Hill Top Zone

Well, I did think it would look far too busy when you originally posted it up. But in the mockup I reckon it actually looks pretty cool (and fun, or something)! I'm all for these kinds of extra details to liven up the zone a bit (I do think Hill Top needs it).

 

I honestly prefer the non-checkered pole. As someone said, the checkers kind of hinder the volume. If any details are added, I don't think the checkers will do.

 

I like the one without the checker pattern. You guys love adding those checker patterns every chance you get huh (tree trunks, posts, the special stages, although that looked kinda cool).

Also I like Ross-Irving's tree. Obviously it's a mock up but if finished in the same style shading that the game has it could look very nice. It's a bit more unique than just a cylindrical trunk, and the leaves use some decent shading. I'd like to see that one worked on personally. I like that type of reimagining, adding checker patterns to everything doesn't quite count though.

And personally I'd like to see what the game looked like with that sort of style. I like the sort of messy painting feel your hill top art has and it'd look great for scenery. It'd be cool for the characters too but for those one shouldn't stray too far away from concept art and original drawings, at least not for a project like this

 

Yeah, except that we've got to stick to the style of art we've already got. A more paintily style just wouldn't look right amongst all the sharp vector art. As pretty as it is (anyway, it was obviously like that because it was quick concept art).

As for checker patterns - no one said they'd be used on everything they've been tried on (if any at all), but you've got to have a consistency to the level art. You also can't go too far from the original look. Checker patterns just seem like a very simple way to liven things up in an otherwise (in my opinion) rather bland zone. Not to mention it's oh so "Sonic"... There's no harm in trying them on things to see how they look. Doesn't quite "count"? Not sure what that's supposed to mean.

 

Oh I'm not saying change everything you have I just think it's a direction for some sort of project like this that'd be rather interesting

 

What about a lower contrast on the checkboard pattern? (Sorry for the cruddy Photoshop)

 

Well I suppose if it were subtle and well thought out it could work. It would have to be reasonably consistent then though, and other things would need to reflect that same style a bit.

(I do agree, the look is nice)

 

I like the vines, but the vine portion of the knot-part does not line up correctly. Maybe my arrows don't help much, the right image pretty much speaks for itself though.

 

Did you even read Ross' post or did you just skim by and go "lol". He was posting an example about using warm shadows. Never did he suggest for people to use an entirely different art style.

 

He was more referring to my post where I said a project like this would look good in a sort of paint style. Yes Ross had a completely different point in his post

 

I'm not going to bother answering the first part... The style of shading itself is a very different style of shading to that already being used is it not? Well to that extreme at least. I can see some subtle changes in colour in some of the final pieces. Actually, I will answer that... no I didn't just "skim by and go lol", as most of his concepts actually look really good for a few quick concept drawings. I just wonder whether the colours would fit in amongst the style of shading already settled upon in the other artwork (is it monochromatic shading or something? I'm not really up with my art terms).

 

I like this one.

 

Perhaps someone can answer this question. Is the post supposed to be the same blue color as the blue ground? To me the ground looks more grey, and perhaps slightly yellow. Are the intended colors of the HD pieces created supposed to reflect the original palette? If it is intended to reflect the same palette, then the posts need to have their colors slightly tinted to match the ground color.

 

Yeah, the blocks are the same color as the originals, so I guess that blue on the post should be toned down a bit.

 

Okay, I'm gonna show it again, as the checkers look surprisingly different and better imo.

 

Care to post those revised objects with the background and ground?

 

Not that it matters a whole lot (if it's just me), but I really liked that slightly different and more vibrant blue. It looked really nice against the sky and set against the cliffs in the background. And it wasn't that different that it looked out of place compared to the original. Just made the scene a little more interesting to my eyes.

 

To me both of the blue posts look flat instead of cylindrical, especially compared to the rock in the background.