Random Gaming Thoughts

[Exhuminator]

I've beaten Cadash and Mega Man, and the latter was a better game than the former by miles.

[KalessinDB]

A friend commented he had never played Rondo of Blood, I handed him Dracula X Chronicles and my PSP... Apparently whoever I bought that PSP from (jmustang? dsh? I really can't remember) had beaten Dracula X Chronicles already and left the save file on the stick, so my friend got to play it in its original glory. And now I can play portable Symphony.

[Sarge]

I keep hearing that the port isn't great in DXC, though.

http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/screen-cvrob.htm

Actually, reading that list, it's stuff I can deal with. Mostly sound quirks.

[marlowe221]

Here is my random gaming thought for the day:

I don't really know what the definition of an "indie game" is anymore (if there ever really was one) but I will say this - the rise of indie gaming brought along the return of quality 2D console-style gaming and for that, I am eternally grateful.

There was a long while there where 2D gaming was basically dead in the water. The Sega Saturn seemed like the last hold out in many ways but even then, the 3D era had clearly dawned and 2D was on its way out.

Don't get me wrong - I like 3D gaming as much as anyone but 2D is where I started, it's where my heart is, and many of my favorite games of all time are 2D games.

And now there are a ton of great new ones to play - Dust, Guacamelee, Steamworld Dig, Hammerwatch, Shovel Knight, Spelunky, Binding of Isaac... the list goes on.

It's an embarrassment of 2D riches and I am pleased as poop to be a part of it.

[Gunstar Green]

Here is my random gaming thought for the day:

I don't really know what the definition of an "indie game" is anymore (if there ever really was one) but I will say this - the rise of indie gaming brought along the return of quality 2D console-style gaming and for that, I am eternally grateful.

There was a long while there where 2D gaming was basically dead in the water. The Sega Saturn seemed like the last hold out in many ways but even then, the 3D era had clearly dawned and 2D was on its way out.

Don't get me wrong - I like 3D gaming as much as anyone but 2D is where I started, it's where my heart is, and many of my favorite games of all time are 2D games.

And now there are a ton of great new ones to play - Dust, Guacamelee, Steamworld Dig, Hammerwatch, Shovel Knight, Spelunky, Binding of Isaac... the list goes on.

It's an embarrassment of 2D riches and I am pleased as poop to be a part of it.

In retrospect it was only a matter of time. As 3D graphics reached what is basically its zenith leaving people to go back and re-explore earlier ideas, while at the same time the people who grew up playing and loving 2D games started making games themselves.

[Exhuminator]

Another important point is 2D games are cheaper and less complicated to produce than 3D ones. A significant aspect considering the limited budgets of indie developers.

[isiolia]

In retrospect it was only a matter of time. As 3D graphics reached what is basically its zenith leaving people to go back and re-explore earlier ideas, while at the same time the people who grew up playing and loving 2D games started making games themselves.

I'd say it's a lot less a matter of 3D hitting its peak (to me, until we have Holodecks, there's work to be done ), and a lot more the relative ease of creation and distribution. Or, perhaps, a return to it, if considering the 80s PC market, shareware, and so on.
For as many retro style games that are made because that's the style/type of game the team really wants to make, I think plenty more are done because that's what's feasible for them to do. It's a whole lot cheaper to make sprite art than model a character in realistic 3D, do motion capture, record voice work, etc.
In a sense, you have a return to doing what you can with limited resources, just not hardware resources so much.

[Exhuminator]

Gameplay footage of DQXI on 3DS:



I like how the bottom screen shows the game in a classic 2D look, while the top is a more contemporary 3D angle. Everybody wins?

[fastbilly1]

Why do the battles swap art styles though?

[Exhuminator]

I guess it was a concession due to needing the bottom screen for player input during battle.