Alright the topic of this thread is sort of Ironic. Is 2D sidescrolling taking over where 3D seems to be failing? This new trend started on the handhelds but is quickly branching off into the home platforms. Don't believe me or see where I'm going with this. Here I'll give you some examples. On the Nintendo DS we saw Nintendo release NewSuperMarioBros a classic side scroller with beefed up graphics, then we saw on the PSP Sonic Rivals but today it would appear that side scrollers are back with a vengence! Here are some of the upcoming side scrollers set to dominate your TV screens!

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NewSuperMarioBros:Wii

For the first time since SuperMarioWorld2 on the SNES, Mario is returning to the sidescrolling genre. Nintendo has spent millions bringing Mario to the next generation of platforming. Mario will get many new powers and abilities, but perhaps the most compelling thing of all is Nintendo's inclusion of four player co-op. Also another first since SuperMarioWorld2 Yoshi will actually play a large role and be ride able again. Sure in Mario Sunshine you could ride yoshi every once in awhile, but NewSuperMarioBros:Wii promises to bring back the yoshi gameplay of SuperMarioWorld.

Sonic (Project NeedleMouse)

Alright we all remember the disaster that was Sonic The HedgeHog (360/PS3) and we all know that Sega screwed up again with Sonic:TheSecretRings and Sonic:Unleashed. However not everyone saw Unleashed as a total loss, infact tons of reviewers and gamers alike praised the Sonic gameplay while getting upset at the WareHog parts. Sonic Unleashed featured lush 3D enviroments to side scroll in with Sonic. So Sega heard your cries and the answer is Project Needle Mouse, a new Sonic game built from the ground up in HD to bring the ultimate side scrolling Sonic experiance to the 360/PS3. This new game promises to give gamers that classical feeling that Sonic titles have lacked since the Genesis!

Bonk:Brink Of Extinction

A character that has not seen a new release in over a decade is back and on the Brink of Extinction. Infact in a recent interview with Nintendo Power Bonk's developers said theirs more to the name then it seems. Infact Brink of Extinction if successful will lead to more Bonk games giving gamers a say in whether the franchise goes extinct (If the game fails to sell). Brink of Extinction will be a classic side scroller reminescent of the days of the TurboGrafix. Not only will it be a sidescroller but it will also feature 2 player online and offline co-op. Much like Mario Bonk is getting all new powers like the ability to freeze enemies!

Little Big Planet PSP

LBP:PSP is the highly acclaimed sequel to Little Big Planet on the PS3. Little Big Planet PSP sets out to give gamers more controll then ever before enabling the creation of user generated content. The game will also feature online co-op much like Mario and Bonk are doing. This will mean you and your friends can smash threw LittleBigPlanet anyway you please. The sidescroller is looking really promising and would appear in line to be one of the PSP's most successful titles and the PSPGo's big holiday title!

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Four titles, four franchises, all 2-D

Four titles may sound puny but think of this as a return of the 1990's platforming sensations. For the first time in over a decade Sonic, Mario and Bonk will be competing head to head in the 2D platforming genre. Of course Sony wasn't around for the big battle of the three but they are hear now represented by Little Big Planet. So the questions that have to be answered are as follows.

Which franchise will win this generations 2D War?

Will these new 2D titles sell?

Which platform will become the new home for 2D games?

Can 2D games outsell their 3D competitors?

Will 2D actually make a comeback and take over?

So many questions so few answers what is your opinion, Do these new 2D games have what it takes to sell on current Gen systems?

2D is just a lot cheaper to make. It means less risk and a potential bigger profit margin. Obviously Mario will win and sell the most by far. Little big planet will probably get the best or second best reviews behind Mario but Sonic will probably sell more. The other game will probably not sell that great. But then again it's a cheap side scroller so it doesnt have to sell great to make money. If there is anymore influx of 2D side scrolling games the market will soon be over saturated and they will all fail in sales except for ones like Mario and maybe Sonic/LBP.

So in short no 2D will not overtake 3D games and they only have a place in the cheap end of gaming besides maybe a few big names like Mario or Sonic.

I always liked 2D platfoormers better than 3D.

Well It's more a case of not everything having to be 2d (like before 3d) or 3d (when it was new) anymore. People are gradually adjusting and just making games in the dimensions they believe will work the best.

This.

And we are still getting 3D ones too, SMG2...

Well, now that the average consumer almost only exclusively knows 3D, 2D seems like a new, interesting thing. For older gamers, it's a throwback. It's a cycle just like anything.

I think the key here is balance; people like both, and developers are catching on. I just hope there isnt a total shift. I want the balance to be maintained

As long as we are in fashion trends 2D is not the new 3D, it's vintage! You also missed Marumassa in that first post.

I like the direction though... the new surge in 2D popularity means that devs can better pick an environment that suits there creativity rather then being heckled for making something 2D. Braid clearly helped this, as did NSMB and now we pick the benefits of that labor. I would say that, like Dioxinis said it's all about balance and defining whta plays better for your games.

I just hope it does not die out again all of a sudden.

Any growth in 2D is a good thing. Although I'm not wild about downloadable content, I can't help but be excited about things like Castlevania Adventure Rebirth, Bonk and NSMBWii most of all. 3D platforming has always been subpar; even 3D Mario games aren't as good as the 2D ones, and those are the best 3D ones. Other 3D attempts have been mostly terrible.

Wow that Mario game looks awful, who over the age of 10 would buy that?

The Wii has such bad games i should never have bought one.