The State Of 2D Video Games

January 2, 2010 by Jeffrey L. Wilson
Filed under: Features 

2DX Blue Black on White 72 DPI The State Of 2D Video Games

I don’t think everything needs to be 3D, or that just because we’re seeing more 2D games now, that everything’s going to shift back to 2D. I think that what’s going on is that people are realizing the benefits of a 3D game, and at the same time, remembering what the benefits of 2D games were. When going to 2D, you need the courage to not be so attached to visual appearance of the games and to really pursue the gameplay experience. -  Shigeru Miyamoto

2009, for many of us that still cling with warm hearts to gameplay styles of days past, was a banner year for 2D video games. In fact, it would be relatively safe to say that 2009 was the  return of the 2D game. There wasn’t just a splattering of 2D titles in niche genres; it was an industry-wide renaissance.

Fighting games were represented with the marvelous Street Fighter IV, the beautifully spastic BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, and the criminally underrated King of Fighters XII. The masterful Shadow Complex held down the action realm. Dungeon Fighter Online magically blended a traditional beat ‘em up with MMO elements. Downtown Smash Dodgeball showed the power of 8-bit sports. Plants vs. Zombies proved to be one of the most accessible tower defense games ever crafted. Scribblenauts forged a new genre.

So how was it that 2D games, which were the primitive, outdated black sheep within the gamingverse since the rise of the Nintendo 64/PlayStation, have become the darlings of the  industry? The answers are many.

king of fighters XII Kim The State Of 2D Video Games

The Eternal 2D Style
“It was never broken to begin with– 2D art never goes out of style, and 3D doesn’t necessarily mean better,” said Scott Steinberg, publisher, Digital Trends. “Adding another dimension doesn’t mean you’ll get higher quality art, and in some cases you’ll see a drop off in quality.”

Fifteen years ago, with the rise of polygon-based games, developers abandoned the sprite and 2D gameplay in favor of the fresh 3D technology that was pushed to move systems. The push for games that replicated the look and feel of the real world, unfortunately produced a slew of first-generation games that, in retrospect, look absolutely brutal.

“3D requires a much greater suspension of disbelief because realism is what you’re shooting for,” said Steinberg. “2D is a much more whimsical, natural style, so you’re willing to let your mind wander.”

Some modern 3D games, despite the advancement in visuals, still have to overcome the challenges of polygon clipping, awkward character models or movement, and problematic camera angles.  Other than animation, 2D games rarely, if ever, had to deal with these issues.

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Indie Developers’ Impact On 2D Games
Gaming’s biggest boon in recent years wasn’t the product of the traditional video game house, but a computer company from Cupertino, California: Apple. The iPhone/iPod touch “apps” platform is the enabler for  a number of indie developers (who wouldn’t otherwise have an ecosystem to create and sell product) to crop up and thrive.

For example, Red Knight’s Arr! Pirates vs. Aliens used cartoony visuals and a simple control scheme to create an incredibly accessible and time-consuming title. These casual and semi-casual mobile games often cost less to develop than a 3D title, which increases the company’s profitability.

“[3D is] more expensive and time consuming to produce,” said Steinberg. “So what you’re seeing is the resurgence of indie games, small titles, downloadables, and teams returning to this comfy 2D feel.”

downtownsmashdodgeball The State Of 2D Video Games

8-bit Love
20- and 30-somethings with nostalgic memories of two-decade-old computers and consoles have reclaimed the lo-res, lo-fi visuals of yesterday to produce stunning sprite work, chiptunes, and de-makes of popular 3D games.  There is a desire to call the 8-bit revival a fad, but the attention and loving care applied to these works makes it difficult to brand it as such.

“The keen simplicity of 8-bit graphics is lodged deep within my psyche as a symbol of what gaming is without its hype, graphics comparisons, DLC, online cretins, and fanboys,” said Brittany “Molotov Cupcake” Vincent, co-Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Spawnkill.

The 8-bit movement extended to developers that are attempting to recapture past magic. Capcom, after years of fending off criticism that it tanked the Mega Man franchise, sought redemption with Mega Man 9, a brutally tough (yet thoroughly satisfying) game that featured the Blue Bomber returning to his NES roots, complete with glorious 8-bit visuals. The game proved so popular the Capcom recently announced a sequel (the appropriately titled Mega Man 10), that maintains the old school look and feel. Miracle Kidz, a development team made of ex-Technos workers, returned to 8-bit shenanigans with the Downtown Smash Dodgeball, which borrowed heavily from the now-Million-owned Super Dodge Ball license that they created two decades earlier.

For gamers like Vincent, 8-bit represents gaming in its purest form. Graphic whores, meg counts, and excessive hype hadn’t yet polluted the hobby; fans loved their favorite titles because of the fun factor.

“8-bit is real–no bells and whistles, just you and great gameplay,” said Vincent. “And I think that’s something that could only be accomplished via the look and feel of where the heart of gaming used to lie.”

newsupermariobroswii The State Of 2D Video Games

The Future Of 2D Video Games

So where does this leave us as we prepare to enter a new decade of gaming? The evolution of 2D video games may require a successful melding of the old and the new to not only appeal to fans of the style, but to attract those that may not normal give 2D titles a fair shake.

“New Super Mario Bros. Wii has arrived to appropriately glowing reviews, some of which attest to the game’s place alongside the original “canon” of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World as one of the series’ true gems,” said Matthew Kaplan of Gameinmind. “Ever since Super Mario 64 came along and shattered expectations about what a platformer could be when thrust into three dimensions, the Mario series–and perhaps Nintendo as a whole–has struggled to reconcile its “vintage” 2D gameplay with more technologically impressive 3D games.”

Where New Super Mario Bros. Wii succeeded, according to Kaplan, is that it successfully balanced the past and the present. Gamers were instantly drawn to the traditional side-scrolling hop-n-bop gameplay, but modern technological achievements enabled 4 player co-op that allowed players to work together to discover secrets.

“And this, for better or worse, is the state of 2D platforming today: nostalgia combined with slight tints of innovation,” said Kaplan.


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Comments

6 Comments on The State Of 2D Video Games

  1. Drigg on Sat, 2nd Jan 2010 11:22 am

    2. Story added…

    Your story was featured in Drigg! Here is the link to vote it up and promote it: http://www.gamekicker.com/Gaming-News/The-State-of-2D-Video-Games...

  2. mainfinger on Sat, 2nd Jan 2010 4:13 pm

    3. “the criminally underrated King of Fighters XII”

    FINALLY I’m not the only one who thought that game kicked ass. If they had added a better single player and online experience it mightve got slammed less but as a local versus game it was crazy fun.

  3. Jeffrey L. Wilson on Sat, 2nd Jan 2010 5:53 pm

    4. When the KOX XII reviews first started rolling out, a major (I’m blanking on the exact outlet) gave it 1.5 stars. WTF! That reviewer obviously did not play the game. Sure there were missing moves, a crap one player mode, and an (initial) laggy online mode, but like you said, it was TIGHT. Good combat system, and of course, great visuals. A shame.

  4. Valkor on Sun, 3rd Jan 2010 9:17 am

    5. Hey didn’t we just have this discussion? LOL You already know my stance on 2D gaming and it’s nice to know developers are returning to the format, leaving it behind as if it were archaic. I would think when Castlevania, Symphony of the Night – waaaaaaaaay back when on the PS1, proved that you can have a great 2D title on a (back then) next gen system, that it proved the style would never be old. And it really, it’s a shame as well as a blessing that it took the iPod to make developers realize that 2D gaming was ever washed up. I hope that some of the big developers look back to 2D to help fill in the gaming gap, especially when waiting for a BIG 3D title or to really show off something 2d-riffic. (Another Castlevania Symphony of the night? Contra even?).

    The point is, it doesn’t always have to be about 3D, graphics do not make a great game lol

  5. Tweets that mention The State of 2D Games | 2D-X -- Topsy.com on Sun, 3rd Jan 2010 6:07 pm

    6. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nerd Balloon, 2D-X. 2D-X said: As we enter a new year, we discuss the state of 2D video games: http://bit.ly/6rkzfP [...]

  6. Molotov Cupcake on Sat, 9th Jan 2010 5:17 pm

    7. Hey! This is a bit late, but fantastic job with the article. I appreciate my inclusion as well as the link to SK, and I’m very pleased with this final result. I’ll be passing it along to everyone I know who shares the same love for 2D games. :D

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