Wednesday, September 09, 2009
The Return of 2D Gaming?
2D gameplay was an unfortunate casualty of the polygon war. In the race to show off awe-inspiring visuals, anything that didn't lend itself to showing off the 3D graphics potential of the box got chucked to the wayside. And as I said three years ago, I maintain that we were premature in discarding 2D.
Sure, we were all kinda sick of soulless 2D side-scrollers at the time. But that didn't mean the whole genre was dead. Just phenomenally saturated with crap. But 2D gameplay still had - and has - a lot of potential.
And now some of that potential is finally being realized. Games like Geometry Wars, Braid, Castle Crashers, and the newly-released Shadow Complex are proving to be minor hits in their own right, in spite of 2D gameplay (sometimes enhanced with 3D graphics).
In case you haven't seen it yet - Shamus Young has a commentary on 2D Gaming's potential renaissance at The Escapist: Experienced Points: Long Live 2D
To which I utter another "amen!"
So far, we're seeing the return of 2D primarily in the growing indie scene and some of the "budget" titles (like XBLA) from lower-tier mainstream developers. Will we return to an era where so-called "AAA" games are allowed to play in two dimensions?
Labels: retro
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 6:01 AM (Permalink)
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You know, I recently bought a Nintendo DSi (snicker all you like) solely because I wanted to play the Dark Spire, the Wizardry "cover" that has proven quite good, if not excellent. Well, since buying the little sucker, I am beginning to think that it's the most exciting gaming platform going right now--the Metroid/Castlevania 2d adventures on it are really great pieces of work, especially the one I am playing now, Dawn of Sorrow. It seems like all the games that interest me these days come out for hand-helds or are indies--that is, they have some very real restrictions, be they based on processor power or economic realities. What I wonder, is whether I like these games because the restrictions are a spur to real creativity, or is it just nostalgia on my part? I don't know. Thanks.
# posted by 
: September 09, 2009 9:54 AM
: September 09, 2009 9:54 AM
Ya know, I've come to the belief that creativity thrives in the presence of restrictions. Kinda like how necessity is the mother of invention.
I'm definitely not saying anything bad about 3D - I love 3D. It's probably still my preferred medium. But I'm a peaceful coexistance kinda guy.
I'm definitely not saying anything bad about 3D - I love 3D. It's probably still my preferred medium. But I'm a peaceful coexistance kinda guy.
I don't think it went anywhere. I've been playing amazing Castlevania games about every year on my DS. Granted, they're less common, but I'm totally ok with that because it just means the 2D games that do come out have to be something special!
Re: Dark Spire. I wasn't into it. I reviewed it here: http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/the-dark-spire/review/the-dark-spire/a-20090518145357896028/g-20081218172959531054
(gave it a 6) :(
Re: Dark Spire. I wasn't into it. I reviewed it here: http://www.gamesradar.com/ds/the-dark-spire/review/the-dark-spire/a-20090518145357896028/g-20081218172959531054
(gave it a 6) :(
I think 2D games are easier to follow, easier for the brain to process all the action at once. Also, I think 2D games have the freedom to be more iconic and representational—abstract in a way that allows players to, again, process all the information quickly. (And they also avoid "real is brown.)
richtaur--I certainly understand your hesitations re: The Dark Spire, but I am either more of a masochist than you are or some such, because the difficulty really doesn't bother me--even the mapping. I actually thought the mapping mechanics of Dark Spire were a good compromise between the olden days of graph paper and modern "the computer does everything" mapping. I agree that the interface is clunky, and it could definitely be improved, but I am just happy somebody made it in the first place. All that being said--you gave it a 6, I would probably only nudge it up to a 7, but I am a big fan all the same. Thanks.
# posted by : September 09, 2009 12:47 PM
: September 09, 2009 12:47 PM
Nice to hear some DS love, and I loved Dawn of Sorrow as well! I am playing Chrono Trigger (this game never gets old) and Suikoden right now now.
Among my favorite games there are few that are 2.5 or 3d, and most of those are FPS style. I like the look of 2d. 2D has always felt like a more creative style for a 3rd person RPG. Racing games I do prefer 3d, as well as most shooters. I think 2D needs to be considered more often in AAA meetings when they are trying to has out the details for a computer game. While many games benefit greatly from 3d, 2d is still a greatly desired quiality in my book. IGN needs to be told in mass where they can stick it on the graphics review.
Among my favorite games there are few that are 2.5 or 3d, and most of those are FPS style. I like the look of 2d. 2D has always felt like a more creative style for a 3rd person RPG. Racing games I do prefer 3d, as well as most shooters. I think 2D needs to be considered more often in AAA meetings when they are trying to has out the details for a computer game. While many games benefit greatly from 3d, 2d is still a greatly desired quiality in my book. IGN needs to be told in mass where they can stick it on the graphics review.
I'm pondering whether I should go 2D or 3D for my game design. Some 2D games look a lot better than many 3D games do. Basically I believe that 3D looks ugly if it's not extremely well done (as in 'next-gen' well done). On the other hand 3D makes things a lot more dynamic but it requires a LOAD more work. I've wrote about this in more detail here:
http://blog.hexagonstar.com/rpg-design-graphical-projection/
I love many of the older 2D games and often this is purely because of the nostalgia and because I have fond memories of those games. But for a brand new game completely with it's own IP it might be a good plan to go 3D.
http://blog.hexagonstar.com/rpg-design-graphical-projection/
I love many of the older 2D games and often this is purely because of the nostalgia and because I have fond memories of those games. But for a brand new game completely with it's own IP it might be a good plan to go 3D.
Now if we can get a true 2D Castlevania Symphony of the Night sequel for XBox/PS3 we'll be all set.
I have LOVED every one out for gameboy advance and DS, but I'd love a full sized XBox or PS3 adventure in 2D.
I have LOVED every one out for gameboy advance and DS, but I'd love a full sized XBox or PS3 adventure in 2D.
Here, here! I got a small sinking feeling in my stomach back in the day when all the good 2D games went 3D. Good thing I didn't know how low some of them would sink. Would have depressed me terribly. I echo the comments of other here. Not all 3D games are bad. There are some really good ones. But during that transition a lot of gameplay that worked better in 2D was forced into working in 3D.
I got an XBox 360 recently. Castle Crashers, Geometry Wars and Braid are all awesome games. The only 3D one I've considered is Portal. They're just a lot of fun. Maybe I don't give the other, "AAA" titles a chance. Maybe they're too expensive or I would. There's just a level a gameplay, creativity and character that seems to be rarely achieved in most mainstream 3D games.
If you haven't seen the trailer for Insanely Twisted Shadow Planets, go check it out right now! It basically looks like you're controlling a high quality, animated film!
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I got an XBox 360 recently. Castle Crashers, Geometry Wars and Braid are all awesome games. The only 3D one I've considered is Portal. They're just a lot of fun. Maybe I don't give the other, "AAA" titles a chance. Maybe they're too expensive or I would. There's just a level a gameplay, creativity and character that seems to be rarely achieved in most mainstream 3D games.
If you haven't seen the trailer for Insanely Twisted Shadow Planets, go check it out right now! It basically looks like you're controlling a high quality, animated film!
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