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What Ever Happened To . . . . . . . . . . . .
If, in a few years time, I were to tell a ten-year-old child, that there was a time, without gorgeous 3-D rendering, what do you think he/she would say?
Possibly, “You all right dad?”
Or maybe, “(Laughs uncontrollably)”
Well, I’m a firm believer in all that 2-D nonsense, and I think that its unbelievably tight on all the under double figures out there. 3-Dness has invariably seen off quite a few genres, and I’m here today, to commiserate all those golden games. Let us begin.
1. The 2-D platformer
Ahh, possibly the game type, of game types, the big cheese, and, the gherkin in the MacDonald’s cheeseburger. Home to such games as the Sonic and Mario lot, the platformer genre was a beautiful change from the normal array of text adventures and no-name genres. (e.g. pong) Born on the Spectrum/Commodore 64/Arari ST, it was lapped up by game developers and customers alike, for apart to be stunningly easy (usually) to play, it was also fun. Or at least, most of them. Yes, its difficult to understand how the genre that spawned Donkey Kong Country the loveable monkey, could also spew up games like Busby, the annoying slippy slidey cat that lost all his lives by the end of the first world. Grr.
2. The Scrolling Shooter
Scrolling shooters were the games like Thunderhawk and R-Type, and usually involved a really nice looking space craft, shooting an array of really nice looking bullets and weapons, at a bunch of baddies, mostly represented by even more really nice looking space crafts. Their also tended to be a really nasty looking boss at the end of each level, which incidently, was for the most part exactly the same as each of the bosses before it. The gaming action could either occur horizontally or vertically (although it did tend to be a horizontal affair) and was mighty good fun. The one thing that tended to get on my nerves though, were the plots, I mean, If you can’t think of a good story, don’t have one in at all, just the good, pure, fun.
3. The Scrolling Beat-Em-Up
Okay, the scrolling beat-em-up, not a favourite of mine, but still. These were the games like Streets of rage, or (snigger) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You usually walked along various backdrops, fighting the same bad guys (but with different coloured hair or something) all the while trying not to get mutilated by the end of level boss, and it was quite fun for a while. But all the different games in this genre, tended to all suffer from the same symptom. After a couple of times playing them, they became so horrifically boring, that it was usually necessary to chew off your own ear to keep yourself sane. Shame. Still, a good thing about most of them was the option to have 2-Player modes, whence you could share the load of baddies to kill, in relative fun. Squaresoft have recently tried to re-invent the genre, with the release of Bouncers. But, and lets be honest here, twos poo.
4. The Text Adventure
The very first text adventure was Colossal Cave Adventure, but it was really The Hobbit on the Spectrum, that really got this genre onto it’s own two feet. The text adventure’s name tells it all, it’s a adventure, where you travel around and play the game, by typing in text. (e.g. South, Pick up Banana) The problem with so many of the early text-aventures, was the lack of words that the computer would know. Many frustrating hours can be had here, for example, “You look around, you see a round chest, mabey it would be wise to open the chest” You type “Open chest” the computer responds “I do not know the word ‘chest’” And another problem, its so so easy to die with these games, probbibly due to the fact that if it were too easy, you’d skimp threw the game and nether play it again. So, you have to resort to memorising all the places you die, and try to avoid them. After 3 text “adventures” all your hair will fall out and you will die a sad, freindless being.
5. The Not Really Got A Name Genre
The NRGANG were the classics like Pong, Breakout, Pacman, Defender, infact all the games that are about 20 years of age. They were all great, fun, playable over and over again, something that modern games sometimes lack. They were all origionally made for fun, but I don’t think anyone would have guessed at how big they’d become in most peoples lives, in fact, Space Invaders led to the famous incident were Japan ran out of ten-yen pieces. These games did’nt need fancy graphics or amazing sound to be fun, they needed a few lines and beeps here and there. They did’nt need amazing true colour modes, they had about 2 different colours, 3 at most. These were the games that spawned all of the above. Worship them.
Well, that was it, and just remember, next time you buy a game, have a think where it would be without these early types. Or mabey not.
Thanks for reading
If, in a few years time, I were to tell a ten-year-old child, that there was a time, without gorgeous 3-D rendering, what do you think he/she would say?
Possibly, “You all right dad?”
Or maybe, “(Laughs uncontrollably)”
Well, I’m a firm believer in all that 2-D nonsense, and I think that its unbelievably tight on all the under double figures out there. 3-Dness has invariably seen off quite a few genres, and I’m here today, to commiserate all those golden games. Let us begin.
1. The 2-D platformer
Ahh, possibly the game type, of game types, the big cheese, and, the gherkin in the MacDonald’s cheeseburger. Home to such games as the Sonic and Mario lot, the platformer genre was a beautiful change from the normal array of text adventures and no-name genres. (e.g. pong) Born on the Spectrum/Commodore 64/Arari ST, it was lapped up by game developers and customers alike, for apart to be stunningly easy (usually) to play, it was also fun. Or at least, most of them. Yes, its difficult to understand how the genre that spawned Donkey Kong Country the loveable monkey, could also spew up games like Busby, the annoying slippy slidey cat that lost all his lives by the end of the first world. Grr.
2. The Scrolling Shooter
Scrolling shooters were the games like Thunderhawk and R-Type, and usually involved a really nice looking space craft, shooting an array of really nice looking bullets and weapons, at a bunch of baddies, mostly represented by even more really nice looking space crafts. Their also tended to be a really nasty looking boss at the end of each level, which incidently, was for the most part exactly the same as each of the bosses before it. The gaming action could either occur horizontally or vertically (although it did tend to be a horizontal affair) and was mighty good fun. The one thing that tended to get on my nerves though, were the plots, I mean, If you can’t think of a good story, don’t have one in at all, just the good, pure, fun.
3. The Scrolling Beat-Em-Up
Okay, the scrolling beat-em-up, not a favourite of mine, but still. These were the games like Streets of rage, or (snigger) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You usually walked along various backdrops, fighting the same bad guys (but with different coloured hair or something) all the while trying not to get mutilated by the end of level boss, and it was quite fun for a while. But all the different games in this genre, tended to all suffer from the same symptom. After a couple of times playing them, they became so horrifically boring, that it was usually necessary to chew off your own ear to keep yourself sane. Shame. Still, a good thing about most of them was the option to have 2-Player modes, whence you could share the load of baddies to kill, in relative fun. Squaresoft have recently tried to re-invent the genre, with the release of Bouncers. But, and lets be honest here, twos poo.
4. The Text Adventure
The very first text adventure was Colossal Cave Adventure, but it was really The Hobbit on the Spectrum, that really got this genre onto it’s own two feet. The text adventure’s name tells it all, it’s a adventure, where you travel around and play the game, by typing in text. (e.g. South, Pick up Banana) The problem with so many of the early text-aventures, was the lack of words that the computer would know. Many frustrating hours can be had here, for example, “You look around, you see a round chest, mabey it would be wise to open the chest” You type “Open chest” the computer responds “I do not know the word ‘chest’” And another problem, its so so easy to die with these games, probbibly due to the fact that if it were too easy, you’d skimp threw the game and nether play it again. So, you have to resort to memorising all the places you die, and try to avoid them. After 3 text “adventures” all your hair will fall out and you will die a sad, freindless being.
5. The Not Really Got A Name Genre
The NRGANG were the classics like Pong, Breakout, Pacman, Defender, infact all the games that are about 20 years of age. They were all great, fun, playable over and over again, something that modern games sometimes lack. They were all origionally made for fun, but I don’t think anyone would have guessed at how big they’d become in most peoples lives, in fact, Space Invaders led to the famous incident were Japan ran out of ten-yen pieces. These games did’nt need fancy graphics or amazing sound to be fun, they needed a few lines and beeps here and there. They did’nt need amazing true colour modes, they had about 2 different colours, 3 at most. These were the games that spawned all of the above. Worship them.
Well, that was it, and just remember, next time you buy a game, have a think where it would be without these early types. Or mabey not.
Thanks for reading
Page:
It is true that the GBAdvance will bring a new lease of life into things, but it really wont be the same. You'll probibly be in the minority when you play classic SNES and Megadrive titles on the GBA. And besides, what would you rather have, a sleek, slinkey GBA, or a big chunky SNES? mmmm? MMMM?
2D gaming isn't dead, merely not working as hard!
Think Capcom first of all, most of their Fighting output is 2D, bar the odd 3D version of a classic 2D game. Street Fighter 2 wouldn't be the same in 3D and they know it. The amount of Beat-em-ups around in the late 80's early 90's was frightning, but some, like Vampire Saviour, were fantastic and should be remade for the new consoles.
Platform games you say? Well, despite their 3D appearances, most of those sideways scrolling games are 2D with the odd 3D effects crammed in to make them look flashy. The PSX had loads of 2D platform games and there are still some games that have changed little in their leap to a semi-3D environment too.
Many other games come to mind too, but some are not so recent. The problem is that 3D gaming has an inexaustable choice of style and content that most games creators wouldn't want to be tied down to 2D gaming any more. Occasionally there is a need for it, look at Polaroid Pete for example, original and fun, but we'd just end up with far more side scrolling shoot-em-ups than would be good for us.
Still, the choice is there for all you lucky people who want to dabble in emulators. PC owners get the biggest choice, while Playstation and Dreamcast owners can get to play all those classic Sega and Nintendo games by downloading the emulator from several websites and using a boot disc (also downloadable) to get them running on your TV. Gameboy Advance owners still get a wide choice of colourful platformers, beat-em-ups and fighting games and if you're still stuck then make your way down to any old arcade to witness the 2D delights of days gone by.
Think Capcom first of all, most of their Fighting output is 2D, bar the odd 3D version of a classic 2D game. Street Fighter 2 wouldn't be the same in 3D and they know it. The amount of Beat-em-ups around in the late 80's early 90's was frightning, but some, like Vampire Saviour, were fantastic and should be remade for the new consoles.
Platform games you say? Well, despite their 3D appearances, most of those sideways scrolling games are 2D with the odd 3D effects crammed in to make them look flashy. The PSX had loads of 2D platform games and there are still some games that have changed little in their leap to a semi-3D environment too.
Many other games come to mind too, but some are not so recent. The problem is that 3D gaming has an inexaustable choice of style and content that most games creators wouldn't want to be tied down to 2D gaming any more. Occasionally there is a need for it, look at Polaroid Pete for example, original and fun, but we'd just end up with far more side scrolling shoot-em-ups than would be good for us.
Still, the choice is there for all you lucky people who want to dabble in emulators. PC owners get the biggest choice, while Playstation and Dreamcast owners can get to play all those classic Sega and Nintendo games by downloading the emulator from several websites and using a boot disc (also downloadable) to get them running on your TV. Gameboy Advance owners still get a wide choice of colourful platformers, beat-em-ups and fighting games and if you're still stuck then make your way down to any old arcade to witness the 2D delights of days gone by.
Have a heart...comment
What Ever Happened To . . . . . . . . . . . .
If, in a few years time, I were to tell a ten-year-old child, that there was a time, without gorgeous 3-D rendering, what do you think he/she would say?
Possibly, “You all right dad?”
Or maybe, “(Laughs uncontrollably)”
Well, I’m a firm believer in all that 2-D nonsense, and I think that its unbelievably tight on all the under double figures out there. 3-Dness has invariably seen off quite a few genres, and I’m here today, to commiserate all those golden games. Let us begin.
1. The 2-D platformer
Ahh, possibly the game type, of game types, the big cheese, and, the gherkin in the MacDonald’s cheeseburger. Home to such games as the Sonic and Mario lot, the platformer genre was a beautiful change from the normal array of text adventures and no-name genres. (e.g. pong) Born on the Spectrum/Commodore 64/Arari ST, it was lapped up by game developers and customers alike, for apart to be stunningly easy (usually) to play, it was also fun. Or at least, most of them. Yes, its difficult to understand how the genre that spawned Donkey Kong Country the loveable monkey, could also spew up games like Busby, the annoying slippy slidey cat that lost all his lives by the end of the first world. Grr.
2. The Scrolling Shooter
Scrolling shooters were the games like Thunderhawk and R-Type, and usually involved a really nice looking space craft, shooting an array of really nice looking bullets and weapons, at a bunch of baddies, mostly represented by even more really nice looking space crafts. Their also tended to be a really nasty looking boss at the end of each level, which incidently, was for the most part exactly the same as each of the bosses before it. The gaming action could either occur horizontally or vertically (although it did tend to be a horizontal affair) and was mighty good fun. The one thing that tended to get on my nerves though, were the plots, I mean, If you can’t think of a good story, don’t have one in at all, just the good, pure, fun.
3. The Scrolling Beat-Em-Up
Okay, the scrolling beat-em-up, not a favourite of mine, but still. These were the games like Streets of rage, or (snigger) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You usually walked along various backdrops, fighting the same bad guys (but with different coloured hair or something) all the while trying not to get mutilated by the end of level boss, and it was quite fun for a while. But all the different games in this genre, tended to all suffer from the same symptom. After a couple of times playing them, they became so horrifically boring, that it was usually necessary to chew off your own ear to keep yourself sane. Shame. Still, a good thing about most of them was the option to have 2-Player modes, whence you could share the load of baddies to kill, in relative fun. Squaresoft have recently tried to re-invent the genre, with the release of Bouncers. But, and lets be honest here, twos poo.
4. The Text Adventure
The very first text adventure was Colossal Cave Adventure, but it was really The Hobbit on the Spectrum, that really got this genre onto it’s own two feet. The text adventure’s name tells it all, it’s a adventure, where you travel around and play the game, by typing in text. (e.g. South, Pick up Banana) The problem with so many of the early text-aventures, was the lack of words that the computer would know. Many frustrating hours can be had here, for example, “You look around, you see a round chest, mabey it would be wise to open the chest” You type “Open chest” the computer responds “I do not know the word ‘chest’” And another problem, its so so easy to die with these games, probbibly due to the fact that if it were too easy, you’d skimp threw the game and nether play it again. So, you have to resort to memorising all the places you die, and try to avoid them. After 3 text “adventures” all your hair will fall out and you will die a sad, freindless being.
5. The Not Really Got A Name Genre
The NRGANG were the classics like Pong, Breakout, Pacman, Defender, infact all the games that are about 20 years of age. They were all great, fun, playable over and over again, something that modern games sometimes lack. They were all origionally made for fun, but I don’t think anyone would have guessed at how big they’d become in most peoples lives, in fact, Space Invaders led to the famous incident were Japan ran out of ten-yen pieces. These games did’nt need fancy graphics or amazing sound to be fun, they needed a few lines and beeps here and there. They did’nt need amazing true colour modes, they had about 2 different colours, 3 at most. These were the games that spawned all of the above. Worship them.
Well, that was it, and just remember, next time you buy a game, have a think where it would be without these early types. Or mabey not.
Thanks for reading
If, in a few years time, I were to tell a ten-year-old child, that there was a time, without gorgeous 3-D rendering, what do you think he/she would say?
Possibly, “You all right dad?”
Or maybe, “(Laughs uncontrollably)”
Well, I’m a firm believer in all that 2-D nonsense, and I think that its unbelievably tight on all the under double figures out there. 3-Dness has invariably seen off quite a few genres, and I’m here today, to commiserate all those golden games. Let us begin.
1. The 2-D platformer
Ahh, possibly the game type, of game types, the big cheese, and, the gherkin in the MacDonald’s cheeseburger. Home to such games as the Sonic and Mario lot, the platformer genre was a beautiful change from the normal array of text adventures and no-name genres. (e.g. pong) Born on the Spectrum/Commodore 64/Arari ST, it was lapped up by game developers and customers alike, for apart to be stunningly easy (usually) to play, it was also fun. Or at least, most of them. Yes, its difficult to understand how the genre that spawned Donkey Kong Country the loveable monkey, could also spew up games like Busby, the annoying slippy slidey cat that lost all his lives by the end of the first world. Grr.
2. The Scrolling Shooter
Scrolling shooters were the games like Thunderhawk and R-Type, and usually involved a really nice looking space craft, shooting an array of really nice looking bullets and weapons, at a bunch of baddies, mostly represented by even more really nice looking space crafts. Their also tended to be a really nasty looking boss at the end of each level, which incidently, was for the most part exactly the same as each of the bosses before it. The gaming action could either occur horizontally or vertically (although it did tend to be a horizontal affair) and was mighty good fun. The one thing that tended to get on my nerves though, were the plots, I mean, If you can’t think of a good story, don’t have one in at all, just the good, pure, fun.
3. The Scrolling Beat-Em-Up
Okay, the scrolling beat-em-up, not a favourite of mine, but still. These were the games like Streets of rage, or (snigger) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You usually walked along various backdrops, fighting the same bad guys (but with different coloured hair or something) all the while trying not to get mutilated by the end of level boss, and it was quite fun for a while. But all the different games in this genre, tended to all suffer from the same symptom. After a couple of times playing them, they became so horrifically boring, that it was usually necessary to chew off your own ear to keep yourself sane. Shame. Still, a good thing about most of them was the option to have 2-Player modes, whence you could share the load of baddies to kill, in relative fun. Squaresoft have recently tried to re-invent the genre, with the release of Bouncers. But, and lets be honest here, twos poo.
4. The Text Adventure
The very first text adventure was Colossal Cave Adventure, but it was really The Hobbit on the Spectrum, that really got this genre onto it’s own two feet. The text adventure’s name tells it all, it’s a adventure, where you travel around and play the game, by typing in text. (e.g. South, Pick up Banana) The problem with so many of the early text-aventures, was the lack of words that the computer would know. Many frustrating hours can be had here, for example, “You look around, you see a round chest, mabey it would be wise to open the chest” You type “Open chest” the computer responds “I do not know the word ‘chest’” And another problem, its so so easy to die with these games, probbibly due to the fact that if it were too easy, you’d skimp threw the game and nether play it again. So, you have to resort to memorising all the places you die, and try to avoid them. After 3 text “adventures” all your hair will fall out and you will die a sad, freindless being.
5. The Not Really Got A Name Genre
The NRGANG were the classics like Pong, Breakout, Pacman, Defender, infact all the games that are about 20 years of age. They were all great, fun, playable over and over again, something that modern games sometimes lack. They were all origionally made for fun, but I don’t think anyone would have guessed at how big they’d become in most peoples lives, in fact, Space Invaders led to the famous incident were Japan ran out of ten-yen pieces. These games did’nt need fancy graphics or amazing sound to be fun, they needed a few lines and beeps here and there. They did’nt need amazing true colour modes, they had about 2 different colours, 3 at most. These were the games that spawned all of the above. Worship them.
Well, that was it, and just remember, next time you buy a game, have a think where it would be without these early types. Or mabey not.
Thanks for reading
Page: