By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming Discussion - Decline of 2D games

 3D is becoming better and better, and there's been an idea floating around since the N64 that more dimensions is better( which is BS) when it comes to games. We're losing our 2D, and I, and many others, want it back.

 

Don't you find it odd that most people are able to have as much or more fun out of 2D games which are now mostly only on handheld consoles? However, if handhelds keep getting better, with the current mentality, we'll see a huge decline of 2D games, and we can already see that with the PSP, as most games for it are in 3D.

3D is not "better" than 2D, and many gamers agree, yet the industries aren't paying attention. We end up with mostly indie developers that make decent 2D games nowadays, since they actually look around.

Think of the awesome effects we could get out of 2D with how powerful the consoles are now. Just look at Odin Sphere on the PS2 and just how amazing 2D can look. Most gamers like both 2D and 3D, though we have a group that prefer 2D and another that prefer 3D, and that's fine (different strokes for different folks). A lot like the simplicity and clear view that come from 2D. People who like to feel immersed, however, like 3D: They prefer all the bling bling and the realistic tone to everything, including a camera view that reflects 3D in which you actually need to turn around to see what's around you :S.

Lots of people still play old NES and SNES games, not just for nostalgia, but because some games are just generally fun.. and back then we had crappy systems and programming techniques, along with unexperienced designers..  Imagine how awesome 2D could be if they spent more resources on those nowadays. We musn't forget what a "game" is. It can be realistic, sure, but some people have enough of reality, and just want some good ol amusing gameplay. I consider puzzle games and Geometry wars to good examples of pure gameplay, since there's not even gravity, and it's fun and amusing, and it had nothing to do with realism; but realism or no realism, games should be about fun.

Now, when I say 2D, it mostly refer to 2D gameplay, but 2D graphics are also design choice that a lot of people just generally prefer, just like many prefer cartoons/anime over reality shows, so both need to stay alive. My friend was pretty pissed off when they used a 3D mario sprite in the 'new' mario. We're losing the look as well. Cell shading is a poor replacement.

 

Personally, I like both 2D and 3D, and enjoy them for different reasons. I think the gaming industry is doing good pacing on 3D gaming, but is overlooking the potential of 2D gaming. Thankfully, since downloadable games have started popping up, 2D game back into the scene for a while, but now it's starting to decrease again. We can see many franchises that use to thrive in 2D shift into 3D instead of doing both.

 

How do you guys feel about losing 2D more and more? And what are you thoughts on it?



Around the Network

I do NOT think we are losing 2d. Actually it is quite the opposite. It is coming back. I would say about a 6th of the best Wii games are 2d. Most of the DS' best games are 2d. And there is quite a bit on other consoles as well.

 


Edit: 2d Wii Games - Muramasa, A Boy and His Blob, New Super Mario Bros, Wario Land Shake It, Super Paper Mario,  and a few others I'm probably missing out on. Then if you look at Wiiware games you have tons as well.



I agree that it made a small comeback. But if you look at the future line up of games, most are shifting towards 3D.

Thankfully Nintendo is keeping it alive for now, but PS3/360 developpers couldn't care less. Perhaps it'd be better to say that our more advanced consoles aren't exploiting 2D to their potential.

But still, I see the mentality changing again in people, and 2D is declining, at least from what I can tell, mostly from forums, comments, and the games coming from now on.



Wind Shlavitor said:

I agree that it made a small comeback. But if you look at the future line up of games, most are shifting towards 3D.

Thankfully Nintendo is keeping it alive for now, but PS3/360 developpers couldn't care less. Perhaps it'd be better to say that our more advanced consoles aren't exploiting 2D to their potential.

But still, I see the mentality changing again in people, and 2D is declining, at least from what I can tell, and the games coming from now on.

Well of course it will always be a minority, but we can always also look at the haven of handhelds. While the PSP tries to emulate a consoles experience(may I say it does it damn good too), the DS sticks to that of a 2d platform opposed to a 3d one. So if you are really looking for a 2d haven you have the DS. It also makes sense that the more powerful console will have less 2d games. The userbases of these consoles seem to be demanding in the Hd Graphics of 3d games so there is more supply of them. Still, I don't think it will ever become big again or die. It seems to be in a fluctuating amounts.



Mega Man 10 was announced today



Around the Network

I would like to see 2D games on the PS360 consoles, as you could make something truly epic with the system resources you have.



lol. Was this thread written in 1999? CAuse thats when decline of 2D was at full swing.

New Sonic in 2D, New Mario, Megaman 9 and 10, Splosion man, Braid, Blazblue, countless SHUMPS...2D is no longer a novelty like it was in 2003-2004 with Viewtiful Joe.



I agree with sc94597. Last gen 2d was all but lost. This gen it is making a small comeback. He listed a few good ones. And then they just announced Mega Man 10. And look how well NSMBWii is selling. Do you think Nintendo will stop making them now? If you like 2D games then get a wii, because ps3 and xbox360 don't have many if any. Wii has plenty. And that's why the wii is my favorite console this gen.



i personally could care less whether a game is 3d or not, if its good then its good and ill enjoy it, thats all that matters



disolitude said:
lol. Was this thread written in 1999? CAuse thats when decline of 2D was at full swing.

New Sonic in 2D, New Mario, Megaman 9 and 10, Splosion man, Braid, Blazblue, countless SHUMPS...2D is no longer a novelty like it was in 2003-2004 with Viewtiful Joe.

 

2D sonic games were prevalent on GBA then, so were mario games, and so were Megaman games, and BlazBlue comes from Guilty Gear, Braid is from a small company, and Shmups have been constant throughout, so.. it's a big comeback apart from some realized that it shouldn't just be for handheld consoles, while most haven't, and more other series that were in 2D are becoming 3D. Zelda at least had Minish cap for a while, but now the graphics are totally 3D.

The Ar tonelico and other niche games that a lot of people played for the classic feel, are now shifting to 3D. And most developpers aren't thinking much about 2D and the mentality is set on 3D.

I just think we need to, as a gaming community, along with the help of the swing the New mario wii and other 2D games that are being successful, bring it even further and have 2D be looked at more by gaming industries.