Here's another test, with some tweakage, and using DustyDrakes idea of making the foreground pop a bit by upping a lighting level..

This one

And about the last version: I think you should have more light levels at the foreground, I don't really like the look of the current foreground of these images:

Here's some more images, crossposted from my devlog

I think you should really continue with the last effect, it works very good!

True and drawn_x = screen_center_x+(x-screen_center_x)/z same for y 

Wait a minute... The piq main character is now playing in two games at the same time  he's a bizy soapguy!
The tiles etc. look very un-piq-like and nice!

Very unique and nice art style! I like your winter palette the most, is there also going to be ice in winter???

Uhm…
Yes I guess you are right

Do you know if there is a way to make an object have 2 different collision shapes? If so, it is pretty easy to solve this:
You could use one for collision with walls and enemies and on for the feet!

A climbing animation, that's actually way easier than making those collision shapes, cause you have to do many of them. It also adds more freedom to the game if you add more anymations I think...
Well your map looks pretty overthought and I can't wait to explore it 

i think you should make the steep slopes have a different collision masks, maybe 5 pixels lower or something like that  

edit:


red = slope collision shape.
green = slope sprite.
blue = player collision shape.

well you get the point...

NICEEEE!

haha Sinterklaas
en het ziet er sowieso goed uit! / and it looks good either!

that's a good tutorial 

I have always liked rpg's and this is going to be a very good one 

I thought the wizard was pixels first
Best ASCII art I have seen in a while 

This looks freaking awsome! I gona test of tomorrow 

I don't know if you already have a level like this, but here is my idea:
You're under the statue of liberty. Climb with rope item. Trow torch down on people beneath you.

I love the art and the concept
I'm really exited to play the first path

I liked the green grassy ground better, but the red buttons make sense.
I'd really like to see some gameplay though