Virtual Vox Pop: What are the best and worst 2D to 3D video game conversions?

Virtual Vox Pop — By Jeffrey L. Wilson on February 24, 2010 at 1:30 am

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Virtual Vox Pop is a weekly open mic in which we ask you, the reader, to sound off on a particular topic. This week, it’s video game series moving from 2D to 3D.

The news of Team 17′s new 2D Worms game, Worms Reloaded, caused the proverbial warm fuzzy, not only because I’m a massive embassador of 2D games, but due to the fact that it also caused me to painfully reflect on the travesty that was Worms 3D.

Really, I can’t fault Team 17′s attempt at a 3D Worms video game; after all, it was the era before the 2D video game rebirth that began with Mega Man 9. Everyone was doing 3D. What I do fault, however, are the horrid camera angles and overall suspect execution that led to a subpar title.

Still, not all 2D games that have crossed over into the third dimension have crashed and burned. The Metal Gear Solid series is a prime example of the transition done correctly. The reason why it worked is that the MSX and NES Metal Gear games have always been 3D at heart; the technology to embrace the stealth gameplay wouldn’t come to years later.

So I hand you the mic: what do you consider to be the best and worst 2D to 3D jumps in video games?


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2 Comments

  1. Kerry says:
    February 24, 2010 at 9:08 am

    Fallout – I think the transition from the isometric 2D view to the 3D view was very well done. Although most hardcore Fallout fans despite the change, I thought it was generally well received.

    Grand Theft Auto – Who can really argue here? I’m not a big GTA fan (I’ve maybe put a few hours into each game just to see how long I could outrun the cops while mowing down pedestrians) but the change from 2D to 3D made this franchise.

    Warcraft – I was a big fan, until Warcraft 3 came out. I really hated the blocky, cartoonish look of the 3D models. Starcraft 2 looks to have fixed that issue, while going with a more mature 3D look.

    Reply
  2. Jeffrey L. Wilson says:
    February 24, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    You’re right, Kerry: GTA’s transition to 3D made that game. I’m not much of a fan, but, man, GTA III was a watershed moment.

    Reply

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