Thanks for all the comments!

Filax_666: i tried adding some movement to the legs, but it seemed too exagerate given the small size of the sprite (since wrinkles look to big, and the legs don't move that much when one's breathing). I did give a go at the head movement, though (see below).

crab2selout.png: Thanks for the kind words . At this size, i came to the conclusion that motion would have to be pretty much with buffer shading and subtle transitions. I've played Metroid only for a while before, but i'll check out the sprites to see what they did over there. Interesting that you say that the idle anim won't be seen that much, i had a different point of view (but i usually stop and admire the animations in games, marvelling at how pretty the colors are. And then i catch a bullet.)

Firefly and Crazy Asian Gamer: see below.

Original - Head bob 1px up - Sub pixel head movement

     

I see where you're coming from with the head movement idea, and if it were a larger sprite i'd definitely apply it, but at this size, i think even a subtle movement in that area doesn't work very well. I still prefer the original version, i think i'll keep it.

Thanks for all the help people. Working on a run cicle now, will post a wip soon.

Here's the idle animation (while not holding weapons). Over/underdone? Moar frames? Remember, it's going to be seen at about 300% in the end, zoom in a coupl'a times.

Oh cool, you edited the dude! Thanks for the pointers!
Regarding the palette change, yours is in fact better for a more neutral ambient color, like daylight with a bluish sky tint, but i was going for a yellow tint on purpose, for a "hot desert" feel, hinting at sundown. So i'll keep the original one.
Nice changes on the anatomy on the arms and legs (thicker arms and all). I'll use them, except for the left leg, keeps him more "dynamic" with legs apart. Nice job on the boots too, i was struggling with that and you solved it . On the torso, your edit suggests a body armor (which makes a lot of sense, but oddly i hadn't yet thought of it), and looks really good, but he's supposed to be wearing a normal shirt. I'll definitely use it if i get him some armor (but i'm thinking more along the lines of a "load bearing vest" ala Solid Snake).

NU 1:

Xion Night - right on the money! I was going for a "Flashback" type of sprite, with a "realistic" look, but without all the rotoscoping. The game itself will borrow heavily from Flashback, Metal Slug and Metal Gear Solid (though simpler, of course). So i'd prefer to keep the versions without the outline, unless people prefer the outlined ones (that way, the look will go more the way of Blackthorne, heh). Otherwise, i'd already have gone all crazy adding bulk to his upper body .
btw, I tried your suggestions, but it looks better as it is with the foot and arm.

Another two versions, one with a smoother selout, and another in a shorter but bulkier version.

New selout:

New steroids:

All together now:

NEW NEW

P.S: goddamn graphics gale and its transparencies argh