Topic: 2D & 2.5D

So 2D games have been changed to 2.5D graphics which can be either good or bad depending on how well its done. This thread is about discussing whether its safe to make games in 2.5D or that if its best to use 2D graphics in them. Its also about the visual style implemented in both of them.

One of my biggest issues when playing 2.5D games is how much of ram is required to play these sorts of games. Strider required 4 GB ram so I was forced to play it in the smallest resolution possible to make it run as smooth as possible. 2D games have less space making it easier to play them without any fancy 3d card.

I know a lot of 2.5D games have impressive visuals but majority of them look so bland. Rondo of blood looks a LOT better than its remake if you know what I mean. I also can't understand why Nintendo used 2.5D visuals for Yoshi's new island instead of just using the original sprites?

Because that would have been very lazy. Retail 3DS games don't tend to use SNES graphics. Besides, the gameplay is already copied over; need everything else be too?

It doesn't really matter, IMO. They can each be equally breathtaking or bland, depending on the work put into them.

For example I love the sprite animation detail in something like Mighty Switch Force! (2D), as well as the unique camera angle displays in something like Donkey Kong Country Returns (2.5D).

You should check out the new Guilty Gear game. Unlike a game like Yoshi's New Island or Rayman Legends, which use 3D models in 2D environments to give them that extra "pop," and make a 2D game look 3D, GG uses 3D polygons and environments to look like a 2D game with sprites.

It's gorgeous in motion:

Xrd is the only game where the 2.5D comes close to 2D in terms of quality. Most of the 2.5D games I've played would've been better in 2D as far as I'm concerned.

You do know 2.5D games have been on pretty much every console ever made, and all look different enough that judging the 'style' isn't really feasible? Right?

That said, if you want some nice examples (mostly commercial games), you've always got Donkey Kong Country:

Those games have always looked amazing.

@CM30 the Donkey Kong Country trilogy used pre-rendered graphics and not 3D rendered graphics.

I didn't say that 2.5D can't look impressive. I'm just saying that most of the time, games are done in 2.5D rather than actual 2D. Also the feel also differs a LOT! if Nintendo were to someday make a 2.5D metroid game compared to the likes of Metroid Fusion, the visuals would really differ and what I would want is that quality should match with the pixel art or hand drawn 2D kinda like how Xrd just did.