Incredible 'Witcher 3' cosplayer is our new hero
Cosplay tends to bleed together if you're just glancing at it on the internet. But Elena Samko's renditions of The Witcher 3's creatures and characters are absolutely jaw-dropping. They're practically unbelievable.
A lot of work goes into just about any piece of cosplay. But Samko stands out for the sheer variety of looks she seamlessly pulls off. From a Noonwraith, to a Succubus, and even Geralt himself, she appears to almost exclusively use practical makeup, costumes, and effects to transform herself into these otherworldly virtual beings.
Aside from her astoundingly impressive photos, Samko also sounds like one of the raddest cosplay personalities I've ever come across.
"I am one of the most unusual cosplayers in world," she writes on her Facebook page. "I can be ugly. I can be sexy. The man, a monster, an alien ... I do not care, I can be anyone."
Sllllllaaaaay, girl! Literally -- this girl looks like she could slay any Witcher who crossed her path.
Just look at a small sample of her artwork based on The Witcher 3, which is her favorite game:
Amazingly, Samko creates every costume and prop on her own, while also doing all the makeup herself. "And all of this is my hobby! I didn't study it anywhere," her profile reads.
And if you're doubtful about whether these looks were accomplished mostly through practical effects rather than photoshop, she's got plenty of proof to demonstrate her elaborate process. Her Youtube Channel includes a few videos with step-by-step guides for her Witcher cosplays. The Deviant Art posts (linked above) show behind-the-scenes pictures for many of the looks. too.
Also, because this is only a hobby, Samko relies on donations through Patreon to pull off these incredible feats. So be sure to support her if you enjoy it!
Topics Gaming
Jess is an LA-based culture critic who covers intimacy in the digital age, from sex and relationship to weed and all media (tv, games, film, the web). Previously associate editor at Kill Screen, you can also find her words on Vice, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Vox, and others. She is a Brazilian-Swiss American immigrant with a love for all things weird and magical.
