Perception of 2D visual improvement

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MODEL3

Senior member
Jul 22, 2009
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In what console generation you said 2D graphics was good enough? (in the sense, that the next generation didn't bring a WOW factor)

I have to say PS1/Saturn generation, games like:

Castlevania: SOTN
Guardian Heroes
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (The best Kain game imo)

had reach for me, a good 2D level! (Even with 16bit color and low resolution)

Also for the generation that you choose, which game had the best 2D graphics in your opinion?
 
sao123

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
the 2d graphics of the SNES were very good... most of the titles played without any jagged edges and looked very much improved over the NES before it.


However, I still actually prefer isometric 2D in what was an entire generation of PC games...
sim City 3K, Red Alert 2, The Sims, etc...
if only those games would scale from 1280x1024 to 1920x1200
 
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RyanPaulShaffer

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2005
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2D graphics reached their perfection during the SNES days, though there were many great 2D games for the PlayStation as well.
 
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tatteredpotato

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2006
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SNES.... Chrono Trigger's graphics are still good enough for me. I don't feel graphics are as important in 2D games now though.
 
BoberFett

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
The SNES crushed the Genesis (which is one of my favorite systems ever) when it came to palette and raw sprite pushing power. But even the SNES had limits when it came to sprite size and sprites per scanline. There were still games that would experience flicker when they got really busy. The Saturn was actually an incredibly powerful 2D system which is what it was really designed to be. Sega was behind the curve and only tacked on 3D when it became clear the future of games was heading that direction. So for 2D I'd say the peak for SD was with the Saturn. Obviously once things went HD the Xbox and PS3 can do pretty much handle any 2D display a person could imagine.
 
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Thraxen

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
4,683
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I think this is a question that is hard to answer. Largely because not many people are attempting to improve 2D graphics anymore. Look how long it took Capcom to get the HD remake of SFII done. It just takes a ton of time and work to create high definition artwork. The use of 2D may have peaked in a previous generation, but the current systems could crush them if anyone cared to actually make true HD 2D games.
 
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MODEL3

Senior member
Jul 22, 2009
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Well, SNES had good graphics, but for me the visual difference between for example:

Chrono Trigger (SNES) and Suikoden II (PS1) was a big step (imo).

The main thing with SNES was that many games were moving slowly!
Also the animation of the characters was not that good!

On the other hand I don't find the visual difference to be as big as in the above example in games like:

Guardian Heroes (Saturn) and Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Wii) (probably the best looking 2D Standard definition game)

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Although the PS1 (and the Saturn) could do 24bit, I heard that most 2D games used the 16bit mode (5R/5G/5B/1A).

Do you know if this is correct?

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Like Thraxen said, maybe it is a little unfair to compare the 2D HD gen visuals with the older ones, because now the main focus is pure 3D!

I find the 2D HD remake of SFII to be way less in the graphical department that what i anticipated! (the cost (time & money) to make good 2D HD artwork in AAA titles must be huge!)

 
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Thraxen

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
4,683
1
81
While on this subject, check out the video for this game: Link

Almost hard to believe that it is an Indie game.

Also, I'll mention that one of my favorite 2D games was the original Rayman.
 
J

Jakeisbest

Senior member
Feb 1, 2008
377
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I think the peak was around Symphony of the Night.

I like the Chrono Trigger Graphics but all of the animation was choppy and slow moving (not that i love the game any less because of that).
 
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Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
7
81
I'd say dreamcast. First console with high-res 2d graphics, powerful enough to apply filters to 2d graphics, and 2d games really haven't increased in visual quality since.
 
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I4AT

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2006
2,631
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There's still a lot of untapped potential in 2D, nobody is trying to push it because there's a misconception that people won't buy 2D games. It's sad too because with today's hardware we could have some pretty insane visuals.

There are great looking games like Odin Sphere that are plagued by slowdown because last gen consoles aren't powerful enough to handle them.

The Metal Slug series is easily my favorite franchise of all time, it's the most fluid and well animated sprite based game I've ever seen, and it runs on the 12mhz Neo Geo CPU. Imagine what those guys could do with an Xbox 360.

Some other titles that stand out in my mind are Legend of Mana and Tomba!. I remember being blown away by Chrono Trigger the first time I saw it, and of course Super Mario Bros. 3, it almost looked like a next gen title itself compared to games like the original Mario and Zelda.

Cel shading is a pretty good medium between 2D and 3D, there's some great looking games like Tales of Vesperia, but I still think there's a future in pure 2D if Sony and Microsoft would allow it.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
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Originally posted by: MODEL3
LOL


Road Trip to Nevada?
Click to expand...

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas :p

I think they were supposedly buried in New Mexico though.

I'd have to say the SNES/Genesis era. Comix Zone is often overlooked as one of the best looking 2D games of the time. Earthworm Jim, The LucasArts adventure games on PC, etc. Some games are just best in 2D (a hint to the Sonic Team).
 
Sadaiyappan

Sadaiyappan

Golden Member
Nov 29, 2007
1,120
4
81
Shadow Complex is great example, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Crash Commando, Rag Doll Kung Fu... these are some amazing looking 2d games -- but they may be rendered in 3d so maybe they are not techinically 2d but they look great
 
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MODEL3

Senior member
Jul 22, 2009
528
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Originally posted by: Sadaiyappan
Shadow Complex is great example, Bionic Commando Rearmed, Crash Commando, Rag Doll Kung Fu... these are some amazing looking 2d games -- but they may be rendered in 3d so maybe they are not techinically 2d but they look great
Click to expand...

I agree!

I can't even understand why some sites criticized the move of Epic to do a AAA 2D title!

Bionic Commando Rearmed was very good (i didn't play it, from what i heard!)

Too bad Grin closed!


 
Qbah

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
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Originally posted by: BoberFett
I think Braid proves that plenty of people will buy a very high quality 2D game.
Click to expand...

This. How can anyone even compare today's HD size, full of colors excellent 2D games to anything even last gen - and I mean graphically of course (even though Braid is such an awesome game anyway :)).
 
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