I just simply love the background. Great job with the MK2011 Shang Tsung sprite edit. You did a fantastic job with the Shaolin Monks; how the fuck did you pull that off? The only complaint I have is that they stick out too much because of their very orange-colored skin. You should have made it match the skin tone of Shang or Sub-Zero so they're not taking attention away from the fatality. The Masked Guard is awesome; an obvious recoloring of Shang Tsung but I can tell you edited the sprite so the pose matches the actual masked guard. The spear could use some shading/lighting so it actually looks like a metal spear head. Also, it looks silly that you have only one masked guard in the middle instead of on both sides.

First Frame: I love how you implemented the X-Ray vision on Sub-Zero's intestines... but the intestines shouldn't be visible on his upper thigh.

Second Frame: I understand what's going on here, but it's so damn hard to see the intestines because of those monks. The two similar colors camouflage the gore. Maybe darken the background like in the game?

Third Frame: My GOD! Fucking beautiful edits on the gore. The puddle of blood looks terrible, though. Sometimes using blood from the MKW is not the best procedure.

Overall: It's so dangerous doing another generic Ermac telekinesis fatality... but you managed to make the fatality original; into something that I've never seen before. To top it off you did a great job of improving a classic MK1 background. No one has the balls to do so many MK1 themed fakes except you. I love you for that.

Nice to know one of my fakes had a positive influence on you saiZero.

This is really well done, you've come quite far with your sprite editing (Shang Tsung, the monks, and the guard are all very well done).

I wasn't too keen on the fatality (Ermac telekinesis fatalities have been done to death) until I realise he was being hanged by his own intestines. That's pretty brilliant.

Why are you apologizing to me?

I appreciate the editing that went into spicing up the classic background.

What I like:

-Shang Tsung throne edit
-Masked guard edit and placement
-Fatality concept. Very cool idea.

What I don't like:

-Those awful looking monks! Why are they orange?

-MK3 characters on an MK1 background. You could have easily
palette swapped a classic ninja to be red.

-Fatality execution. The whole thing blends in with the
background. This one should've really popped out as
"Holy shit!" due to its brutal nature but it ends up fizzling.
It's missing that special something to really stand out.

- The "animated fake". Like I said before I like the idea of them but
it just looks awkward here due to so many missing frames. You
gotta know when it's appropriate like in your last one where the
electrocution frames were smoothly strung together.

Overall score: 3.5/10

Hey! For once I agree with UR on something! But the sprite edit would've been nice, Ermac MKI VS Sub Zero MKI. There are too many frames missing, but what is sticking out of SZ's head in the third frame? Also, the orange monks make it look too vibrant. Most fatalities are the complete opposite of vibrant.

He's being hanged by his own intestines.................

You two guys probably cry when you play MKT? OMFGAZZZ MK3 peeplz in a nonMK3 Backgroundz Arenasss! Oh noes!111



And what on earth is wrong with the fatality "execution?" The background and fatality are two separate elements. The execution is Ermac ripping out intestines using his telekinesis. The background doesn't ruin the execution, it ruins the visibility of the blood and intestines. An example of a bad execution is Quan Chi jumping on his opponent and stretching their neck by pulling on their head. Get the difference?

Why is the animated fake even being critiqued like it was the original entry? She only creates that for the fuck of it. It's not a god damned animation submission. Wasn't that obvious when it's just the three fatality frames pasted together?

saizero, may I suggest you stop putting your multi-framed fakes into your animating software and producing a GIF? You're confusing UR and Goob.

Bleh, I really don't care about MKT. Actually, it's very fun because it is the first time that I was able to play as Khameleon.
Now I get they are intestines, and please never again say that Me and UltimateRyu have any sort of affiliation.

*BlackSaibot runs to 'Reply' to say something about it*

Was it okay if I walked to reply?

Screw you

OH WOW. I wasn't expecting an update to the BG! Very nice fixes on the spear head and with the placement of the masked guards. Great job reducing the orange glow of the monks as well.

It would have been cool if you fixed all the frames of your fakes... but let me guess. You didn't work in layers.

Fatality execution is just that - how the action was actually depicted in the fake. The concept has a lot of potential and I don't think its execution lived up to it. The background didn't help but that's not the reason why I didn't like it. It needed something more to stand out.

The ingenuity behind the X-ray of Sub-Zero's abdomen is certainly inspiring. Personally, though, I feel as though it would have been much more aesthetically pleasing (and realistic) if Sub-Zero had a look of discomfort etched into his mug, as though he can actually feel his internal organs being manipulated. I'm an expert when it comes to the attention given to detail in an image, and I would have appreciated that bit of artistic insight. Now that you're capable of impressing the best in the industry, I implore you to start paying mind to sprite editing. I, for one, am growing tired of seeing the same old-same old when it comes to the sprites in your pieces.

The authenticity of the intestines, particularly in the third frame, is exceptional. Though, in the second frame, I would have suggested that the intestines be outlined in a thin, green glow (not unlike the intestines in the third frame) so that they would be more discernible against the background. I am especially in awe of the attention to detail that you devoted to the innards that are spilling out of Sub-Zero's abdomen. Unlike GoobieDoob, who is clearly not as qualified or perceptive as some of the more experienced critics, I'm not having the least bit of trouble with discerning how Sub-Zero is being suspended; the single rope of intestine coiled around his throat is reasonably distinct.

As for the background, I must admit that I am impressed. However, seeing as how backgrounds are clearly your forte (as opposed to sprite editing), the spray-on-tan-orange flesh tone of the monks could have easily been avoided if you'd simply given this piece a second glance before hastily rushing off to get it posted. Given your level of experience, it's an inexcusable oversight on your part and should have been corrected before it was pointed out to you.

Although I am aware that this is your approach to being "unique", I must admit that I am growing more and more unsympathetic with your recurring refusal to add something as simple as shadows. It takes no more than a minute to produce them, so there's literally no legitimate excuse that you can exploit to justify such blatant laziness. It's been blacksaibot's approach since he first venture into this artistic medium and I've been routinely critical of him for it. Don't claim to be emulating this aspect of his technique just for the sake of excusing yourself from putting forth such an uncomplicated effort. It's only going to lessen your respectability among critics who appreciate such a simple (but essential) detail.

Final verdict: 7/10.

Thanks veno but I have no idea how to draw shadows! Its hard cuz I've tried before. Its harder than sprite editing. I don't know how to redraw characters at an angle.

You don't have to redraw characters at an angle..

Basic shadows are extremely easy once you know an effective process. Here's what I do.. I'll try to keep this as clear and concise as possible. Keep in mind, I use PSP7 and MSPaint to generate my shadows.

First, get yourself the sprite you want a shadow for onto a transparent background. For this, I just got a Subby sprite from MKW, but this will work with any sprite you can get onto a transparent background.



Next, I go into PSP7 and select the "Brightness/Contrast" tool from the menu, like such:



I set the tool's settings to -255 darkness so I can get the full black color for the shadow. Like so:



Then I go into MSPaint and select the sprite.



Next, I grab the top middle size adjuster (not sure on actual term) and bring it down to about half of the original size.

Last, I paste the original sprite on top of the shadow creating this:



I hope this helps in some form.

This process is effective for basic shadows. Yes, there are more advanced ways to get more dynamic shadows. But, that tutorial has to wait... or you can experiment for yourself to get the results you want. Or bug Veno, your call.

Nice tutorial. A+


Oh I hear saiZero has become quite the expert on that one already. BAAAHAHAHAHA

Thanks so much MKR!!!!!!! I've been experimenting and shadows actually do bring a lot to them.



Ohhhh rrrreaaaallllllyyy....