Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: TomF on October 01, 2008, 07:56:34 am

Title: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: TomF on October 01, 2008, 07:56:34 am
Well, this was done a while ago for a pixel joint weekly challenge. Looking back I kinda rushed the piece and I wanted to take some time to get it done the way it should have.

So here's the old one for comparison
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/soulreaver2d.png)

And the new work in progress:
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/reaver2dnew.png)

I've mainly been working on the tiles, haven't touch raziel or the enemy yet. I'm not sure if I should go with a lighter background like in the original.  ???
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: monteboyd on October 01, 2008, 01:37:51 pm
Soul Reaver is one of my favourite games and I'm loving these!

I'd say yes, go for a lighter background but maybe desaturate a bit to give more of the misty/foggy green feel, rather than looking like moutains fading into a green sky. I would definitely buy a 2D Soul Reaver if it looked like this!
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: robotacon on October 01, 2008, 07:22:11 pm
I love Soul Reaver and your mock-ups are amazing. Spot on!

The shadow realm mechanics would work great in a platform environment.

*I need to get my Dreamcast back from my brother*
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: tocky on October 02, 2008, 01:45:12 am
I think that enemy needs different colours so that he shows up against the new background, or change the background slightly so he pops out.

I liked a lot of the stuff you took out, too - the layered background, the full black in the foreground. As it is now, there's not enough contrast between different layers of depth.
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: TomF on October 02, 2008, 09:45:10 am
Hey guys thanks for the replies. Only a few tiny updates. I just cant decide on a lighter or darker background, woe is me!  :'(

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/sr_dark.png)   (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/sr_light.png)

I like the lighter background but the tiles don't sit well on it.
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: monteboyd on October 02, 2008, 10:23:09 am
I prefer the green in the original - to match the colour of the spectral realm more. Made a really quick colour edit just on the background, hope you don't mind:

(http://www.monteboyd.com/sr2d_edit.gif)

Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: TomF on October 07, 2008, 10:06:35 pm
Okay, I think I'm nearly done with this.

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/revermaybedone.png)

The gargoyle thing is inspired by Helms lovely revision of the SOTB statue as seen in this thread (http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=2344.0).
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: LMR on October 07, 2008, 10:37:13 pm
Okay, I think I'm nearly done with this.

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/revermaybedone.png)

The gargoyle thing is inspired by Helms lovely revision of the SOTB statue as seen in this thread (http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=2344.0).
That flag doesn't really fit in the image imo, but otherwise really amazing work!  :)
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: tehwexxl0rz on October 08, 2008, 02:37:51 am
It seems to me that the water should be shinier and just generally more wet-looking. Also, there's a level of detail clash with the enemy and everything else. He could be an NES sprite! Another color on his skin ramp would solve this, I think, and allow you to inject more detail.

Despite these minor quips, really great work! Love the tiles. :y:
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: Gizmonicgamer on October 08, 2008, 03:59:54 am
Looks amazing - my only complaints would be the character/enemy sprites, and the water. The two character sprites are lacking detail - making, particularly Kain, look awkwardly done around the outline and torso regions. Adding another color and fixing up the shading slightly could fix the problem.

As for the water, it looks too gelatinous to me. More like mud or goo then water.
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: Helm on October 08, 2008, 09:13:01 am
You have a knack for making playable-looking game world, congrats. Small edit to show three things

(http://www.locustleaves.com/revermaybedone.png)

Go the extra mile on softening/realizing the background, it really will help immersion. Soft will also separate better from hard in the foreground.

The water needs a brighter top surface.

And a way to get the flag to seem more part of the screen is to use colors of the tileset on it. It's not just a tidy idea, it's also good for getting everything to look as if it belongs.

Good luck with finishing this project!
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: TomF on October 08, 2008, 07:26:19 pm
LMR, tehwexxl0rz, Gizmonicgamer and Helm especially, thanks for the crits.  :) I tried to address all of them.

I'm becoming a little tired of it, so I think I'm calling it done for now.

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tfilhol/reaverdone2.png)
Title: Re: Soul Reaver 2D
Post by: Dex on October 08, 2008, 08:59:02 pm
Quite the beauty! It's come a long way. The monster is better, too. I think the green and white energy(?) thing at the bottom could be aaed better, but this is still really nice.