Say it with me, kids: Don't Use Bases!

Wait what is wrong with Sprite Bases? Of course there is something that could be said about strict adherence to a sprite base and certain character may require the base to be tweaked or changed entirely but is there really anything wrong with using a sprite base to get a uniform look to the character sprites especially if you plan to have a customizable main character?

Or is this more a criticism along the lines of "don't use sprite bases you did not create yourself"?

I am not qualified to talk about animation, but I can't agree with the head's shading, is the light coming from directly the front of the character? That doesn't seem to be the case from the rest of the body. Removing the darker shade from the top of the head would surely improve it, the head shading should be minimal on the back of the head and fuse with the outline of the top part.

Yeah you are absolutely right, don't know what I was thinking there, the light source is supposed to be somewhat more neutral coming from the top front. I don't think I was too bothered with it however because that is just the sprite base and that part of the head will probably be covered up by hair on most characters.

Ok I think I fixed a few of the problems though any further critiques would be greatly appreciated.

Yeah I know what you mean, guess I got a bit lazy with the walk cycle hoping I could get away with the standing pose for the middle of the walk cycle but I do notice the shuffle effect. Is this somewhat closer to the mark?



Also any critiques on the sprites themselves? Not entirely thrilled with the side view for the female sprite but not sure how to change it.

So I made these ghostly weapons for a client, and I can't help but feel like the bow is vaguely sexual. Do you guys get it too? Should I change it? Or am I just imagining things?

I would say it depends on what you are going for, to be honest I am not sure what these sprites are going to be used for, are they icons to be used in some sort of menu or disembodied spirits floating around the scene? The only thing I can suggest is maybe reducing the movement on the arrow, having the bow and arrow in more of a relaxed stance as if looking for targets then stringing it all the way back when it is ready to fire on a target.