alright this is the new graphics style i've been thinking about going with:
i've also added the ability for the player to double-jump, and i think I'll be reducing the size of the playfield (not as small as shown in the screenshot lol), and adding maps with elevation and holes n such. the new entity system I've made should make this and all other features I've been planning easier.
as soon as I figure out how, I might make this glow effect using pixeleffects/shaders and maybe some other cool things like motion blur.