Regarding the proposed Tux, I agree that it doesn't feel like Tux. It's a penguin alright, but it really feels like a different character than the one that exists in 1.5 or that commonly appears in 2D art as Linux's mascot. There is definitely room to make adjustments and to have our own unique spin on how Tux looks like, that's also needed to make the character model look better, but it has to remain recognizable.
Regarding Nolok, my first reaction when I saw the new proposed Nolok a year or two ago was similar to what @
C4mil011 wrote. It just doesn't feel like the same character at all.
On the other hand, there are some good points in favor of the new model. Nolok is a bad guy, and the previous model didn't convey it well enough, and also didn't seem very intimidating. Of course, the old model was also much more basic.
Still, I have my gripes with the "bowserish" elements of the new model, which looks rather dumb and doesn't feel right as the supposed head of "Nolok Industries". The villain is evil, but he should also appear somewhat competent.
I know the Nolok model essentially comes from some new SuperTux 2D art (not that they are close to finishing the game and actually having a boss fight with him), but the SuperTux developers make their design choices thinking about their game, not about SuperTuxKart. We are a fully independent project, the lore of the STK world is different, and in the end it's better to focus on making something that feels right within STK than on similarity with ST.
