The Triumph of 2D
Posted by Rampant Coyote on July 2, 2010
It’s become pretty obvious by now, but Kotaku has a very nice article up about the return of 2D in gaming:
Not that it was ever really gone. But while it wasn’t entirely dead (in spite of the wishes of companies like Sony and Microsoft), it’s epitaph and eulogy were written, and it was generally dismissed among most journalists and industry folks as an antique, a relic of a bygone era.
While 3D games are in no danger of being overtaken by their 2D counterparts (as far as I can tell), 2D has proven pretty resilient and is making a comeback. If survival was the goal, 2D games can declare a resounding victory.
Of course, I say this with a 3D game in development. I’ve been a 3D geek since 3D was being done in vector graphics in games like Red Baron and Battlezone. I’ll always geek out over lush, awesome 3D environments. It’s how I roll.
But I think my own appreciation for 2D gameplay increased once it became an endangered species for a while. There are a lot of styles of games – many not even created yet – that simply work better in 2D. And the technology for making beautiful, deep 2D games has never been better, or more accessible. And improving daily.
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Xenovore said,
2D == Meh.
Rampant Coyote said,
All three Frayed Knights games would be done by now if they had been made in 2D.
Uh, maybe. 🙂
Aelfric said,
In my humble experience, 2D games have a certain “pick up and play” factor that is lacking in even the simplest 3D efforts. Don’t get me wrong; I like both media, but the thought of playing say, a Gears of War or a Modern Warfare or an Oblivion or some such is daunting in a way playing a game of mega man just isn’t. Sadly, my life being as chock full as it tends to be, I find myself returning again and again to 2D games (both old and new, or sometimes new-ish) while 3D games have largely been relegated to special events or special games. Anyway, I guess my point is, yes! Long live 2D!
Calibrator said,
I don’t see 2D as a viable option for the vast majority of AAA-titles and neither do the big publishers. Reason: Focus groups tell them what 12 to 19 year old males want: Blood splatter and flying limbs in full 3D glory.
Yes, The Sims – one of the most successful games series of all time – really is a 2D game – but it *looks* like it is 3D and it is apparently being played mostly by females 😉
Yes, the casual market has many titles that cater to a wide audience and are simply sufficient in 2D: Treasure-hunt games, puzzle games – including brain trainers…
Yes, the Nintendo DS has lots of titles that are 2D – ranging from puzzle games to jump & runs (but the next DS will be a “3DS”!).
Yes, there are a lot clever and/or beautiful games in 2D but there are also lots of slightly modernized clones of old classics: “Tempest”-clones, “Breakout”-clones, jump & runs and there are even lots of isometric 2D RPGs like Jeff Vogel’s stuff and Eschalon which for the most part deliberately mimic the classic RPG experience.
Not that clones are necessarily bad – most AAA-titles are clones, too…
There may be a resounding victory for 2D – but IMHO not in the “mainstream-hardcore gaming market”. 2D does thrive in the casual market (for novice players), the retro-market (both old games and all types of remakes and re-imaginations like Eschalon) and the experimental market that caters to open minded players who want a break from the typical modern 3D-action-adventure-with-RPG-elements-hybrid.
For AAA-titles there’s only one rule: 3D > 2D
WhineAboutGames said,
“Mainstream” and “hardcore” are not the same thing. 🙂