hi! i get this kinda of comment a lot so i thought i'd take a moment to address it.
the backgrounds and gui (and the promo art, which may be the banner you're talking about) are all outsourced by other artists. i completely agree that all of the artists i worked for on these assets are incredibly talented, and the end result is beautiful!
when it comes to everything else in the game, aside from what i mentioned and the music, i've done it all myself (art, writing, coding, etc.). this is my first game, and i didn't have any prior creative experience before starting this game (art, or otherwise). the sprites have gone through a couple of iterations over the years, but of course, i don't expect my skills to look the same as professional artists. this game wasn't meant to be a Super Beautiful, Polished product; it's just something i've done in my free time over the years that i love!
while it may make more sense to have maybe "put more money into the sprites/cgs," it's just not what made sense if i were to pull the metaphorical developmental curtain back. getting the BGs and GUI outsourced were significantly cheaper and more affordable than getting CGs/sprites made, and this specific style was what i could afford at the time. ironically, other styles, even if simpler, were more expensive and/or didn't fit the fantasy aesthetic of the game.
so for anyone new here, who may not have been a part of the 5 year journey, this game is the end result of a limited budget and a creator's first attempt at making a game. while i'm proud of where my art skills have ended up over the years, i understand it may not be up to others' standards, in which case of course it's your decision whether you choose to enjoy the game or not!