What are some amazing background artists or games with stunning BGs?

[AdamTierney]

I know everyone loves Henk, and I'm a huge Boktai fan. Anyone else got any links to beautiful-looking pixel background artwork, hobby or professional? I've been trying to study BG pixel composition and tiling lately.

[ptoing]

The older (as in still SNK not playmore) Neogeo stuff has often ace backgrounds.

Metalslug and Braveblade 2 have wickedly nice backgrounds. Tho all Neogeo stuff is not tiled in tiles as such, more like strips. As far as background compositions goes I think looking outside of pixelart to traditional/classical art would be a good idea as well.

[.TakaM]

first game I think of, well series; is the donkey kong country series.
they had some awesome backgrounds with tons of parallax layers, and then they had lots of cool effects like mode7 sun rays shining through the trees.
I doubt any of it was hand pixelled, but you can still look at it for its composition.

I'll just post some random snes screenshots:




and you can check out the backgrounds for street fighter third strike here:
http://www.newwavemugen.com/~zweifuss/backgrounds.htm

[Conzeit]

They're kinda the obvious ones, but...


Earth Worm Jim
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/baybaybom/Map-4PeteSake.png
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/baybaybom/Map-Buttville.png
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/baybaybom/Map-WtHECK.png
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/baybaybom/Map-snotaproblem.png
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/baybaybom/Map-NewJunk.png

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night






Metal Slug
http://www.mslugdb.com/main/gallery/sprites/bg.html
http://www.emu-zone.org/www3/host/emugif/picture0320/ms/stage/index.htm

EDIT: thanks to the recent "gameboy demakes" activity I found out about a game called
"Trip world", that has pretty damn good composition for the restrictions, the levels are so well designed almost every other screen has a new background feature. I happen to have just made a screenshot recopilation (could make a "let's play" out of this =o) so check that out
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b340/baybaybom/gbc-1.gif here are random GB games...*shrug* might come in handy

And a general look around

http://www.vgmaps.com/

couldnt hurt

And adam....I think the info around here on tiling and composition is quite poor, so PLEASE if you find out anything let us in on the info =o

[sharprm]

I like defender of the crown's sword fight bg:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/defender-of-the-crown/screenshots

[Soup]

Sword of Mana (is that what it's called?) Has some nice look backgrounds.

[Kren]

Sword of mana 3 has the best backgrounds.

hmm I was wondering how did they did those effects in the Chrono Trigger ones? mostly the river waterfall shot.

[Sherman Gill]

Sword of mana 3 has the best backgrounds.

I think you mean Secret.
Sword of Mana was a GBA game.

[Jad]

Yeah, although in that case he means 'Seiken Densetsu 3'

or 'Secret of Mana 2' as it would probably have been called if released in the US

Secret of Mana was released as Seiken Densetsu 2 in Japan.

Or maybe he knows japanese for some reason and knows that Seiken Densetsu means 'Legend of the holy sword' and confuses 'legendary sword' with 'sword of mana' and whatnot

Probably not!