KoF sprite-over/reskin whatever you call it.

Who said use photoshop or any fancy tool?
I mean hand made like on these ones:
http://forums.dragcave.net/?showtopic=70138
http://forums.dragcave.net/?showtopic=116928
http://forums.dragcave.net/?showtopic=112754
http://forums.dragcave.net/?showtopic=101381
Though they are fur you might get the point.

Maybe toning down the highlight and adding a bit of dither might do the work.

i lack permission to see all of these unfortunately :X

Boots need a bit of work, the gold is to bright.

Good job!

you think so? light source is supposedly on the top-right-ish, so it should hit that boot pretty much directly.

the top detail on the boot does seem to have too much white though, i'll fix that.