Top-Down-RPG Main Character

[TileTamer]

Hi everybody,
im currently working on a top-down-rpg like secret of mana, chronotrigger or the legend of zelda. But since im more of a developer im currently struggling with the art. I'd like to ask you for some Input on my main character, since i dont really like him the way he is now:


http://img3.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/charwip011kte5ziq8u.png
small


http://img3.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/charwip0231c7tdjh4f.png
bigger + sketch


http://img3.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/mlrnewscreen0wl0ym17z6s.png
with some environment

I'm happy about some help regarding the other Sprites and Tiles as well.

lg Tim

[lachrymose]

Can you re-upload everything as .PNG format please?

[TileTamer]

sure, i added a direct link to the first two pics


I darkened the armor today and finished the first Animation

[Kazuya Mochu]

the animation is actually not that bad! but I just dot see the depth of the character. there's hardly any shading oh his body, so its hard to tell what part is what.

I did this es an example. look specially in the hair, where I separate the clumps of hair by shading rather than by creating an outline

[TileTamer]

Hi Kazuya, thank you very much. The OP you did there looks totally awesome! I'll try to apply as much of it as i can.

[Kazuya Mochu]

I don't know what OP means in pixelation terms

[TileTamer]

by op i meant overpaint. read that a couple of times in an other art forum, im not sure if this is realy a thing though
what i meant was that i really liked the additions you made to my sprite.

i tried to improve mine accordingly:


i feel like, even though it's not perfect yet, it already improved a lot, so thank you again

[Kazuya Mochu]

Oh ok. I'm more familiar with the term "edit"

please not that the bright grey I added on your sprite was meant to be a highlight, not a decoration.
that was the gold bit, and I did that only to accentuate the shape of the armour. The grey bits should chance their value according to their position during the animation.

[TileTamer]

yes i realy liked the golden decoration, but it doesnt fit the character story wise, so i thought I could just use a lighter grey to get that nice feel of texture.
The problem i have right now with the shadows on the armor is that im not sure where the light is coming from. On my first sprite i randomly chose top-lef. but now it feels like its coming from bottom/south and slightly from the left. not sure though...
I find the armor in general surprisingly hard to get right.

Edit:
i made a purple version now its currently my favorite