Posted 27 April 2008 - 07:12 PM
Whee, haven't reviewed in a while.
/M/: It's an interesting new take on winter... in fact, it kinda resembles my backyard when it snows, because the snow never really sticks and everything is dead-like. But there's this lack of meshing, especially with regards to objects sticking out. I wouldn't mind it so much, but I pretty much have to really concentrate at the screen to tell just what is going on there, and it just gets confusing. I at first thought those orange flowers were fireballs for one. The dirt patch towards the top of the screen is completely out of color in comparison to the darkness of livelier objects surrounding it. It's a cool shot really (especially the tree patches... and that one on the left of the screen), but it's just a little confusing to look at.
Nuvo: Emptiness... that's not something I'm gonna complain about, and it's not really something I think is killing the screen. Dirt is freaking dirt, and sometimes, it can be pretty undetailed... though maybe you could've at least added small rocks here and there. You've already said in #purezc that you've changed the palette, so I no longer have a gripe there... unless you somehow made it worse, which I doubt you did. However, there's something bothering me about the lower portion of the screen, and it's the cliffs. On the cliffs with several tiles for height, it's easy to tell there's an elevation difference between the canyon and the upper platform, but on the lower half of the screen that's using only a tile to separate the difference... really, it just looks like a thick trail of rocks to pass over. So I'm thinking that cliff shadows (small ones) might fix that problem somewhat... dunno, twould have to see what it looks like with the shadows before I can further critique them. They're cool mountains, but without any cliff shadows looming into the canyon below, it really just looks odd. Aside from that, it's a pretty nice shot. Also, those trees that are half shown are cool.
- Oh my, seems you had the shot removed. Well, I still leave this mini-review here.
Pheonix: Ooh, gray forest area bushy- seriously, what's that foresty stuff called? Ehh, nvm. It's got a cool feel to it, but here's the problem. You have predominantly green trees with white leaves around them. Some of the white leaves that are further away are fine, but mayhaps you should try changing the ones near the green trees to green or maybe brown, depending on how long they're supposed to have been there. Overall, an interestingly nice shot.
LostInHyru1e: My vote would've gone here just because of the feel that's created as such a dark environment with such a deathly feel... but... the top half... I know it's the sky and it's raining and all... but methinks it's kinda on the repetitive side. Some variation in the clouds along with lightning flashes within some parts (not the entire screen) would make this really really cool. Great job, nonetheless.
Linkus: Vote went here even though I'm personally against a wall of trees on the side of the screen. The palette flows really well, the plantlife layout (with the exception of the left-side three tiles (which is not, in fact, half the screen (no offense to anyone)) is scattered nicely with a lovely focal point just below the center of the screen (the funny part is that it's also the part that the moblins are stepping all over), and I love those trees... (which are repeated slightly too much). The only problem with having several lively focal points on the screen is that everywhere else has to have close as much detailing, and in this shot, there's several bland spots between trees and the areas covered in more grass, and it's those blank spots that stick out more than anything else. Still, really good flow to it... and it looks like Link is doing some sort of new technique involving a red flash in his right hand combined with a sword in the other hand (I know, it's just something that died).
... come to think of it (after I made the vote)... that palette is slightly dull for an area filled with lively vegetation and plant life. Huh... ah well, still works. Great work, good sah!