In terms of differences.  Your version's eyes are different from the original-- I'd say your's eyes are better.  The angle of both sprites differ slightly: your version's right arm is more visible and to the side than the original.  The color choice on your version is weak compared to the som sprite, as it as more contrast between the highlights and shadows...I think you should highlight the metal on your's more.  Also, if you want to get technical, the version you made has a wider head....but that said, I prefer the hair on yours over the som one.

In terms of ethics.  Only you truly know the truth to the sprite, and if it's as you say it is, more power to you (make a lot of people look like jerks).  But if you take personal offence to the way you've been "attacked" or w/e, you should try to take it a bit more lightly; this is a critique forum, and it's our job here to jump and point things out.  I personally don't have anything against emulation of style (you could argue that all art is theft), and I feel that there's no better way to learn than copying somebody of higher skill than you, but perhaps with your next pieces, you could experiment and try to discover your own style.

Thanks for the critique, I'll consider what you said if I get around to making any changes to this...the responses have sort of made me want to discard it.

Yeah, I understand I did get a bit defensive, but it just annoys me when a sprite for which I laid down every pixel individually is written off as an edit. Sort of cheapens the effort, especially since I was straight up and honest about what I was trying to achieve with this one little 21x32 project. Nevertheless, points noted. I'll branch out more with my next sprite and try to get out of my comfort zone.

It's amazing to me that you are operating within this mindset.

How so? I set out to make an SD3 sprite. I wasn't looking to win any points for originality with this one, it was just a bit of fun.

There is a difference between "inspired by" and "edited."  Here is a mask of places where your pixel work matches the original sprite exactly (or has been shifted by a single pixel in some instances):



The bulk of the feet were simply copied, but there are clearly areas where the face, leg, and shoulder were not fully edited away from the original either.  Also, the following palette similarities:

1 outline color
4 hair colors
3 base clothing colors
3 skin colors

Your palette differs only in that the original has a block of 4 armor colors, whereas you share that block between armor highlight and belt colors.  From what I have seen around here, sprites "inspired" by other games rarely share exact blocks of pixels or identical palette layouts.

The only reason I am going to all the trouble to point this stuff out is your edit of the sprite has changed it for the worse.  Without understanding the basics of color theory, painting and pixel art, sprite editing will not be able to teach you anything.  Study, practice, and make your own sprites; it is the only way you are going to be able to improve!

The sprite is not an edit. All that was used was a reference. The ONLY common color is R24B24G24, which is a recurrent shadow color throughout the whole SD3 game and which I used to ensure consistency with other sprites if it were placed on an SD3-esque color set.

Eh, it is true that I had a bit of trouble with the feet, but I think you'll find they're the only part of the sprite close to the originals. Very difficult to perfect. I took quite a bit of creative liberty with the arms, hair, face, and colour choice, however.