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Parakeetman · Jun 13, 2013

Man rest in peace indeed. D:

fart town usa · Jun 13, 2013

Sad day.

Thanks for the art.

Dresden · Jun 13, 2013

faridmon · Jun 13, 2013

Sad news. One of the best artist in the SNES era and definitely one of the most iconic figures at SE.

Hope his family are taking it easy and peacefully!

Foffy · Jun 13, 2013

I hope he enjoyed his life and the art he crafted, as I'm sure the legacy he made with the works he did will live on in those who experienced them. I also hope he didn't suffer in his last moments.

Worthintendo · Jun 13, 2013

, the Mana series has always and will always be one of my favourites, very sad to hear about this, he was a talented artist.

tsumineko · Jun 13, 2013

God damn... SoM is one of the rare instances where art and music joined so perfectly in creating a truly unique and complete artistic vision. The game always holds a fond place in my heart.

Seven Force · Jun 13, 2013

Really sad news, RIP.

Everytime I think of great box art, the SoM cover is almost always the first thing to come to mind.

rubius01 · Jun 13, 2013

Good God that sucks. And only 66 too. Too young.

This is the background to my PS3

Einbroch · Jun 13, 2013

Is there an artbook or something out there that I can buy? Maybe some prints?

lwilliams3 · Jun 13, 2013

The box cover and intro of Secret of Mana is and will always be a cherished part of my childhood. RIP.

Joule · Jun 13, 2013

That Mana cover was what got me interested in the series to begin with. It evoked something really magical and charming to me as a kid and even now.

May he rest in peace.

Liha · Jun 13, 2013

damn

RIP

red731 · Jun 13, 2013

I never played any of the Mana series, but judging by the art in OP I am missing very very much.

Rest in peace Hiro.

Annoying Old Party Man · Jun 13, 2013

You know our childhood is dying right? :-(

Jive Turkey · Jun 13, 2013

I love his artwork. Died too young.

Sutton Dagger · Jun 13, 2013

Wow... Secret of Mana was such a massive part of my childhood. My best friend and I used to have sleep overs and we would play SoM all night, this literally went on for years. Sad news

DJIzana · Jun 13, 2013

That... really sucks. He will be missed. Mana was definitely up there in my RPG titles and it was mainly due to the art. =(

tsumineko · Jun 13, 2013

This calls for a SoM replay.

rubius01 · Jun 13, 2013

Einbroch said:
Is there an artbook or something out there that I can buy? Maybe some prints?

Google Hiroo Isono.

Also, found a website with 85 of his works that you can license and a quick look on google images shows a print. Don't know where they got it though.
http://www.art-licensing.com/artists/Hiroo-Isono-Forests-and-Landscapes/gallery.html

Eusis · Jun 13, 2013

Damn, he wasn't that old. :/

RIP, let's commemorate by viewing his art. Some NSFW there by the way.

EDIT: Beaten by a minute. Well, it's worth emphasizing.

Spira · Jun 13, 2013

Cameron122 · Jun 13, 2013

R.I.P

Think this calls for a replay.

Mlatador · Jun 13, 2013

sad news. SoM was the first RPGs I've played and I immediately fell in love with his art (lots of it in the official guide)

LiK · Jun 13, 2013

BOTEC · Jun 13, 2013

Damn. That Untold Story Of Japanese Game Developers book project can't happen soon enough. These guys are dropping like flies. Sad times.

GhostSeed · Jun 13, 2013

I just want to say thank you! Hopefully his friends and family know that their Hiro Isono touched a generation of gamers. Thanks again!

R-User! · Jun 13, 2013

RIP

I vaguely remember the beginning of Secret of Evermore... Was that game related to the "Secret of" series of games?

Either way, I'll dl Secret of Mana from Wii VC. Is there a better version?

Beautiful Art...

Snakeyes · Jun 13, 2013

Einbroch · Jun 13, 2013

R-User! said:
RIP

I vaguely remember the beginning of Secret of Evermore... Was that game related to the "Secret of" series of games?

Either way, I'll dl Secret of Mana from Wii VC. Is there a better version?

Beautiful Art...

Related in a inspirational way. Radial menu, combat system, graphics, etc. it's an amazing game and was actually made in the US, unlike every other Mana game.

Overlooked game with an incredible soundtrack and atmosphere. The creepy early 1800s London area sets an unnerving and fantastically depressing mood.

120v · Jun 13, 2013

seiken densetsu 2's artwork is probably the most iconic of that era, even moreso than amano's stuff. that cover sold that game

i was always bummed seiken densetsu 3's instruction booklet cover wasn't the game's cover. (the only image i can find is too big to post)... it was the perfect companion piece to SD2

GhaleonQ · Jun 13, 2013

Cripes. Well, at least it wasn't as premature as most recent deaths. I'd genuinely claim that he'd be remembered for any 1 work of his, never mind his portfolio in sum.

I Stalk Alone · Jun 13, 2013

Secret of Mana had the best cover artwork. A bridge between Zelda and Final Fantasy. If it wasn't for his artwork I would not have been interested to have a look at what the game was about all those years ago.

Kamek · Jun 13, 2013

How was this not bigger news! SoM had some of the most iconic SNES art. RIP.

ReDelicious · Jun 13, 2013

Rest in peace you wonderful man, you played a big role in my childhood.

This makes me want to frame my Nintendo Power Secret of Mana poster that I've been putting off doing.

SimplyJah · Jun 13, 2013

Damn, sad day didn't know until now. One of the most memorable games of my childhood and, to me, some of the best art for a game ever. Definitely the best art for the SNES game, imo. I even bought this about 6 months ago when a friend was buying something else from there so I got it for cheap.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/98924006/45x32-huge-secret-of-mana-snes-cover-art?ref=shop_home_active

I haven't gotten around to getting it framed yet: I now feel like I need to move on this.

Earthpainting · Jun 13, 2013

I'm glad I have NeoGAF for instances like this. I would never have known of his passing if it wasn't for this place. He was a very talented landscape painter, from the looks of it. My condolences go out to his family and hope he may rest in peace.

Ultimadrago · Jun 13, 2013

Terrible news. RIP

Rhapsody · Jun 13, 2013

Really sad news. RIP

careksims · Jun 13, 2013

Aww nooo! R.I.P.

warningjab · Jun 13, 2013

RIP..

Dominic_Shade · Jun 13, 2013

The Secret of Mana title screen is among my fondest childhood gaming memories. That vast disparity of scale between the Mana tree and the protagonists, that sprawling imagery of nature...god, there's nothing like it. I wish I had a poster. Rest in peace, Mr. Isono.

Broken Logic · Jun 13, 2013

Thanks for your great work.

jj984jj · Jun 13, 2013

RIP

That's definitely some iconic art of the SNES era.

TrickRoom · Jun 13, 2013

*bows*

He was an inspiration to many of us.

cluderi · Jun 13, 2013

Sad news, I bought that game after I'd finished LTTP and loved it just as much. RIP

Rezbit · Jun 13, 2013

Gorgeous art. I remember loving the boxart of SoM as a kid.

RIP.

Markun · Jun 13, 2013

The world lost a great artist.

RIP

BigJonsson · Jun 13, 2013

One of my top 5 favourite games ever

RIP

caffeware · Jun 13, 2013

RIP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLK8IrYrZxA

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Hir Isono (artist of Secret of Mana) has passed away

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He's a pretty swell guy in my books anyway.

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