Super Metroid - Depths of Tourian - Photoshop Speed Art

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You can also download and print the high res image from the link below for free.
Music courtesy of Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra
metroidorchestr...
Download a partial-resolution image here...
elemental79.dev...
This is a remastered screenshot from the video game Super Metroid. Released in 1994 Super Metroid featured an open world where bounty hunter Samas Aran must defeat Mother Brain to keep the galaxy safe from improper use of Metroids. There are also space pirates there looking to use Metroids to gain power. I think that is right.
Super Metroid's game style has lived on in many great Castlevania games. These Metroidvania games are among my favorite, but Super Metroid still stands out as the one I'd most like to see in high definition. Another great aspect of the game was the music. Featured in this video is the music of Blake Robinson. He has lots of amazing video game remixes and I'd highly recommend a visit to his channel...
/ dummeh
In order to give the screenshot a 16x9 aspect ratio this is not an actual screenshot from the game, but made up of several screenshots and sprite sets. Included in this scene is a metroid, which is not accurate to the game, but believable since there wouldn't be a logical reason that one could not wander into Mother Brain's room (And I really wanted to remake the metroid).
I tried desperately to make this video under 10 minutes, but could not bring myself to edit out parts of the video that I feel communicate the process accurately. So this video shows the entire process from beginning to end with minimal cuts.
To answer some questions I've received, the image took between 50 and 60 hours and had well over 500 layers. I didn't really keep track of either. I also didn't do this in one sitting but over the course of a few weeks.

[@N5omn1ac]

10 years later I'm still re-watching this and passing on to friends. We need a come back!!

[@drumjod]

Me too. Met new people since then, but it's still been in the back of my mind.

[@MisterFanwank]

The way you sculpted Samus out of motorcycle parts... That was amazing. I need to try this sometime.

[@gonzail1]

...And the most important, a Nespresso machine parts.

[@oliwiermiekus]

And now she is a disassembled motorcycle

[@scratch3406]

Username checks out

[@goroshina285]

Also he used computer mouse too lol

[@Ravio.Helianthus]

Who knew Mother Brain was part hippo?

[@Vargas3499]

and ar-15 receiver

[@JamiltonMacedo]

He just use best textures for skin

[@rolandoresurreccion8216]

Well i certainly didnt think that Samus is part honda motorcycle and helmet. lol

[@MarceloKatayama]

And frog also part cat

[@Pe4203]

The face

[@KewneRain]

If anything, this video gives me a completely new appreciation for the picture as a whole. It's very cool to see how you went through and adapted real world stuff into a completely unique image. I admittedly laughed when I saw that Samus's suit was mostly made from motorcycle parts and that Mother Brain is made up of frog and hippo bits, but that's just part of the image. Excellent work ^^

[@fongdimbulator]

Your ability to sample elements and use them to create something completely new is fucking amazing.

[@ThisNameIsBanned]

Even if parts of animals were used, no real animal was harmed in the making of this clip. (At least i hope so)

[@adeldjedid9645]

Je parle uniquement le français j'utilise un logiciel de traduction d'où le message en 2 langues Ce message en le vois souvent dans un film où en vois un logo avec un éléphant un cheval et un chien appeler American Humane Association Le message dit Qui apparaît au générique de fin d'un film ou d'une série TV où des animaux sont présentés -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I only speak French I use translation software hence the message in 2 languages This message is often seen in a film where we see a logo with an elephant, a horse and a dog called American Humane Association The message says Which appears in the end credits of a film or TV series where animals are featured

[@LeviTun]

This comment was 10 years ago...

[@dropdead___]

You're INSANE! Great work, flawless. @MaxMRM brought me here.

[@renatoinogueira]

Jogou no Google Tradutor ne? Kkkk

[@dropdead___]

@@renatoinogueira Cara, não. Porque diz isso?

[@MrFreakierTruth]

Motorcycle is samus' true form

[@Abelhawk]

Unbelievable... you, sir, are a true artist. You have an incredible grasp on not only lighting, but mechanical and biological structure!

[@AaronGRandall]

Imagine if they remastered the original game with this kind of look to it. That would be amazing!

[@denno445]

+Aaron G. Randall I think that would be the best 2d game of all time

[@sherlockholmes8822]

Metroid Dread is out and it looks amazing. Maybe they will remake it with the same engine.

[@ahmedhamdan2009]

@@sherlockholmes8822 There is no way Switch would be able to handle this graphics. I doubt PS4 and Xbone can even run this beautiful graphics.

[@sherlockholmes8822]

@@ahmedhamdan2009 Dread looks pretty amazing. If eventually they do make a Super Metroid remake, they should use Dread aesthetics, fluidity and gameplay to do it justice

[@ahmedhamdan2009]

@@sherlockholmes8822 I agree with you. They already remade metroid 1 and 2 but super metroid is indeed lacking a remake

[@GodOfTheeGames]

That hyper realism... IT'S SO FUCKING MAJESTIC! So majestic, that I wish I could donate. Yet I have no wallet :(

[@DjVortex-w]

Super Metroid with this kind of hi-res graphics would be awesome... Nintendo should make that happen.

[@TheSquash3]

I loved seeing how you made the mother brain face with all the animals and stuff. Really cool.

[@edu15700]

Incrível esse trabalho que você fez. Parabéns. (MaxMRM)

[@jorgeosoriocano]

Brasuca na área. Vim pelo Max também.

[@marksandervieira8001]

🤭🤭🤭

[@TestSubject1342]

They should remake Super Metroid on Wii U, and have this guy as the art director.

[@TheRealGunfish]

I'd play that.

[@swordsmancs]

Get Zero Mission or Samus Returns controls, id fuck with that

[@ezekielburkley1461]

Sadly Nintendo just sues people with talent like this. That would be amazing

[@AaronProctor.]

I would pay $100 for a copy of Super Metroid remade like this in its entirety

[@S4_QUATTROPOWER]

I would pay 200

[@Sho_Ryu_Ken]

xl-CalixLove-lx going once going twice SOLD! to the young man in the front row seat dressed as samus.

[@S4_QUATTROPOWER]

Fall-Out-Boy For real bro id pay no doubt 😏

[@brettnance5432]

As would I. This is amazing! If I could get a full resolution poster-sized version, I would buy it for $100.

[@shrek6723]

Aaron P 500 sold

[@RazakelKairo1994]

I have to go back to this piece from time to time. When I found you TJ, and this just got released, I was still very much still developing as an artist and not really sure where I wanted to go. This video right here sparked the beginning of where I'm at today, just due to sheer inspiration. I've made some really cool pieces that I'm proud of during the years, and even now that I'm more into painting and machine-driven work, doing stuff like this on a smaller scale helped me greatly in making unique concepts quickly and efficiently. Thank you for doing art.

[@Skelig]

I never knew Samus' suit actually consisted chiefly of recycled cars, bikes and webcams

[@plasma9706]

Skelig The Chozo were _crafty_ bastards.

[@duckway4733]

Can I make my own extremely overpowered suit from this bike I just found in the junkyard?

[@tommyliu7020]

See, this is Samus keeps losing her power ups at the beginning of each game. These cheap parts just don’t stand up well to rough hits!

[@GTRufus]

This is beyond the capacity the new XboxOne / PS4 offers. So much Detail into every Piece! Every developper would be jealous if they see this masterpiece...

[@felphero]

Hur-dur this is fucking photoshop not real time 3D graphics, it's two completely different things is like saying "wow this photo looks so real PS4 would be jealous of these graphics"

[@Shiggy42]

Holy shit you're an idiot. Yes, every single game developer should be jealous of an artist who creates a static image using photoshop.

[@donatosimmonds7716]

Im surprised my 10 year old computer was able to play this masterpiece.

[@Khazro]

Shiggy42 *Wooosh*

[@davidbandel9203]

wow no shit. i could hear my computer's fan whirring like crazy while looking at this single image. i actually think.. yep. there's a hole in the floor where my computer used to be.. i think it melted its way to the center of the earth.

[@Blitz1Blacktail1]

I actually have to thank you. I remember 5-6 years back looking at your videos thinking I'd never get even close to this level of photo manipulation, but through the course of the years, getting inspired by how you work and, more importantly, understanding how you work, it got me very far in my artistic adventure. Just by watching these videos I actually learned a ton, and I keep getting back to them.

[@HydreigonLillipup]

That was just incredable. I can't even think of what to say.

[@CaptainObvious0000]

i bow to you, sir.

[@JMJackMcNally]

meanwhile I'm in ms paint trying to use the fill tool to make Pangoro have all white fur. gg.

[@GxWatts]

***** GG? XD GOOD GAME XD LOL

[@ihatebobsaget1989]

the music in this game was brilliant. they managed to induce adrenaline and fear through audio alone. Still my favorite game of all time.

[@EricWalker]

Simply the BEST!

[@deusivanioramos799]

ficou muito bom mesmo esse trabalho

[@Eichro]

That particular technique of pasting unrelated images to somehow fit and compose your picture... Does it have a name?

[@TJTownsend]

Not sure what the name would be. I just thought it would make for a really sharp looking poster. And it worked pretty well.

[@Eichro]

TJ Townsend Indeed. And that's why I wanted to find more about the technique, because even with this video I still can't muster how you made Samus out of a bike.

[@therwfer]

Whatever the name is, it's a total mindfuck. Mother Brain is cats and hippos, Samus is motorcycles.

[@VadimHarenco]

It's called "Photobashing". Every artist in the industry uses it in someway nowadays.

[@Eichro]

Thank you. A lot.

[@Hextragonal]

So today I learnt that hippopotamus photos are a great photoshop tools. You learn something new everyday.

[@xoukilong]

14:04 screenshot, wallpaper. Thank you for your amazing artwork

[@JediCardet]

This is insane!!! I am simply blown away. Amazing job.

[@rhythmjack1421]

since am2r has came out, someone please make a super metroid remake of this type of design.

[@AprilElyse]

that would be cool. I'd rather see a brand new Metroid experience though.

[@daryl0063]

Or build a game influenced more like Metroid but have your twist to it ;). Hehe. Gave me some ideas for my game that I am making.

[@drummonkeystuffuk1875]

We dont need a remake, we need a remaster on all platforms!

[@wmafranz]

Ah, you never know when Dumpy Tree Frogs may come in handy, especially when drawing Mother Brain.

[@leodefine86]

Retro Studios is hiring a concept artist probably to work on the new Metroid!!! You should apply for the job!! You are VERY talented!!!

[@KingShade1]

Wow this is a blast from the past! Photoshop CS3 :D It's nice to see the old interface and how everything had to be done manually. Meticulously crafting each and every element, one-by-one. Really shows how much talent you have! It's 2024 now and we're at "Photoshop 2024". Smart Objects and artificial intelligence Prompts... it's like science fiction stuff compared to PSCS3. It'd be cool to see a video update of this using the new Photoshop.

[@MKZDancer]

Your photo manipulation skills are god-like

[@Guilherme-li2il]

Cara, que trabalho incrível!!! Vc é um artista, muito bem feito, parabéns! AWESOME!

[@m0n5a80]

You get my respects for making Samus´ suit, the metroids and even the f*king onion rings realistic, it feels like this could happen in real life! And also, 10:52 Samus sporting her brand new Motorbike Suit.

[@wynnefox]

I wonder how many times the artist did something on the wrong unnamed layer and had to go back later and be like, "Where the heck did I put it?"

[@Metaltails12345]

Watching you put Samus together was utterly badass

[@Nerd7]

Incrível! Parabéns, meu sonho um dia poder jogar esse jogo assim .

[@TheSeanyJC]

Well umm this was so awesome I'm kinda lost for words all I can say is WTF JUST HAPPENED THIS IS FREAKING AMAAAAZING lol but seriously you should be proud it's a remastered master piece.

[@ThomasWagteveld]

Can we expect to maybe see some of your methods of how you work in the future? This is great!

[@TortuousAugur]

Holy Frankenstein! Love how everything is pieced together from random unrelated pictures.

[@msanlop1228]

I just remembered this video existed, watched it as a kid... who knows? 4 years ago? I completed super metroid recently and remembered this video

[@Cyproduction]

Motherbrain is a Cat-Hippo-Crocodile? OMG! *runs*

[@FireHawkX]

this is simply amazing... i want to "play" that version so bad! :P awesome work really!! :)

[@TheJesusteama1]

Muito bom!!! Parabéns pela qualidade do seu trabalho. Haaa! Vim por causa do Max.

[@drumjod]

10 years later, this is still far beyond anything else I've ever seen.

[@Shreddster]

I have had this as my backround on my computer for months now. I'm glad to see who actually created it. it's so badass!

[@stevenzambrano9888]

i always had a dream of nintendo remaling super metroid on the 3ds and know that i see this i wish my dream came true come on nintendo do it for me

[@codymartinson9518]

RESPECT dude. This is excellent. Where can I find the picture online?13:52 Space pirate engineering is so elegant.

[@TJTownsend]

thanks man. deviant art link in description , all my game art is there

[@TheNosScarFace]

+TJ Towsend Amazing work man, looks exactly how i would imagine that picture in HD. Also who remade this music and where can i get that from?

[@afonsocarvalho2695]

Cody Martinson What do you mean "Space Pirate"? That's mother brain

[@kimzee59]

Afonso Carvalho You do realise that Mother Brain is the leader of the space pirates. Most likely, quite a lot of the technology that the space pirates have was created by Mother Brain, so the technology there is technically space pirate technology

[@AshleyTogepi]

But mother brain was created by the chozo, so she herself is chozo technology.

[@rocharox]

Samus Armor is made using bikes... Your argument is invalid!

[@levobertus]

rocharox we should use bikes to exterminate the rising threat of hippos

[@sander7838]

As a child I never saw how much is going on in that picture. Seeing you rebuilding it bit by bit makes me love that game even more. Great remake!

[@stefan33uk]

That feel when you watch a professional and know you've wasted your life. But seriously, you've mastered so many skills! This piece is my desktop background.

[@lazyart9680]

I FOUND YOU AFTER FOUR YEARS

[@TJTownsend]

+LazyArt That's cause i'm the worlds worst marketer HA!

[@DragonKid-ts7sj]

+TJ Townsend I don't know why, but I just find it funny that for the creature in the broken glass you had to use a naked cat, an alligator, a hippopotamus, a brain and a frog for detail! Huh,.... Anyone else? No? Okay.

[@DragonKid-ts7sj]

+DragonKid 1130 AND DONT FORGET ABOUT THOSE DENCHERS!!!

[@DragonKid-ts7sj]

+DragonKid 1130 AND sorry for spam but YOU HAD TO USE MOTORCYCLE AND OTHER TECH PIESES TO BUILD THE ROBOT THINGY! OH THE IRONY!"It is mostly titanium." someone says.OH THE TITANIUM-Y!

[@ddnava96]

It's not a robot. It's a woman in a suit; the Power Suit

[@spikeboy104]

Just... How?

[@cadehancock9938]

RIGHT!?

[@AnimeHumanCoherence]

+Daftdelta 7 Watch the video. That shows how.

[@TheJamacaneseNerd04231996]

I wonder if he could remake Green Hill Zone from Sonic 1

[@CarlosEduardo-kj8bv]

Outro trabalho perfeitamente elaborado, um dos melhores jogos do Snes, meus parabéns, ficou excelente. 👏👏👏💪👌

[@BPond7]

WOW!!! I scarcely have the words to convey how astonishing this piece of work is! My jaw is on the floor! The hours and hours of pure talent, compressed into mere minutes, just floors me! Amazing! Absolutely amazing! 🖖😀

[@XionJamHut]

Who uses Supers to kill Motherbrain?

[@armpitpuncher]

What else would you use? The beam doesn't affect her in the first stage.

[@XionJamHut]

Spam missiles to smash the tube; save the supers for the real fight.

[@armpitpuncher]

I guess I'm used to thinking in terms of speedruns, during which (unless you are going for 100% collection rate) you generally have just enough missiles and super missiles to finish her off in her first form, and no more.

[@itsahatch]

armpitpuncher Glaven glaven

[@Systemsoul]

me! i give it all to her... 50 supers - 250 missels.. and then carge - charge - charge... until hyper

[@adammatlack4667]

This is too good. It makes me wish this were a full game-it's just so good. I envy you from one artist to another. Truly an excellent job, TJ.

[@justindobyns88]

This whole thing blew my mind, but mostly the texture in the fuel gel just perfect!! It looks amazing!

[@usmcwombat]

Super Metroid deserves a next-gen remaster, JUST LIKE THIS. AWESOME!

[@carlossousaoficial599]

Uau, ficou incrível. Parabéns!

[@watiley]

Amigo! Parabéns! Super lindo! Obrigado por esse trabalho. É realmente algo único.

[@saylsen]

I would give so much money to play Super Metroid with this detail.

[@KeiNovak]

It's awesome how you show what the individual pieces originally were. Bike? Hippos? What?! My artist friends really appreciate this.

[@Memory0fAMartyr]

This is how remastered games should be done. You added so much depth and detail, yet the game could still be run and controlled in its pure original form underneath all of these high depth graphics. I am watching this because I am going through my ancient blog, where I had this posted, and enjoyed re-watching it all over again :) Amazing work!!!

[@texannationalist5887]

The detail here is astonishing, I love how you pieced together all those real photos to create all the different objects, it really gives it that "almost real but not quite" kind of feel, and I really like that. And I really appreciate how much thought you put into the lighting. I also find it kind of funny how well the bits of cars and motorcycles fit in as samus's armor

[@asher9152]

I almost did this same thing with Kid Icarus, but the direction of the revamp was harder to decide on. But thank you for showing people just how much work we digital artists go through, hours and hours of work usually for a quick glance. I like all the tech's you used, from the cheesy, to the pro, to using some of the newer CS features and even custom brush's. You ran the gammit from cheap tricks to pro tricks. Bravo. And yes nothing is more fun than having to take random picture and bend them to your will and make them into something it was never inteded for. +1

[@ignaciocatalan6592]

4 years later and i still use this gorgeous pic as a wallpaper

[@mayhemhedgefox]

Words can't describe, how amazed I am right now...

[@arterialtribal]

This is a great artwork! It shows an action scene but it looks somehow relaxing. Like a good painting!

[@DSineBeatzTV]

I can't believe how professional the work is on this!!!! WOW

[@hlyomega6795]

Holy CRAP, dem layers and layers of excellent detailing stacking on each other, NICE!

[@haxic]

Amazing! I love how Samus suite is made of motorbike parts/helmets and computer accessories. Good job.

[@vengermusic]

Awesome work. This is literally the only improvement the game needs. Updated hd visuals and hq sound/music.

[@D2dshnm]

Oh my god...Can we please get a remaster of this game that looks exactly like this?! Dude, that was amazing!

[@Sparkypaws1]

I didn't give this image enough credit when I first saw it, but now it's my screensaver. This is truly amazing! Great work!

[@DaddyStaruwu]

I love watching speed processes like this and seeing the picture come to life

[@SlyBeast]

I don't have the words. What impressed me most is the using of other items and textures to make virtually everything in the picture. My mind just doesn't work that way.

[@sharktoothman11]

I love seeing the images that are put into it haha, like the hippo, cat and alligator in the brain. As well as the woman in the pool when making the liquid

[@RonaldRaiden]

seriously. We need to see this game. that was pure epicness

[@stack3358]

Literally the best use of Photoshop I have ever seen...inspiring!

[@reignjuste]

I would gladly pay to play metroid again with those kind of graphics . Supreme job dude

[@AdolfoWWolf]

The music just makes it a whole lot more epic too, amazing job man, i would love to play a Metroid looking like this, with effects like that, and liquid animations that could reproduce that water feel the poison has in this remastered image. This is pretty much a dream now, but holy shit it would be incredible.

[@scorchmmusic]

that is flipping EPIC! you should more. at first I thought it was just normal screenshot from super metroid, but when it got zoomed in, I was like. "wait, what?"

[@AlexJasso100]

Ingenious!!!! Who knew that you could use real life textures and images to form creatures from video games. Excellent job. If I could I would like this video 1,000,000 times.

[@MrDemBananas]

I love how you made the alien out if brains and animal parts plus with Seamus you used different bike parts so cool

[@toyvania]

The word "amazing" cannot fully describe what you have accomplished here my friend!

[@TheShadowassassin27]

Flawless!!! I would like to see more of that.It makes me wanna learn how to use photoshop now.

[@zenzaiL4D]

This is perhaps the coolest thing I have ever seen. In my life.

[@t41tgjr]

As a Metroid fan this literally made me cry. It was so beautiful that every fan should personally thank this person in person.

[@ghostbusterz]

You built her armor out of motorcycle pieces, holy shit. This is awesome.

[@jeremysylvester1045]

OMG! This is extraordinary! Super Metroid is my all-time favorite game. I can't even imagine the amount of time you put into this and the amazing attention to details with ordinary, everyday objects. Well done! I will be following your work with great interest.

[@glaxion1977]

With the power of photoshop, even Pong can be made to look realistic!

[@EpicToadRage]

Hole-lee-SHIT!!! That was so beautiful it brought a tear to my eye. True talent.

[@capgamer26]

third time i've seen this vid come up. i still enjoy watching it. i'm familiar with how most of this is done but the glass reflections are really good, and the water effects always blow my mind.

[@bob6983]

Yoo this man did every little detail to make it look good! 10 out of 10.👏👏👏

[@BoazAdreal]

Gonna show this to my son. He wants to do art like this when he gets older. It looks really good. Keep up the great work!