[WIP] Side-Scroller

[japez]

This is a WIP of a recent online-sidescroller that i'm making. Its still WIP and i know it needs some work.
The character sprites are suppose to look non-human if anyone is wondering. The gradient is just for WIP because i can't be bothering doing the dithered sky just of yet.

[mozzy]

I assume that its an ocean in the background. Right now it looks more like a long wall.
Here's a good reference (by Blackbeltdude):

It gets darker and less detailed the further back it goes.

[JJ Naas]

It gets darker and less detailed the further back it goes.

It gets darker when seen from the shore as it gets deeper and the bottom reflects less ligt coming from above but out in the open sea it won't. A sunset doesn't reflect light from the bottom either due to the angle. I agree that textures might make it look more water-like.

[slym]

Very nice, although when the sprite is facing to the right, you have the depth off a bit.



Great job!

[Shiny]

One thing that's apparent to me is that the characters look off-balance, as if they're leaning backwards.
Also, the outlines on the rocks along the top edge of the platforms seem much too harsh in contrast with those that are below them.
I like the clouds .

[ndchristie]

the platforms will need much higher priority than that in-game I think, right now they really disappear into the environment.

[japez]

Hmm, I tried the water. I don't think it turned out too good. Too grainy or too distracting for a background. Any suggestions?

[ndchristie]

try blending fewer shades in an area, with more straight shots and fewer ditty-dotties, and make the marks in the foreground longest while fading the marks in the background to flat?

some sense of waves might not hurt either.  THis is just a quick smear, but something like this motion worked up nice with your other two colors could do well by you:

[Reo]

I reqognise that pallete http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/42134.htm
Doesn't really matter but a mention would have been nice cause it looks like this has been based off my little mage, again Doesn't really matter but asking before is always nice 
Anyway this looks quite good but the character has different sized legs.
 I like the background.

[Mathias]

I hope you plan to spice up that player character, he's mighty borin'. I agree with the priority issue. If you're not married to the palette I'd trying using different colors for  the bg as you use in fg. Or even if you don't want to deviate, try different color treatments to distinguish bg from fg.