Pixel Art Class - Top Down Style Analysis & Tutorial

Heya Pals,

In this style analysis video, I'm covering the distinct ways top-down games control visual features like contrast and noise to achieve aesthetically pleasing and readable styles, focusing on environments.

Also, this features the return of my tutorial segment, for those of you who like to follow along :)

If you're interested, I'd be happy to go into more detail about buildings, objects, characters in this style in future videos. Let me know!

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:27 - Analysis Overview
07:39 - The Role of Contrast
11:25 - Preserving Interest without Contrast
14:00 - Preserving Style without Palettes
18:00 - Eastward Example
20:24 - Environment Practice Tutorial
20:41 - Terrain Draft
29:14 - Terrain Details
30:52 - Buildings
37:41- Tree Texture Details
42:56 - Outro

Music: MeowMeow & BowWow - Dj CUTMAN

Screenshot Credits (right to left, top to bottom):
- Final Fantasy (Squaresoft)
- Secret of Mana (Squaresoft)
- Chrono Trigger (Squaresoft)

- Pokemon Blue (Gamefreak, Nintendo)
- LoZ A Link to the Past (Nintendo)

- Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (Spike Chunsoft)
- Zenonia (Gamevil)

- Garden Story (by @picogram_art)

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This video features clips from my stream. Catch it live: Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 1-6pm AEST.

Later, pals!

[dangerouscolors]

it cannot be overstated how valuable ur analysis and tutorial series are for inexperienced artists. all the work and love and effort put into these are very very appreciated!! 💛

[darsoma]

This guy is the bob ross of pixel art. Calming voice and the art begins "okay, drawing some shapes, I got it". Look away for a few minutes, look back "HOLY CRAP IT'S A POKEMON OR ZELDA BACKSPLASH"

[DaShikuXI]

The weirdest thing about this perspective to me is the characters. The world is usually drawn at an angled view, but the characters tend to be full side or front views. I think that is one of the trickier things to make work.

[zaftnotameni]

every time i watch adam's videos I crave to improve my pixel art... i really really really love both the systematic approach to art and of course the insane level of skill he demonstrates on every video <3

[Destructivepurpose]

Thanks Adam, this tutorial helped me so much in identifying the environmental aspects of my game that weren't quite clicking yet. Huge help!

[RewdanSprites]

These style videos are so awesome. I love the comparison of art styles. I've been waiting for someone to do this kind of thing as I'm too lazy to analyse it all myself.

[OldHeadTrivia]

This is absolutely fantastic! You are an incredible artist! Thank you for sharing your thought processes and techniques to help me understand. This is just a hobby for me, but I really appreciate being able to get help from someone so skilled. Thank you thank you thank you!

[johnslack]

I really appreciate how wonderfully organized your videos are. Really fantastic job articulating information. I got so much value out of this!

[geshtu]

This is the best! So much info in here. I'll probably rewatch sections of it a few times as I go. This is invaluable for the game I'm working on. Thank you!

[Bit_Goblin]

I can't thank you enough for your channel. You've helped me so much on my journey. Your ability to speak plainly about complex topics is incredible.

[silversonome]

Thanks a lot for these kinds of tutorials! I'm currently making maps for a D&D campaign I've been wanting to run for years, and I'm having a bit of a creative block with my tileset. The main principles you established on top down style are pretty easy to follow, and they give me an idea on what I could make!

[wronghandlane]

This is amazingly helpful, as someone who has always been more of a traditional artist that wants to begin making my own games especially in a pixel art style, this is so helpful in explaining the artistic side in terms I can understand like contrast etc. I feel much less intimidated now! Thank you!!

[TwistedSisler]

This video was so helpful and informative, thank you so much! I've been trying to get into top down pixel art for game development and information like this is invaluable. I know top down isn't your go to, but I hope you consider doing more of these videos in a top down style. Character frames are especially challenging for me right now. Would love to see a video discussing that.

[MrColedasice]

As somone learning art for this first time seriously. I cannot say how absolutely invaluable this commentary is to me!!! Thank you so so much for making this masterpiece of content and knowledge <3

[EastlackLAX]

Another great video, thank you! Yes, please continue with additional Top-Down specific content, character design, etc. if at all possible. It would be greatly appreciated!

[jamescalo]

Yes please! More like this! I love top down and you've given me a huge headstart and inspiration!

Would love to see how you would then go from this to a tileset! My artistic capability is lacking so I need to catch it up to my programming level :P

[TinTinFin]

YESSSS!! Oh this is the pixel class I was hoping to find!! :D I have recently been getting into pixel art for a possible experimental project and I am so glad you did a video on top down! * ^ * This style of game has always been a huge inspiration for me and I really hope to be able to create something with that kind of feel to it. Thank you so much for the Pixel Art Class tutorials they really have been invaluable

[tonyjaeger]

You are a saint for posting this video and breaking down how these things are made. I'm at the very beginning and overwhelmed by ART. So. Thank you.

[TheSurreptitiousSquirrelCabal]

Your videos are very inspirational and pedagogical. I've learned a lot from the them. Love the minute detail focus in everything, whether it comes to application of different techniques, composition, or how to approach all the different kinds of challenges one can be faced with. Basically: getting a glimpse into how you think when creating pixel art. Thank you.

[robertmcdonell]

Adam you are awesome you have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to do a top-down pixel art tutorial😆 I know you've done a few top-down things, and that there are other teachers who do top-down tutorials but your art style has a professional quality that I have really been wanting to emulate. Keep up your awesome videos thank you so much!