I think we are using the same tilesets

Your demo shows what it would look like if I had done mine using DelphiX. Have you thought about an editor yet? If not... check mine out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tronied. For mine I just used basic delphi components which has caused me to lose most of the advantages associated with using DirectX (i.e. Smooth walking, Different layers etc). Maybe at a later date I will start a new project like yours... but for now I am just experimenting with what is possible using my method.

By the way... feel free to use my tileset images. I got most of them off sites and edited them to suit how I wanted them displayed.

Also, I get a minimum of 135fps and max of about 230 for your rpg. You should start worrying when it gets below 30... not for the FR's i got.