WIP Space Scrolling Shooter: Dimensions

Hello,

I am working on a space scrolling shooter for Android. I create a upgrade system, a scenario, some powerful weapons like laser big bomb, etc.. About the graphisms, I tried to be as minimalist as possible and I want your opinion about it. Feel free to give me any advice..
In game screenshots:



Upgrade system view:


Choose level view:


In game screenshot during scenario:


If you want to see more screenshots to get a better idea:
https://www.facebook.com/beardroid

 

With the graphics style, I feel there is a difference between minimalism, as an artistic angle, versus `too basic`, and yours is bordering in too basic. I think this is because it's very obviously that you've gone with EASY shapes, such as circles, squares, triangles.... ie it indicates very little care has gone into the artistic design. This makes it kind of look like placeholder graphics, especially with the single color white on black. If you look at a minimalistic shooter like geometry wars for example, enemy shapes are simple but they've got a glow and color and some have interesting shapes. Unless your gameplay is absolutely awesome and it doesn't come across in the screenshots, I think you need to polish it up more and add more style.

 

I really thank you for your return. I agree, my screenshots do not show my work on shape combinations for ennemies, the game will be composed of all these ennemies and much more:


Each ennemy will have its own movement pattern and attack. I want to make about 50 kinds of differents ennemies for the first 10 levels.
Concerning glowing and color, I agree that it can look like more sophisticated but I really think that it will break the style of the game. Moreover (and it is not on the screenshots I agree) black and white style is justified in the game scenario). But I will make some tests.
What do you think about these kinds of ennemies ? Too simple ? Do you like it ?

 

I agree with imaginaryhuman even after your second post.
BUT - your explanations about shapes and style could be cleared up if you deployed a web player version for us to check out. Or at the very least a game play video.
Have you considered making the enemy ships solid after combined with different shapes and - maybe having a greeble set to attach on top of them to make them a little randomized. Just a thought.

Looking forward to the web player.

 

Looks great to me. I like the simple style