Single post in General Feedback thread

Regarding the new melanistic sprites for Johto. Someone needs a wake-up slap! Just as the albino pokémon were 'washed-out', faded colours, now most of the new melanistic Johto sprites are 'blacked-out' and dull colours. They were too neon before, but now, too dark. You need to find the balance between outstanding bright colour and just nothing but bland shady colours. Go to the wiki page. Looking at the melan column, scroll down and stop at different locations. Notice which sprite draws your attention out of the melans. *pause* Yep, it's the ones like the Cyndaquil line, ledian, sudowoodo, weavile, that you notice the most. The rest only contrast with each other minorly. Look at all of the columns. The shinys draw more attention than the albinos and melans, because they're more vibrant and interesting. The albinos are good overall, except for those that are literally a faded version of the original colours. Look at the trio, Raikou, Entei, Suicune. If only I had screenshotted the previous sprites that you could compare them! Notice how the shiny trio really stand out from each other and the surrounding pokémon. A lot of care was put into making them look really good while complementing each other. They stand out from the more normal larvitar and miltank. However, the albino Raikou really is a washed-out of the original colours. The Entei is cool and the Suicune is good. The other albino Raikou was a lot more interesting than it is now. (Ruing the lack of an image to use) But even so, the shiny and albino sprites are a lot more attention-worthy than the melanistics. In summary, melanistics are the special-of-the-special pokémon, and as such they should look the most amazing. In fact, the melanistic pokémon there do look amazing. So I think that what I really want to say is, the legendary trio and lugia should be a bit more engaging than an insipid red for stormclouds with grey fur instead of white and the same uncontrasting stripes. I know melanistic animals have the dark pigment, but melanism doesn't affect claws, eyes, teeth, legs, and beaks the same way it does fur and hair. Instead of focusing on overall darkened colours, I would use a grey, black or dark red/green/purple as a base, then add much lighter or vibrant colours to have that interest and contrast. Again, balance between neon and blackened. Just my thoughts, maybe it will help when designing melans, I don't know, but do what you will.