2D or 3D? Also, is 2D pretty much dead?

[Cless Aileron]

Considering Capcom released some information about what they intend to do with Street Fighter IV got me to think about this.  One thing they mentioned was that Street Fighter IV will use 3D graphics but 2D gameplay.  I already know there's going to get some complaint about the use of 3D graphics on a Street Fighter game, some being contributed to a certain Street Fighter series many think wasn't executed well (EX).

So come two questions:

In this day and age, do you prefer 2D graphics or 3D graphics?

Do you think 2D graphics are or are not dead?

Well, I have a fondness for nice 2D, but that doesn't mean I don't like 3D.  There's some nice 3D out there too.

As much as I have a thing for 2D graphics, I'm pretty much thinking 2D graphics are pretty much dying, if not, dead.  I think that because there's not much room to evolve in that direction and has limits.  Not to mention, many have moved on to 3D, where there's less restriction.  Putting 2D fondness aside, I'm just having a hard time seeing another big evolution in 2D or to see it even continue (please note I have yet to play Odin Sphere, so I don't know if that might be the thing I'm looking for.  Maybe I should play it soon.  I already know it looks gorgeous).  Maybe that's just me observing things in regards to video games but that's what I think.

[Kogahazan]

2D isn't completely dead yet. One example is Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (gasp, Capcom actually making new sprites for a game). Personally I still like to see 2D games. For fighting games, 2D will not die because there is such a vast difference between 2D and 3D fighters that there are people on both sides who strongly oppose the other style.

But the way 2D is now, I don't think it can survive without having higher quality artwork which is of course very time consuming and costly to produce as opposed to generating 3D. A nice compromise I saw was Battle Fantasia, a Japanese fighting game that has a 2D look but in fact uses 3D modeling. But games like Super Turbo HD, to me, feel like games that will keep 2D alive in this 3D-dominant time.

[ForceCube]

I usually prefer 2D, except when the 3D graphics in a game are cel-shaded. *cel shading fanboy*

But between 2D and normal 3D, I always find 2D more beautiful. And, for some reason, it always seems to me like more effort and dedication is put in creating sprites and backgrounds in a 2D game.

As for whether 2D is dying or not, I don't think it is. We had one of the most fantastic 2D games ever released this year (do I need to say what it is? ), and there's still a lot of 2D RPGs and SRPGs being made in Japan.

[justin3009]

I definately prefer 2D in fighting games.  3D just doesn't seem quite right to me in fighting games.  Although I must admit, Soul Calibur is about the only 3D fighting game I own, and it's not that bad.

[Hoa Dao]

I rather like 2D as well, but 3D I like too xD;;  Might be why I'm so attached to the DS oO;;  2D can still be pulled off :'D  Kirbyness ~

How does the Guilty Gear games compare to Capcom's 2D fighters in terms of the sprites?

[Kogahazan]

How does the Guilty Gear games compare to Capcom's 2D fighters in terms of the sprites?

Thus far, Guilty Gear sprites have a higher resolution than any of the 2D Street Fighters. I can only confirm Street Fighter but unless I'm forgetting something, GG's probably higher resolution than any Capcom 2D fighter (until Super Turbo HD Remix comes out).

http://www.shoryuken.com/sfhd.jpg

That's a chart comparing the resolution of Ryu's original SF2 sprite, Sol's sprite, then the sprites that are coming out for HD Remix.

http://shoryuken.com/?p=20

This article has a picture comparing Ken's 3rd Strike sprite (the highest resolution of the 2D street fighters so far, I think) to Chipp's sprite, then Kazuya from Tekken 4 and Elliot from Dead or Alive 4.

[Cheetah]

Odin Sphere is an amazing example of what 2D graphics can look like. I frankly can't understand how they did it on the PS2. I think there will always be a nitch for 2D graphics, especially on handhelds. I do believe it will be used less and less though, especially now with the current gen systems able to reproduce the artistic style of 2D games in 3D (an no I am not talking about just cell shading).

I personally don't prefer 2D or 3D as a rule, mostly because I have seen astounding things done with both.

[Cless]

I like fun games. 2D/3D doesn't matter. But I can say that the current state of 2D is pretty sad. There aren't enough 2D games, and I would like to see more of them.

Handhelds used to be a safe haven for 2D, but now that these machines have more capable 3D hardware, more and more companies have begun switching. DS has crappy 3D capabilities just a little beyond the N64, but that's not saying too much. The machine is capable of fantastic-looking 2D, though.

Some companies still use 2D though, but many of them are niche. There's Nippon Ichi, Gust, and recently, Vanillaware. Vanillaware has a methodology of making beautiful, high-res, and cost-effective 2D games (IIRC they pre-render them using extremely high-res 3D or something), which is something I'd like to see more use of.

In general, high-res 2D almost always looks better to me than any 3D.

[stahn]

I think it's still depends of what people like 2D games or not and witch game is suitable for 2D graphic or not. For example I prefere to play 2D Tales game more than 3D one (TotA - main reason not to play that game for me) but I can't imagine Resident Evil 4 or MGS series to get 2D world. Mistake made with Contra game from Nes --- It still  hurt me after playing one of the Contra titles on psx in 3D goshhh it was terrible.

For me 2D game is not dead yet, Odin Sphere prove that this year, not to mention Breath of Fire 4 or wonderfull Heart of Darkness.

True that big company rather wont to made 2 games in 3D than one good title in 2D world but that may be change in future I think. It was always nice to see chow much a progress NAMCO or CAPCOM did in theirs titles and now.....

Old school games still a have a big place in my player heart

[aether_orange]

The newer Metal Slug games are still 2D. There was a 3D one once but somehow it didn't work out.

[Joseph]

2D needs another Aladdin. When I saw that game for the first time on the Sega Genesis, my reaction was "That looks just like the movie." The key to that game's sucess was the collaboration between Disney's artists and the game developers. If someone did that sort of collaboration on a next-gen level, it would blow people away and instantly generate interest in high-resolution 2D art.

Until something big like that happens, 2D is going to be limited to the DS and low-profile projects like Odin Sphere.

[UraRenge]

KoF XI came out only this year, and it's fantastic.

2D aint dead yet.

[Kogahazan]

KoF XI came out only this year, and it's fantastic.

It's been out in Japan for a while, but I guess your point is that America (being possibly more 3D-centric than Japan) released it. It is pretty amazing that they allowed it to be released as well NeoGeo Battle Coliseum, especially as standalone titles.