Topic: Spritework Request & Showcase Thread

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I'm debating if I should give him the MultiDirectional whip... technically he didn't have this ability in Simon's Quest...
I could also go for broke and add the standard animations for Metroidvanias... that's... let's see:

Dodge (hee, I can probably make him backflip, but I did make a Dodge for CV4 Simon so I could just do a backdash-style one)
DoubleJump
SuperJump
ItemCrush
Death in the Air
Death in the Ground (Classic, haven't done it yet)
...or something else.

I think I will replace the 'rib' shield with just a forcefield that appears if he gets hit by a projectile whilst having the Rib item equipped.  It's never made a lot of sense to me to see him with a Shield.

Right now my CV2 Simon Belmont has a grand total of 73 animation frames.

I could also give him a Counter/Guard animation, but I haven't thought it through yet.

RIGHT NOW THOUGH he just needs the following:
-stairsup-frontleg-getting hit
-stairsup-backleg-getting hit
-stairsdown-frontleg-getting hit
-stairsdown-backleg-getting hit
-death (classic)
-damage knockback
-subweapon animation (replace the final frames of the whipping animation with a slightly different version; easy peasy)

Rondo had a "gettinghit while crouching" and "getting hit by a minor attack-no knockback" set of sprites too.  I might make those.

[Claimh Solais]

That sounds really interesting. If  you did make those, then someone could probably make a fluid Metroidvania version of CV1 or CV2.

Multi-directional whip is cool, but you should probably limit it to him whipping down-forward and downward like in Chronicles. (His CVC appearance WAS based on his Simon's Quest outfit anyway).

I think the CV4 Simon in the banner should be replaced by yours. Yours is tons cooler.

[darkmanx_429]

Can I haz critique? (Don't steal. I trust all of you that you won't. )




Trevor sprites by Serio and me.
Colored Richter in corner by me.
SotN Richter by Serio.
Hector by Arukado.

I also agree not enough colors, but design wise the costume is on point! With some more sprites for the animation this could be outstanding!

[Claimh Solais]

I also agree not enough colors, but design wise the costume is on point! With some more sprites for the animation this could be outstanding!

I'd add more colors if I could, but I'm not good with palettes. For almost every sprite project, I get permission from someone else to use their palettes. I've never been good with colors. D:

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

That's a shame, Solais.  You only get good with practice.
Once you get good with color usage, you can really make your characters pop.

One of the things in sprite art creation that one must be aware of, is that your character is going to be always within a game's backdrops.  You take into account the backdrops of the game as you create the character, so that he or she is versatile no matter what background is in there, as well as the style of said backdrop.  CoDTrevor's colors are fine... in that they match the artwork.  However, if you put him in a game like, say, Rondo of Blood (just as an example), you'll notice he will not be as noticeable as the backgrounds in the game, since the backgrounds use vibrant colors with high contrasts, while he uses the subdued low-contrast colors of the artwork.  As such, I suggest you turn his color contrast up.  If he's got grays, make them brighter grays.  If he's got a secondary color like a green, then make sure the grays and the greens have contrast.  This will make the character pop out more.

This is one of the reasons my CV2 Simon looks a little weird; he's using the box art's colors.  In reality, when he gets placed into a game, his color palette will have to be altered so that it matches the type of game it is.  If it's a dark atmosphere game like, say, DraculaXX (the SNES one in stages like the Clock Tower), then Simon's palette will have to be toned down so that it's not as poppy as it is now.  If my CV2 Simon were thrown into Rondo of Blood or the DS titles (or Harmony of Despair), I think his current palette would fare well, as those games use brighter palettes for the backgrounds.

Oh, speaking of my CV2 Simon, he can whip in the upper directions now.

[Inccubus]

To be honest the way the hands are positioned for the upper and diagonal animations look a little awkward. Looks good otherwise.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Yeah I think he needs a whip in his hand in order for those animations to look better.  He's got more frames than CV4 Simon (whom only uses three for diagonal whipping and upper whipping).

I should post something with a chainwhip to showcase better.

[Inccubus]

I'm more referring to how the upper looks like the palm of this hand is facing his... uh... face. And how the diagonal looks more like he's thrusting rather than whipping.

[Claimh Solais]

That's a shame, Solais.  You only get good with practice.
Once you get good with color usage, you can really make your characters pop.

One of the things in sprite art creation that one must be aware of, is that your character is going to be always within a game's backdrops.  You take into account the backdrops of the game as you create the character, so that he or she is versatile no matter what background is in there, as well as the style of said backdrop.  CoDTrevor's colors are fine... in that they match the artwork.  However, if you put him in a game like, say, Rondo of Blood (just as an example), you'll notice he will not be as noticeable as the backgrounds in the game, since the backgrounds use vibrant colors with high contrasts, while he uses the subdued low-contrast colors of the artwork.  As such, I suggest you turn his color contrast up.  If he's got grays, make them brighter grays.  If he's got a secondary color like a green, then make sure the grays and the greens have contrast.  This will make the character pop out more.

I'm working on palettes. I've tried making a few sprites using my own palettes. My biggest problem is just selecting colors that blend well. Once I finish the sprites, I'll experiment with Paint.NET to see if I can make a brighter palette. Of course, Serio's game generally uses dark and broody backgrounds, so he might fit in well. Dark and broody are the types of games I'm going for, too.

And yeah, the upward whipping animations look like he's thrusting his fist into the air. It's not as noticeable on the straight-up one.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I think that, once you put the context of the whip's location & placement, the animations make perfect sense.
They look odd only because there isn't a whip in his hand.

Perhaps this should help:




Excuse the rather crude action whip, but I needed it for context.  I took his CV4 Whip and added a few custom frames.

[Inccubus]

The boot looks like it's glowing for one frame. Does, look better with the whip in there, though, I have to admit.

[Claimh Solais]

Oh wow. It does look good once there's a whip in there.

Speaking of which, I have to ask, do you have a full sheet with all three whips from Super Castlevania IV? I could really use those (I'm aware Whip 2 and 3 are the same, with 3 being longer).

[Aridale]

nice I like that custom swoosh frame in there

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

The boot looks like it's glowing for one frame. Does, look better with the whip in there, though, I have to admit.

Yes, there's one frame in which the foot is slightly bent toward, so since my boots are more like greaves, there'd be a little extra sheen in there.  I might edit it though.

nice I like that custom swoosh frame in there

I only added it to prove a point, but yeah, Fake Trevor has a similar one (only it's got a gradient of colors and is translucent).

Oh wow. It does look good once there's a whip in there.

Speaking of which, I have to ask, do you have a full sheet with all three whips from Super Castlevania IV? I could really use those (I'm aware Whip 2 and 3 are the same, with 3 being longer).

I'm sure you can find that in either the Spriters' Resource or at Shyguy Kingdom Sprites.  I don't think I have the whips, to be honest.

[Claimh Solais]

Oh. I thought they'd be hard to edit off of Simon, but upon closer inspection, wow.