This is awesome!!! Thank you so much for this feedback. There's a lot to chew on here. And the picture is super helpful.
Everything on the right was a placeholder so that can just be ignored. I do also agree the player is a bit too dark.I was using a palette so there really aren't any darker colors I could go for, or hues unless I add colors to the palette! Possibly I picked the wrong palette or more evidently didn't use the palette correctly.
I don't think the background should be even darker personally, because I don't even notice it, so I would love to get others feedback on that... but everything else makes sense and was mostly a placeholder. Although I do think certain UI elements need to be bright enough because they are important to see at a glance without having to move your eyes. Specifically the lives and the EX. The score is also too small.
As far as working with a graphic designer, thats a great idea and I never thought of it! I wonder how they'd do with a limited palette... That would be a fun experiment!
Thank you so much! Part of me is curious about what you think of my Crossgunr games but I think the feedback is gonna be similar ;)