First of all, thanks for the topic and the screens. I think it's exactly what people wanted/needed/bitched for right now. This might also prevent further silly IRC discussion where everyone goes "waaaah they're not doing anything this game is doomed". Now we have proof that at least Mystic is doing something. ;)
Comments and random observations from me:
- Changing the GFZ grass to withered grass really helps in making this stage not a GFZ clone. I know I always complained about how monotonous the walls are with only one texture, but I really don't mind it that much anymore. That is, unless you kept the first half of the stage unchanged.
- Third screenshot: Whee, you made THZ more like TVZ ;)
- I fear with THZ1 receiving such a large update, THZ2 will seem a bit subpar. You already know about the path imbalance at the end, but add to that the general emptiness and openness of the design, which I fear might seem a bit anticlimactic after the new THZ1.
- New CEZ texturing looks much more lively. And much more like a forest. Act 2 is also nicely detailed.
- Fourth screenshot: Huh? What is going on there? Unless that is a Knuckles-only path, I have no idea how Sonic could make it through.
- Seventh screenshot: You took this from a really bad angle. Do some of these platforms still crumble? And if so, these small pillars don't seem like a lot of help to me.
Comments on other comments so that this post can be totally long:
Oh and about its boss, can you tell us something from it, like how far are you from finishing it?
Well, Mystic revealed in IRC that the boss can be loaded up but doesn't yet have a weakness by which you could defeat it.
Hey just wondering, are there gonna be any new multiplayer levels?
Yes. A lot of them, actually. Mostly contest stages if I'm not mistaken, so there's not much purpose in showing them off.
The Level's look...fine, Its Okay, I guess. I just wish you would have tooken a picture of a level that we have not seen before like Dark City or Something.
How about giving GFZ and THZ grass flats that don't look so hideous? GRASS3 and a brown variant (do we currently have one?) are much better options for grass because they're cleaner and more natural-looking.
Seconded. I never liked the hideous-looking mowing patterns, and I never really understood what mowing patterns are doing in a huge canyon-like area such as GFZ2.
I think the grayscale checkerboard texture would work MUCH better for the outer walls.
Do you mean the GFZ recolor? Nah, that wouldn't fit the forest theme. Although I do agree that the current texture isn't perfect.
Nice indeed! But... first screenshot shows a case of a room with the same texture as floor, ceiling and walls.
Unless there is a huge corridor preceding that area, I don't think it's much of an issue. The slime breaks up the pattern.
Let's hope you guys can finish CEZ and THZ1 this year and release them all before New Year's Day.
EDIT: Oh, and the new weapon rings are on hold. Lack of interest.