I took it easy at a family cottage this week, but I still got work done! I mostly fixed up the environment art for the fifth level, which takes place inside the warship itself. Every time I make environment art and tilesets, I create little sample test rooms to try them out, like this:

It’s okay, but I think it’s too busy and lacks contrast. It also doesn’t seem visually connected to the previous level, which is the warship’s exterior.

I want the colour scheme and the general look to be different to keep things fresh and make it clear that you’ve reached a new level, but I also want it to seem like the two areas are related.

I gave it another shot, simplifying things and bringing in elements from the previous level.

I think that was better, but too far in the other direction. I do want it to look kind of complex — you’re supposed to be in the belly of this technological beast.

I brought back some of the complex elements of the first try, and incorporated even more elements from the previous level, like the little circle bits and the thin background stripes, resulting in this:

And there you go — feeling pretty good about the fifth level’s environment now!

Fun fact: I’ve also left a bit of empty space in each tileset, so if I get time to do some polish I can add in a couple additional elements in each level, like computer screens or more variations in the floor or whatever. But that’ll be later if it happens, right now I need to get these last levels done!