot of really well done options to choose from. I am a particular fan of the lion themed shield from the Asian finalists. It kind of makes me want to tap into my inner-Lannister.

[gallery=1528]

This contest was a neat move on the part of Namco Bandai and a fun way to help further involve Dark Souls fans in the series. That said, this act of inclusion does little to alleviate concerns that Namco Bandai, hoping to expand on <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/123255-Dark-Souls-Sells-2-3-Million-Copies?utm_source=postit&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=all>the series' success, may <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/7340-Guns-Blazing>change franchise formulas to be more easily digestible for wider audiences.

Source: Siliconera


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newwiseman

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Easy to see how mine lost... they should open this up to a whole armor set next time around, not like it really costs them anything and it's good promotion.
 

Scarim Coral

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Danm! Most of the designs are really great (yeah I agreed the eagle one doesn't fit with the tone of the game).
 

Another

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The eagle doesn't fit the tone, but it would be hilarious to use. Especially if they came up with a whole 'MERICA! armor set.
 

StewShearerOld

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Jan 5, 2013
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Another said:
The eagle doesn't fit the tone, but it would be hilarious to use. Especially if they came up with a whole 'MERICA! armor set.
I can see it now. The Uncle Sam breastplate. The Dubya Doomhammer. The Lance of Lincoln. You could have an entire line of weapons and armor celebrating 'Merican pride.
 

Tartarga

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Jun 4, 2008
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They're all so good. I think I might dual wield shields all the time so I can achieve maximum shielditude.

Yes that's a word.
 

anonymity88

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As much as I love Dark Souls and its creepy vibe my inner moron is crying out for the Liberty Shield to win.
 

DrunkOnEstus

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May 11, 2012
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DVS BSTrD said:
Don't get the Lincoln Helmet, it doesn't cover the back of your head!
This is your finest joke yet, sir. May it be a stepping stone to even greater lols.

So yeah, this game can't come out fast enough...but everyone knows I feel that way already.
 

kael013

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Most of the round shield designs are meh... (with the sole exception of the one with the skinned face) but those rectangular shields! Most of [i/]those[/i] are beautiful! Alot of the rest are just regular looking shields that don't bother trying to match the grim tone of the game (so not that interesting to me) or went a little over the top with the grimness. My favorite has to be the one with the bloody handprint over the eye design (2nd page, 1st pic in the second row). Minimalistic yet still conveys that creepy feeling.
 

Another

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DVS BSTrD said:
I wish I'd been able to submit something.
StewShearer said:
Another said:
The eagle doesn't fit the tone, but it would be hilarious to use. Especially if they came up with a whole 'MERICA! armor set.
I can see it now. The Uncle Sam breastplate. The Dubya Doomhammer. The Lance of Lincoln. You could have an entire line of weapons and armor celebrating 'Merican pride.
Don't get the Lincoln Helmet, it doesn't cover the back of your head!

Also the Teddy Roosevelt breast plate may be made of glass but it can't be penetrated by any kind of projectile :p
Also need Teddy's Large Stick. Replaces the ring that makes the player walk silently.
 

Denamic

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I'm a medium shield user through and though, though some of those towers look pretty damn good.
 

CarolusRex

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Hm, some of these look really neat. Though, if I were to pick a favourite, it would definitely be the one to the right of the shield that has the three knights on it.
 

Dr.Awkward

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DVS BSTrD said:
I wish I'd been able to submit something.
StewShearer said:
Another said:
The eagle doesn't fit the tone, but it would be hilarious to use. Especially if they came up with a whole 'MERICA! armor set.
I can see it now. The Uncle Sam breastplate. The Dubya Doomhammer. The Lance of Lincoln. You could have an entire line of weapons and armor celebrating 'Merican pride.
Don't get the Lincoln Helmet, it doesn't cover the back of your head!
The Lincoln Helmet may be bad, but it's not as bad as the Kennedy Kettlehelm...

<img src=http://www.blogcdn.com/wow.joystiq.com/media/2010/12/tlahtsi-colbert-paladin.jpg>
 

Boris Goodenough

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Am I the only one who thinks that the eagle armour is a reference to Stephen Colbert?
http://static.fjcdn.com/large/pictures/9e/bb/9ebbdf_362965.jpg

Edit: Bah ninjaed!
 

Ickorus

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Mar 9, 2009
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Really hoping for the Sif/Artorias one in picture 3 to get into the game.

kael013 said:
Most of the round shield designs are meh... (with the sole exception of the one with the skinned face) but those rectangular shields! Most of [i/]those[/i] are beautiful! Alot of the rest are just regular looking shields that don't bother trying to match the grim tone of the game (so not that interesting to me) or went a little over the top with the grimness. My favorite has to be the one with the bloody handprint over the eye design (2nd page, 1st pic in the second row). Minimalistic yet still conveys that creepy feeling.
My favourite round shield has to be the Crow, then again, I love Corvids.
 

Jimmy T. Malice

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So, the winners are in. My favourite has to be the Calamity Shield, since it has Kalameet on it and it's very stylish, or Ire, which just looks awesome. The greatshield with the most votes is the one with a pig's head moulded into the front, which will just look silly if it protrudes too much.
 

LGC Pominator

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Scarim Coral said:
Danm! Most of the designs are really great (yeah I agreed the eagle one doesn't fit with the tone of the game).
The Discord one does though! (page 4 of the images, you'll spot it)

Honestly some of the design that has gone into these shields is incredibly well done, good show on the part of the guys that got involved in this.

I am still very much looking forward to DS2 and have it on preorder, despite what Sterling says, I can't wait, its up there with GTAV and Destiny for me