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On consoles now a 2D game is virtually unheard of. But is this a good thing?
There have been many hits in recent years on the PC which have been essentially 2 dimensional titles. Games from an isometric viewpoint are doing particularly well. The Baldurs Gate series resurrected the ‘beardy’ D&D style RPG to video gaming, and the recently released Commandos 2 and its predecessor offer unparalleled strategy with meticulous planning required to complete your missions. In these titles, where you must control multiple characters, but where each is integral to your success is where 2D games seem to be thriving. You do have to control many units in real time strategys, but most units you will willingly send to their doom for the greater good. Not like Baldurs Gate, Commandos, or even the worms series, where each character under your control must be preserved. And real time strategy games still use 2D. Red Alert 2 anyone? All isometric 2D (except Worms). GTA and GTA2 were both 2D affairs with a birds eye view, and were some of the best driving games available for their simplicity, and pick up and play sensibility, but also the great depth and all the missions.
But what about other genres? Platforming for a start, was revolutionised by Mario 64, but anyone who has played Mario World, or Mario World 2: Yoshis Island, will tell you that 3D platforming is radically different to 2D. In 2D games you have simply to get from one end of a level to the other, maybe beating a boss. This may seem linear, but it can be anything but it. Most Mario titles since Mario Bros. 3 on the NES include different routes through lots of levels, sometimes taking the other route would open up a secret level. Sometimes (like, memorably on Wario land 1 on GB) secret routes could open up a whole new world, with a number of levels. A prime example of this is Rares Donkey Kong Country 3 on Snes, which was probably the platforming game with the most depth I have EVER played. More depth than Mario 64 in my opinion. Every level included bonus barrels, where you tried to get a coin in a certain time limit, and getting enough could lead to the secret world. Completing the secret world let you get a helicopter type thing (gyrocopter maybe?). All this as well as the main quest, and other sub quests for certain characters.
3D games have added a lot to the gaming experience, but I think that so far no 3D game has produced the depth, polish or just overall gameplay we began to see near the end of consoles 2D eras. Hopefully, this next generation of consoles will produce that.
There have been many hits in recent years on the PC which have been essentially 2 dimensional titles. Games from an isometric viewpoint are doing particularly well. The Baldurs Gate series resurrected the ‘beardy’ D&D style RPG to video gaming, and the recently released Commandos 2 and its predecessor offer unparalleled strategy with meticulous planning required to complete your missions. In these titles, where you must control multiple characters, but where each is integral to your success is where 2D games seem to be thriving. You do have to control many units in real time strategys, but most units you will willingly send to their doom for the greater good. Not like Baldurs Gate, Commandos, or even the worms series, where each character under your control must be preserved. And real time strategy games still use 2D. Red Alert 2 anyone? All isometric 2D (except Worms). GTA and GTA2 were both 2D affairs with a birds eye view, and were some of the best driving games available for their simplicity, and pick up and play sensibility, but also the great depth and all the missions.
But what about other genres? Platforming for a start, was revolutionised by Mario 64, but anyone who has played Mario World, or Mario World 2: Yoshis Island, will tell you that 3D platforming is radically different to 2D. In 2D games you have simply to get from one end of a level to the other, maybe beating a boss. This may seem linear, but it can be anything but it. Most Mario titles since Mario Bros. 3 on the NES include different routes through lots of levels, sometimes taking the other route would open up a secret level. Sometimes (like, memorably on Wario land 1 on GB) secret routes could open up a whole new world, with a number of levels. A prime example of this is Rares Donkey Kong Country 3 on Snes, which was probably the platforming game with the most depth I have EVER played. More depth than Mario 64 in my opinion. Every level included bonus barrels, where you tried to get a coin in a certain time limit, and getting enough could lead to the secret world. Completing the secret world let you get a helicopter type thing (gyrocopter maybe?). All this as well as the main quest, and other sub quests for certain characters.
3D games have added a lot to the gaming experience, but I think that so far no 3D game has produced the depth, polish or just overall gameplay we began to see near the end of consoles 2D eras. Hopefully, this next generation of consoles will produce that.
It seems to be that when we add the third dimension, we lose more than one dimension elsewhere.
i played Capcom vs SNK 2 on the PS2 on the weekend (thanx savatt for bring that over) and i have to say 2d beat em up beat the hell at off the 3d beat em ups.
i like the old street fighter ah memories.
ohhh just spotted a pun there on the top para lol
i like the old street fighter ah memories.
ohhh just spotted a pun there on the top para lol
yup it will take time but were starting to get there, some very good 3d games are already starting to come out.
On consoles now a 2D game is virtually unheard of. But is this a good thing?
There have been many hits in recent years on the PC which have been essentially 2 dimensional titles. Games from an isometric viewpoint are doing particularly well. The Baldurs Gate series resurrected the ‘beardy’ D&D style RPG to video gaming, and the recently released Commandos 2 and its predecessor offer unparalleled strategy with meticulous planning required to complete your missions. In these titles, where you must control multiple characters, but where each is integral to your success is where 2D games seem to be thriving. You do have to control many units in real time strategys, but most units you will willingly send to their doom for the greater good. Not like Baldurs Gate, Commandos, or even the worms series, where each character under your control must be preserved. And real time strategy games still use 2D. Red Alert 2 anyone? All isometric 2D (except Worms). GTA and GTA2 were both 2D affairs with a birds eye view, and were some of the best driving games available for their simplicity, and pick up and play sensibility, but also the great depth and all the missions.
But what about other genres? Platforming for a start, was revolutionised by Mario 64, but anyone who has played Mario World, or Mario World 2: Yoshis Island, will tell you that 3D platforming is radically different to 2D. In 2D games you have simply to get from one end of a level to the other, maybe beating a boss. This may seem linear, but it can be anything but it. Most Mario titles since Mario Bros. 3 on the NES include different routes through lots of levels, sometimes taking the other route would open up a secret level. Sometimes (like, memorably on Wario land 1 on GB) secret routes could open up a whole new world, with a number of levels. A prime example of this is Rares Donkey Kong Country 3 on Snes, which was probably the platforming game with the most depth I have EVER played. More depth than Mario 64 in my opinion. Every level included bonus barrels, where you tried to get a coin in a certain time limit, and getting enough could lead to the secret world. Completing the secret world let you get a helicopter type thing (gyrocopter maybe?). All this as well as the main quest, and other sub quests for certain characters.
3D games have added a lot to the gaming experience, but I think that so far no 3D game has produced the depth, polish or just overall gameplay we began to see near the end of consoles 2D eras. Hopefully, this next generation of consoles will produce that.
There have been many hits in recent years on the PC which have been essentially 2 dimensional titles. Games from an isometric viewpoint are doing particularly well. The Baldurs Gate series resurrected the ‘beardy’ D&D style RPG to video gaming, and the recently released Commandos 2 and its predecessor offer unparalleled strategy with meticulous planning required to complete your missions. In these titles, where you must control multiple characters, but where each is integral to your success is where 2D games seem to be thriving. You do have to control many units in real time strategys, but most units you will willingly send to their doom for the greater good. Not like Baldurs Gate, Commandos, or even the worms series, where each character under your control must be preserved. And real time strategy games still use 2D. Red Alert 2 anyone? All isometric 2D (except Worms). GTA and GTA2 were both 2D affairs with a birds eye view, and were some of the best driving games available for their simplicity, and pick up and play sensibility, but also the great depth and all the missions.
But what about other genres? Platforming for a start, was revolutionised by Mario 64, but anyone who has played Mario World, or Mario World 2: Yoshis Island, will tell you that 3D platforming is radically different to 2D. In 2D games you have simply to get from one end of a level to the other, maybe beating a boss. This may seem linear, but it can be anything but it. Most Mario titles since Mario Bros. 3 on the NES include different routes through lots of levels, sometimes taking the other route would open up a secret level. Sometimes (like, memorably on Wario land 1 on GB) secret routes could open up a whole new world, with a number of levels. A prime example of this is Rares Donkey Kong Country 3 on Snes, which was probably the platforming game with the most depth I have EVER played. More depth than Mario 64 in my opinion. Every level included bonus barrels, where you tried to get a coin in a certain time limit, and getting enough could lead to the secret world. Completing the secret world let you get a helicopter type thing (gyrocopter maybe?). All this as well as the main quest, and other sub quests for certain characters.
3D games have added a lot to the gaming experience, but I think that so far no 3D game has produced the depth, polish or just overall gameplay we began to see near the end of consoles 2D eras. Hopefully, this next generation of consoles will produce that.