sketch up, obviously

Old version is better because it actually has life to it. The art on the walls, objects, etc make it more interesting.

But yeah, if you can get that in the 3d version then mayyybe.

I just think all the textures on the second one suck too. The first one is like there are actually churches that look like that aren't there

I personally agree with Rajew and Neophyte, the 2D shot looks more interesting and full of objects. While the 3D one does not have all of that.

I think just about everyone looks for shortcuts, and by asking other people if something looks good enough you're just seeking justification to do something you already planned on doing. You'll be the one looking at your artwork the most, because you'll be stuck with whatever choices you make for the whole development cycle.

The question I would have asked is "Which style goes best with my sprite work?"

To that end, I knocked together a pair of mock-ups using sprites you've posted here before.





Which looks more like pictures you see in your head when you think about the project?

With your style of isometric spriting, I think the first choice is still the best one, because it is a much cleaner read... to me.

I think those sprites look fine with the 3D, and if you added a bit more detail to it, it would be the way to go.

Well the second one's details are better (hate the texture on the walls) but it's a bad comparison to your first one which seems lacking a lot of flair. Maybe if you add more details and better shading. Idk. Must be me being a 2d freak.

the door needs to be darker than the rest of the wood, bwecause it would be int he shadow of the overhang.

The texture is well applied, and really adds to the look.

One criticism: The wood grain on the platform edge being completely vertical messes with the perspective of that area. I'm sure there's a way to modify/rotate the texture by angle, so it would be more in line with the actual direction of the railing. It works with the wood on the walls and the visible edge of the rail because those sides line up with the y axis, but the top side of the railing needs to be in line with the z axis so the texture follows along with the illusion of depth you set up.

The texture is well applied, and really adds to the look.

One criticism: The wood grain on the platform edge being completely vertical messes with the perspective of that area. I'm sure there's a way to modify/rotate the texture by angle, so it would be more in line with the actual direction of the railing. It works with the wood on the walls and the visible edge of the rail because those sides line up with the y axis, but the top side of the railing needs to be in line with the z axis so the texture follows along with the illusion of depth you set up.

i noted that ass well. there are two ways to fix that, both requre making a new layer copying the wood texture and rotating it so it is at the right angle. the first is to select the top of the platform edge (and the railings) invert and delete everything else, the second is to use the inverted selection to to create a mask so it blocks it off for that layer. (in photo shop ofc).

EDIT: oh and the first version, i'ts unique and has a hand made feel to it.