Levels & Items Art

<!--quoteo(post=191637:date=Apr 29 2008, 04:29 AM:name=Ripter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ripter @ Apr 29 2008, 04:29 AM) </a>[/quote]
As far as I'm aware, the yellow/black part (which you have red) is the bottom piece of a light bulb. (the cap?) So it shouldn't be curved.

Anyway. Hi. I've been working on spiker (tsun-tsun) from Hill Top Zone:

WIP, not finished, bla bla bla. etc, etc...

I'm sure I have some things wrong though. Like his legs. As I'm basing it of both the sprite as of the illustration. But hey, let me know what you think!

 

:0

Awesome! Though I wonder, how are you going to animate it? Flipping it back and fourth like the original won't look right.

Edit: The eyes don't look quite right...

 

Hey all, new guy here. This project is looking awesome and I thought I'd try to help out with it if I could. Here's my attempt at a round pinball bumper from Casino Night Zone:



I realized after I finished that it's probably way too small, so I'll have to make it bigger I'm sure. Any other helpful criticism would be appreciated.

 

Not bad, but what about making it look more rounded/glassy:

 

Now that actually looks like a bumper!

 

Ooh, nice touch. I think I'll work on it a bit more and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the advice.

 

I like how this little guy is coming along *tickles its chin*. Here's my feedback:

- The general gradient for this badnik is excessive. I counted the colours to be 1244. Blue Streak's spikes for example are 190 colours.
- Manual shading should be used where possible.
- I think the gradient on his black shell especially is excessive. The shine I think ought to be only at the top right, as per the original sprite, rather than across the whole shell.
- His black shell ought to be jet black as opposed to grey (this is a problem again with the gradient).
- Gradient on the eyes seems a tad excessive too, try to go for manual shading.
- Antennas ought to be thicker, yellower and shorter as per the original sprite.
- The chin part's shape needs a little fixing and it should be yellow and black as per the original sprite.
- The shell should extend over the top of the head as per the original sprite.
- The black pupils seem a tad too large in comparison to the original sprite, I think they should be smaller

Overall, the shape isn't too bad, quite a few changes are needed but it has potential, thank you for the contribution.

 

What about dithered gradients for some things? There are some cases of dithered gradients in Sonic 2 I think. Obviously it should be a case-by-case basis.

 

Some nice work being work done here, but somethings I think we should step back and deconstruct and not base everything off the sprites alone.
For example, the Hill top spike head badnik looks like it's getting off to a great start, but it doesn't look metallic.
I would suggest doing a quick google search of metal, just to look at how it picks up/reflects light, how scratches effect the surface etc, specular behavior etc,etc.

I'm not saying that Sonic 2 HD should suddenly become hyper realistic, but I do think that these lessons can be applied to the artwork behind it.

As a games artist in training, I was always encouaraged to think beyond the artwork I.e why is something/a detail there, how would it age, how would it behave in it's world (visually I mean).


I'm not trying to get all yoda on everybody just wanted to share thoughts.

 

Gradients actually looked like solid colors on the TV, so please don't use gradients.

About the badnik... I wouldn't put rectangles as his pupils. And I agree that his "jaw" looks like part of the lightbulb, even though it's in the wrong position. I had never noticed till now.

 

<!--quoteo(post=191637:date=Apr 28 2008, 10:29 PM:name=Ripter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ripter @ Apr 28 2008, 10:29 PM) </a>[/quote]

That part you made red, under the head is part of the light bulb I think.

The part in red, is what I think it is.

 

<!--quoteo(post=191644:date=Apr 28 2008, 10:11 PM:name=Metal-Geo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Metal-Geo @ Apr 28 2008, 10:11 PM)
WIP, not finished, bla bla bla. etc, etc...

I'm sure I have some things wrong though. Like his legs. As I'm basing it of both the sprite as of the illustration. But hey, let me know what you think![/quote]
- The eyes look a bit wrong. You should try drawing the fire orbinaut without the spiky "hat", first.
-The spikes don't seem to have perspective, and they lack their shadows against the cone.
-Those gradients don't look too good.
-There's some shines missing.
-The red thing in front seems to be at a different place.
-The lines across the spiky cone are a bit out of perspective. They look a bit different than the original:

 

I'm not sure how that relates to what I am saying, aside from re-affirming the need for a cohesive style. I think you may misunderstand me when I say we should look at reference; I don't mean to say that the badniks need to be photo realistic, I just mean to say that with the HD resolution size, there should be room for some creative freedom.
I'm merely trying to encouarge the idea of taking what has been done and improving it, applying some logic to take the artwork to the next level.
Take for example, the original Sonic 2 hoax image. On Robotnik's walker, there is added panelling and some more wear and tear (I.e edges and the like).
That idea of taking what's been established and pushing to 11 is exactly what the project needs!

Otherwise the whole idea of literally remaking Sonic 2 in HD is more of a process then a creative output.

Also, I understand that the Badnik is Wip, I'm not meaning to jump down anyones trhoat, so keep plugging away!

(By the way if I misunderstood you then apologies for the speech, as you can tell I'm very interested in the project!)

 

I agree, measures should be taken. Though that said, I do think the artwork shouldnt be flatshaded to the point where it looks flat. I
It should have volume, like the original does.

 

Hah, I had no idea how many colors my spikes had. Thanks for counting!