GrafX2 all the way 

In fact, I first found the program, then started using it, and THEN I got interested in pixel art. You know, I like reading magazines starting at the last page 

Only recently (months) did I find out that there was a BRAND NEW!!! (at least for me ) windows version.

I was still using the discontinued MS-DOS version. It's lovely, but having it around in a window instead of weird resolution full screen rly halpz.

Hey, what the fuck, this emoticon set is one smoking emoticon short of complete awesome.

You'd rather check as soon as possible that this particular anatomy doesn't get in the way of the intended gameplay : Such character can't dodge a punch by crouching. He can't bend his head forward (after getting kicked in the shins for example) without causing a serious headbutt
You can expect it limits you to rather vertical stiff poses, and the characters need to be physically very close for their hits to connect, much like River City Ransom (NES).

Ummm, sorry, but I have to disagree! 

Not completely, though. The head is really, in truth, XBOX HUEG, but remember: cartoons can do anything!

It isn't realistic to begin with, so what matters if the movements aren't realist either? Think Cow&Chicken or something similar, it doesn't matter if you make him strech his arms a bit or whatever. Hell, just think JoJo's Bizarre Adventures! (my f god, is that game awesome!)

About the head when crouching, all you have to do is *not* give the head a red hit box 

Making the art more realistic is indeed one answer for the question, but the other one is to make the action more cartoony.

I think your characters are great man, lots of variation and cool designs.
If I were you I would really try to fix alot of the noise you have going on.
With smaller sprites maybe you should sacrifice some of the details such as on the blue haired thing and go for patches of colour instead of single lines - that would also help focus the eye important details like the faces.
As I think other people have mentioned, you should lose the dithering on the capes and stuff.
Colours could definetely use some tweaking too.

Wow thanks, yes, I always try to give them dynamic poses, expression and whatnot. The noise is probably the aspect I have less experience with.

The dithering is awful - it's mostly on the dwarves, fortunately. I made them first of all, and obviously the style I'm using hadn't settled yet - that came with humans and the undead. I've already reworked one of the dwarves, the engineer-ish looking one (it was uglier before). The problem is that I find more urgent making new sprites than renewing the "old" ones - but I'll get to it eventually, every now and then I do some little tweaking.

About the colors, do you mean the palette, or the color choices? Or both? Mixing colors has never been one of my strengths in traditional media, either 
What do you suggest?

Is it too much to ask of you to tell me what are, in your eyes, the worst and best sprites and why?

Moar!!

A lot more wall sections, and floor tiles!


And a mockup:

Problem is, the undead critters don't stand out much against the bone background... and I wasn't planning on using outlines 

The second one looks very nice, the palette gives it a grim look (it's quite cold and whatnot)

Edited the sword and hand, added some outlines, and tried a cleaner approach on the shirt and pants. The goal is to use him as the main character in a game, but we'll see where that ends up.

Please, critique and comments are very welcome! How's the palette working out for example?