8bit-Theater, FF6 style

[Octorok]

I wasn't sure if this has already been done already or not, so please forgive me if it already has.

The original cast: (blown up 300%)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt1.gif

Before class change (blown up 350%;
odd, Black Mage looks weirder than when I was working on him..)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt2.gif

After class change (blown up 350%)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt3.gif

and some random FF6 characters, thrown in for comparison (blown up 380%)
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt4.gif


I didn't really look at the remake versions (although I probably should have) since I remembered that they were pretty off from the original designs.
Fighter was probably the easiest, since I had at least all of his resources from other sprites, and Black Mage was the most difficult, since I had to hand-draw most of his body (and I'll probably go back and redo some parts that I overlooked).

Any comments would be appreciated.

[FunkyBlackMage]

Hey that's pretty cool. Are you making a sprite sheet of them?

[Mac]

Sweet. You did an awesome job there. a couple of questions though. Did you use any FF6 Sprites as models for the LW? Also will you make the Dark Warriors? and perhaps Black belt (RIP) and WM

[Octorok]

Yup, they're pretty much almost entirely bits and pieces of other FF6 characters put together; the hats were taken from the original characters and simply resized and recolored, and Black Mage has the most free-drawn parts, because there's no entirely robe-clad sprite in FF6.

And yeah, I intend on doing WM, BB, the Dark Warriors and anyone else, and I'll probably do sprite sheets once I at least have one standing sprite for each person.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

For black mage you should've used the FF6 Ghost sprite seeing as how their robes are similar and the ghost has a cowl hiding it's 'face'

[Octorok]

I would've, but the ghost is too skinny.

Anywho, White Mage, Black Belt, and Vilbert.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt5a.gif
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt6.gif

I thought White Mage turned out pretty nice, but I might redo Black Belt and Vilbert.

[Mondt]

That's funny, becuase I actually like Vilbert and BB, but I think WM's face is kind of awkward.

I guess it's just really a matter of opinion.

[Octorok]

Now that you mention it, I see it too.

Anywho; now presenting Drizzl and an awfully fearsome looking Garland.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt7a.gif
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt7.gif

..and um, Bikke, looking much more "hobo" than "pirate captain."
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/bikke.gif

You can assume he's not the final copy. :)

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

I would've, but the ghost is too skinny.


Then cut, paste, fill in the gaps. Theres more to spriting than recoloring.

[Octorok]

And finally, the Other Warriors.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt8a.gif
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/8bt8.gif

[DarkCORN!]

Wow. Those are really good. The white mage's face is a little akward, though.

[Octorok]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/DemiLupo/final.gif
Well that's everyone, featuring a revised White Mage (so her face isn't so elongated), Rogue (doesn't look so much like a midget), Cleric (fixed his awkward stance, somewhat), and a little better looking Bikke.
I also put them against a white background so the outlines are easier to see.

I'm considering doing the minor'er characters like Sarda, Onion Kid, maybe even the real light warriors for a challenge, but I think I'll try experimenting with different FF6 poses first.

[Seran]

-Takes one good look at Galrand, and starts screaming, "It's the Destroyer, run for your lives!"-

Seriously though, these are awesome sprites. Black Mage's face is, as said before, a little awkward, but they all seem great to me aside from that.

[Lockeownzj00]

These are quite good, but a few of them are clunky. The first batch is damn good, but I know improvements can be made. The second feels a little rushed--white mage doesn't look entirely proportional, black belt's hair looks like a wig...the last batch is okay, but the archer's hair is pushing it.

All in all though, good job, and keep up the effort. I did a similar thing a while ago with ff6 -> ff4 style.

[Octorok]

Could you be a little more specific in which ones look a little clunky?
I would've thought that, along with the first batch, Garland, Drizzl, and Berserker look decent, while the rest leave something to be desired.

But yeah, I guess I had more of an idea of what to do with the first batch, not to mention that they're a bit more ambiguous.
When I looked at the original Red Mage, I could've sworn that he was wearing a blanket over pajamas, so I just made him a little tunic and he fit in just fine.
So while the original Light Warriors are based on the less-detailed FF1 sprites, practically everyone else comes from FF3, which have a bit more defining features and less ambiguity.

To tell the truth, the ones that probably look the best already had the work done for me; i.e. all I had to do was match up a body with a head and add accessories.
In fact, Garland is actually only Shadow with a cape, shoulder armor, and horns (which would explain the fearsomeness).
Didn't even have to give him a different head.

The sprites that look a little clunky tend to be made up of perhaps three different sprites hacked up and sewn together as somesort of Frankensteinian monstrosity, in which most of the problems tend to come from me not being able to blend all of the pieces together (Ranger's hair, for example).

I guess the exceptions are Black Mage (as a Blue Mage) and Berserker; Black Mage's Cape came in two seperate pieces which I then put over an old guy in overalls, while Berserker is the same old guy in overalls with armor put on top and a neatly modified Imperial helmet.

and lastly; yes, White Mage's base sprite had some sort of elongated head for some reason, and I hand-drew her hood to fit over her head which I then matched up with her robe, which is probably why it looks a little awkward.

So yeah, I could you tell me what exactly kinda stands out and looks awkward, I can see what I can do.

[Mondt]

WM's face is fixed for the most part, but I think the hood could use work. A robe's hood is not likely to have the end stand directly above someone's shoulder area, rather come forward a little bit. If you have seen the robes in Oblivion, you might know what I'm talking about. Think about if you put on a coat, and the hood went to the middle of the top of your head. It would probably fall off.

I'm not trying to sound mean, although I probably am. Butt I find these very good and beyond my own abilities. I tend to be a critic often.

[Octorok]

No need to be self-abashed;
Rest assured that I have a heart of iron.

Anywho, I see what you mean, I guess I just wasn't paying attention when I was referencing the original WM sprite.
I'm just glad that the face is satisfactory now at least.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

You show a lot of promise Octo, but theres still a few things you need the learnins with.

Heres why they call me the Grandmaster! *battle pose*

I've taken the liberty of adjusting the blackmage a little. Just small changes to enhance the overall effect. Two versions, one no background and the other with white background
The things I altered:

1. The solid color eye just stood out like a sore thumb. It needed to be anti-aliased and adjusted to give more of an 'evil eye' feel.

2. Solid black border around the character? just doesn't look right. Use a darker version of the base color of which the border is. Black just doesn't blend in well at all, stands out too much. A color outline brings it all together nice and neatlike.

3. Removed the L corners (three pixel chunks making a solid 90 degree angle). Those add too hard edges and make it look hokey and gross.

Heres two versions to show what I mean. One with a white background and the other without.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a48/GumboMcnasty/TweakedBMDone.gif
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a48/GumboMcnasty/TweakedBM2background.gif


These are always the little things that people overlook, but when done right they enhance a piece so much more.

[Mac]

Excellent Job there Octorok. I;d make my critique but all has been said. You did do a damn fine job on them though. Congrats.

[Mondt]

Argh, I hate finding problems with things!

The normal dark grey that Squeenix used for the outline, it looks like you've used. But somehow, you've managed to mix some black in there. It really messes with the outline, in my opinion. Skweeb's method works too, as it always does -_-

[Octorok]

Wow, that is a pretty vast improvement.

Huh, all this time I was thinking that the base FF6 sprites were using solid black outlines; they do use a light black outline for all of their sprites, but I suppose I don't have to follow that closely.
Secondly, I would've never thought to use anti-aliasing on a sprite, and that is a pretty nice effect.

Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious I'm just a novice, so I really appreciate your help, all of you.
Thanks a bunch.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

It was nothing fancy like super smooth anti-aliasing that photoshop does. I merely took the eye base color and lowered the brightness, place the 3x3 'pixel' chunk at the sides and bottom of the eye. voila chunky blurring in

[Octorok]

Okay, but of all of them, Bikke is the one that I'm most unsure about.

Does anyone have any suggestions, or does he look okay?

[Jared Todd]

I think you should worry about BM. The Bikke sprite was great. Don't make completely black lines. No one in the world uses those anymore, and haven't for a long time. They're all just dark grey, or dark red. Use the color of the rest of his robes for the lines, and fix the sprite up more.

[Edit]
What the hell?? I missed that much??? I thought I read all of pages one and two! @.@!!

I see that the BM sprite was upgraded. What kills me is that the hat is bulgy at the top... because of the missing pixel at the top of his hat.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Believe me Jared, it looks better with the bulge than the 90 degree corner. Pixels and L corners do not look good.

Pixels and L corners = bad.