Yang Sei Fu --- I think you're right, it does need more texture and shades. In my defense, those were my first and second digital paintings, and it's been over a decade since I took a formal art class, and those were high-school ones that weren't very good. I'm a programmer by training, not a creative type, so making a game is really pushing me out of my element. But it's a lot of fun, and it's always good to do things that you don't know how to do.
I'm considering repainting those backgrounds, but I'll need to be sure I can do a competent job before I try. And I still want to release the game fairly soon.
Do you know where I can get the picture from AIR that you mentioned?
Update: Right above. Thanks!
Eclipse --- I have no problem seeing your background, since white and black are almost certainly very different on people's monitors. (To the reader: If you cannot distinguish white and black on your monitor, please check the position of the "Power" button.
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
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The flatness and black and white may make it only suited for very flat, uncolored, characters. While I don't know this for sure, it may make sense to experiement with some solid filled areas to give it a little depth, like screentone is used for in Manga. But I'm just a programmer out of his depth, so take what I say with a grain of salt.